doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com collecting non shooters

Remember - Many of what may be "non shooters" today may not remain so. We can all recall not so many years ago when all damascus shotguns were considered non shooters. It would be interesting to know how many damascus guns that hung on the wall for decades are now back in the gun safe and being used regularly. If demand, prices and technology continue to increase at their current pace, many of today's non shooters may, in fact, become shooters again. John Mann - good for you for rescuing some of these so that the future may give them another life. Bill Frech

I guess, Thorny, my tastes don't run to ornamental guns on my walls.

The guns, when they aren't in my warm, living, hands, are in the safe.

Hey, no slam to someone with an old "has been" nailed up on the drywall in their crib. It can look right when done correctly.

But, mine all work, work well, and I find functional better than non. And functional belongs in the safe.
Best,
Ted

21 at skeet with 106 yr old Lefever G and the first batch of bp shells I've loaded. Flawless. Hadn't shot the gun for a year and a half and then with smokeless. Broke the first 14 before missing. 2 1/2 dram equiv. and 1 oz. is a good place to be with these but certainly no wallhanger mechanically. Softened that stuff up with soluable cutting oil and water in a Windex bottle before I left the range; cleaned up easily. Next week 112 yr old Syracuse Hollenbeck. Choked tight. Traditional load it was built for should spread things out a bit. But stuff happens. Shoot Stingers in your 10-22 and you'll have a latterday wallhanger which would look strange at Cracker Barrel.

jack

Good for ya, Jack! Try layering some overshot cards to make spreaders for the Hollenbeck. Divide the shot into four segments with cards and report back!

Michael, I think you should have it repaired. What an outstanding ole Springfield. It reminds me very much of the one I have that belonged to my Dad. I love to shoot and hunt with it from time to time.

After reading John Mann's thoughtful post, I must confess. I'll come clean... there is one gun I have not shot and probably never will.

The item is question is an 1851 Colt Navy, 1961 Colt production. The gun was received as a trade in sound but abused condition. It was subsequently refinished by Colt and unfired since. It looks new except the cylinder roll engraving is shallow on one side, a result of necessary polishing.

I traded for this from my original shooting instructor, the gentleman who got me hooked. He was also a customer, a flight student of mine who went on to an all too brief aviation career. Eric died young of lung cancer, leaving a young son. Chesterfields, same as killed my grandfather. The gun serves as a reminder to not rejoin the category of tobacco user.

Perhaps some day I'll stoke all six of them up, and watch it smoke. Ironic, ain't it?

The reverse may also be true. As Ted has been remarking about for some time, if the laws go to non-tox shot only there are going to be a lot of obsolete guns around, albeit in good condition but not steel or hevi shot safe.

[/quote]Michael, I think you should have it repaired. What an outstanding ole Springfield. It reminds me very much of the one I have that belonged to my Dad. I love to shoot and hunt with it from time to time. [/quote]

Dan,

I'm still thinking about it, the reason I have not done so is because I don't know how it came to be there. I would hate to fix it then learn that it was an important part of the rifle's history. I have a good understanding of it's early years from about 1911-1922 after that time, I've learned little about it.

Ted, I've cleaned house, gone are the ones too expensive to fix right. Down to three good as gold doubles, and two new made rifles.
...but, after all this bad weather we're having(can't get to my land due to freezing rain), what good is a brand new steel safe autoloading duck gun? Maybe something older 'n nicer and shootable for the fireside and the long winter chats ahead!

Mielcarek (sp?)