Presuming a number of items here, but barring any major political or financial (or personal) crises... have you planned for an end game here? That last shotgun (or rifle, or handgun) that you'll hunt with to the end? I have a pretty good idea what I'll be using when my number's up, but what makes the best sense in that arena? A commonly available gauge or something you'll have to load for. I'm suspecting a sub-gauge gun for many of us here (20 or 28), but pehaps I've overlooked something?

A double Hammergun with either an Austrian or German heritage,, probably in 24 bore??? But I cannot rule out a French one(tip of the hat to Argo44).

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

I can go half way out on this limb. It will be a 16.

But I’ll have to get back to you on which Ithaca 16. 😉

Lloyd,
I hear you, and completely understand. As I begin to age out at 75, light weight, good handling and open chokes work for me. My 12 ga. 2 1/2 chambered Churchill with .003 /.11 chokes is probably the last one standing for me.
But, here's hoping I'm wrong!
Karl

My Hoffman 12 bore

A 16ga for me!

Just as I can not pick out just one offspring to favor, I doubt I will just pick just one gun. On the short list will be my Winchester Pigeon grade model 42, my Christmas gift when I was 12, a Winchester Model 12, 28 ga. Skeet gun, for long range dove a Pape 20 bore hammer gun with 30" barrels I shoot really well and for duck and geese whatever 12 bore double, perhaps a Lang 3" 30" barrels, or G.E. Lewis 3" wild-fowling double. My real problem is I like to shoot too many vastly different things. If I was restricted to just dove, the 42 would get the nod, or a 42 as there are others sitting, waiting their turn. If it were just ducks any 12 bore double from about ten choices could be a easy choice. Too many choices, too many reasons.

The Winchester Model 12 , 28 gauge would be the last gun I sell. That gun has been a faithful friend, for hunting and shooting in general, for over fifty years. It has taken more dove, quail and ducks than any other gun I have owned. I'll never have another hundred duck season and that gun has given me multiple years. The 42's might equal the dove numbers, given another decade or two, but I learned how to shoot wild quail with that 28. Wild quail are for the most part, a thing of the past, such a sad thing. I no longer hunt quail on any of my farms. It just holds so many memories. My first true double on a quail covey flush, shooting next to my uncle, who took a pair with his Crescent .410 and watching Red the Setter bring back all four birds. He was not a great retriever but that time he was flawless. I could have shot a third bird but I was content, perhaps for the first time in my hunting life. No, the 28 is not for sale. I hope it gives one of my sons or grandsons as much joy as it did for me.

Hard to decide but I suspect it’ll be either my Parker 12 DH damascus on a #1 frame and 6 1/2 lbs and 28” barrels or a Lefever 12 GH with 28” damascus. Both are dear friends and I’ve often thought they don’t need me for anything else than to carry them into the field. Untold numbers of wild bobs have fallen to them. No need for small bores, I just load light. But a close runner up would be a Lefever 16 DS with 26”. It is a bird killing machine!

Kinda’ depends how far you make it, doesn’t it?

I used to see an old guy on sunny weekdays, in Pine County, MN. He was in his 90s. He walked a logging road, actually a segment of the Munger trail. He might have made it a mile in and back. He used a .410 single shot to pot Grouse. Told me he hadn’t shot a Grouse on the wing in a long, long time. He was good with that. He had owned many different guns.They were all gone. He outlived every family member he ever had. To say he loved petting my dog was an understatement. I let him handle my Remington model 17 once, it was a bit much for him.
I was good with him ground swatting them, too. It was a day brightener to run into him.The old guy fought like hell to keep his pickup and his .410 at the old people’s warehouse he lived in. He didn’t seem to need assistance, maybe they called him in the morning, but, he told me he just fried the Grouse breasts and legs, and got dinner and lunch out of one. If he was cooking them, I figured he didn’t need much help.

I’ve got 20 and 28 gauge V19s at the moment, both less than 6lbs. That is the lightest version of a Darne, in very general terms. Tough witches to shoot well in the best of times, and my eye injury has insured these are not my best times.

There are times I want to be that old guy in the woods with his last gun that he can manage. But, I’m guessing his life was lonely and hard toward the end. Every person I ever knew who lived that long (I’m between any friends in their 90s at the moment) was having a struggle, often a difficult, daily struggle.

I haven’t seen him in a long time. Doubt I will.

Best,
Ted

Ted,
We all get there so to speak, It's important to me how I get there!
Karl

If a little, light gun with almost no recoil keeps you making trips into the woods when you get real old, bully. The guys past 75 years or so of age mostly can’t swing or deal with the weight or recoil of a 12. Some guys much younger than that don’t either.

Some of you might recognize the name Ron Schara. He was visiting in the Ruffed Grouse Society booth I volunteered in this weekend at the Game Fair. This guy made his living hunting and fishing and telling people in the Midwest about it on his TV show. Ron doesn’t hunt anymore. Would love to, but, just can’t do it anymore. Same eye injury as me, and 15 years on top of me in age.

Hope he still goes fishing.


https://www.ronschara.com/

Best,
Ted

I'm in my dotage at 75, but still in pretty good condition. I really enjoy .410s on doves, probably keep my Citori Lightning Feather with 30" barrels and one of my 42's and one of the doubles. For 28's, it's my 30" Miroku Mk70 first, and then an RBL with 30" barrels or my Red Label with 28" barrels. 20 gauge goes to my favorite dove gun, original Beretta 686 Onyx. 16 would be my Dad's Parker VHE, hands down. 12 gets tougher, because I have a bum shoulder and a bad eye. Waterfowl and pheasants get the Winchester SX3, but I'll keep a couple of hammer guns and my 3" WingMaster. Everything else is expendable, but I can't bear to part with them yet. The guy we inherited out duck blind from was shooting ducks on his 93rd birthday. I hope to duplicate that.

I'll be hunting with what I use now.

Charles Daly 16ga (5# 12oz) & (5# 7oz)
John Dickson round body 12ga (6#)
Francotte 16ga (6# 1oz)

I will never be down to one.

Goes against something within me to start thinking that way, Lloyd. Certainly not a put down on anyone who chooses to, just not me ....... at least not for awhile. If I start thinking that way I'm afraid it will affect my "drive". I push myself in that regard. I'll be seventy-one in October. Twenty-nine to go to reach my target of taking a limit of doves on Oct. 13, 2051.

Not everyone wants to reach that goal, and I'm not fooling myself. I know things can happen to cause that goal to be unattainable. But, it's my belief that if you work towards it you've got a better chance of attaining it than if you don't. There really is something powerful about positive thinking. However, I may be more susceptible to negative thinking than others. My buddies can swap choke tubes like Liz Taylor did husbands, but it introduces negative thoughts when I do so. It's like I'm admitting "I probably can't hit that bird with this tight a choke, so let's open up a bit". I'm referring to clay birds, now.

Interesting reading your, and other's, comments though. With my love of long barreled .410 doubles I suspect my final dove shoot will be with one.

Like those before me, a Woodward 28 gauge over under.
Possibly a skeleton Macnaughton.

I have miles to go before I sleep though.

For game, I hope I will still be able to lift my Edwinson Green 12 bore BLE and afford some bismuth to feed it on.

On clays I have a .410 Rottweil over and under. Both are about 6 1/2 pounds.

I can't handle the eights any more at 75, but I won't give up on the twelves, even when I reach 90 or more. My last one may be my grandfather's E Grade Lefever pigeon gun which has been in the family for 135 years. My VH Parker 28 has been with me for 63 years and would be my last lightweight. Second choice in either weight class would be a very late hammer bar in iron Purdey 12 bore pigeon gun in 1 1/4 ounce proof and a .410 VHE Parker skeet gun. I think these four are not too many to keep until the end.

As for dotage I am already in mine a lot would say, Over the years I have been shooting unknowingly in a way I have made my choices of the death do us part guns, Some of the reasons are practical and others sentimental.

This gun is the sentimental gun I made more practical it belonged to a shooting buddy who is no longer with me, leaving the very best of memories and the very best of English hummer Derek Bates known to many as Blaster bates making the finest Pub evenings ever after a days shooting, so I do hope he agrees with my modifications.

A very early Baikal under/over twin trigger non ejector.



My next choice is a gun for nearly all occasions Webley & Scott 700.

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This is an other Webley & Scott 700 this being a very early straight hand stock extremely light with not so common with 2 1/2 " chambers, I can just carry this gun all day in the field.

[url=https://imgur.com/HV78o1F]

One of my last two guns I consider my self to be extremely lucky to own though I do know I am only its keeper until the next lucky person comes along when I have slipped of this mortal coil. The one advantage in owning this gun is back in the Club house or the start of a shoot. It brings to an end those loud spoken cost of my gun XXXX and what a fabulous XXXX maker it has to a very abrupt end, when you quietly slip it out of its gun slip.



Finally a gun that if I do meet up with some of my now passed on then young shooing friends after it is my turn leave this blue planet we may be able to have a couple of full moon nights of youthful poaching, good British Ale with a few lines of "The Lincolnshire Poacher" with these words ringing in my ears from many days past "O h it's my delight on a shining night in the season of the year" at a pub with a hot wood fire in an ingle nook fire place.



I do hope you find this an interesting mix from my dotage.

I heard Blaster Bates give an after dinner speech and still have couple of his vinyl records.

That Baikal will no doubt outlast us all,even if it was fed on these:-



Is the wood a new piece or was the factory timber that nice?

I'll go with 3 firearms, all passed down to me by my late Father, he was born in 1914 and passed away in 1986. A Model 12 field grade 20, made n 1931-28" mod solid rib. He gave me that shotgun on my 14th Birthday, and as Hemingway said about his M12 in "True In First Light"--well, you can read that section at your leisure- but it sure describes that fast handling and reliable under all conditions that the M12 was legendary for. I have 7 Model 12's, all built prior to 1950- but this one is "special". A Model 70 SuperGrade in 30-o6 made in 1939- tons of venison fell to that old sweetheart-all with Rem 180 grain Core-Lokt ammo. Wears a Leupold Vari-x now, also is deadly on coyotes, and wild pigs- and a Model 63 Deluxe Grade that Dad bought from Aubrey Brennan in 1956- made in 1948, one of Aubrey's personal guns--I can't begin to count the number of squirrels, rats, woodchucks- OK, one more, Dads Colt Match Target Woodsman, 1939- the early series with the elephant ear style grips- RWTF== addedum: As this is a double gun based forum, I should pick one of the 6 side-by-side ejector guns in my safe- easy choice- the 12 gauge M21 Dad left me in 1981- made in 1940- field grade 28" IC & Mod- ej and sst- fits me like an Armani suit on a Goombah-- back when we had pheasants in MI- this double was my "game bag filler-upper" for many seasons. Not a Churchill or even a graded Parker, just as solid reliable shotgun for hunting-wait- I just also described a Model 12 didn't I.. RWTF

The emotional versus the practical is clearly a factor here too as well. I have very few inherited guns left (most were just not exceptional) so for me it's less of a choice. I was also thinking purely in the sense of the pragmatic when it come to actually hunting, but I completely get it. If I had a special connection to a family firearm (that was also a practical game gun) I'd be torn as well. As I mentioned earlier, this presumes several things continuing forward, including your physical (& legal) capacity. This also presumes access to a place to actually hunt (with hopes of success). Given that, however. I'm thinking about a doublegun (of course!) that still fits well, that is light & lively, and that I can either find ammo for (or reload for). So for me that'd either be a 16 or a 28 right now, with a 20 being a possibility. A light 12 would be wonderful as well, but it'd have to be quite exceptional.

A 16 LC FW, 28” High Rib, given to me by my parents as a graduation present.

The rifles are easy. My dad’s M71 .348 and his Remington 41 Targetmaster. They hold his history, our history, followed by my own. The shotguns have come and went, but a 5 3/4 lb. 16 gauge W&S 400 screw grip that seems to be the magic wand might be it.

Funny thing you have brought this topic up. I turn 69 next month and this subject has been on my mind. I am starting to look at maybe purchasing a Parker VH 20 bore with 28" barrels. As I only shoot doves this would be an ideal gun.
Next items on the list would be,
20 bore Fox, 28" barrels
410 over / under of some maker
20 bore over / under, maybe a Browning Superposed.

I have two Rizzini's I purchased last year a 20 and 28 but I do not shoot the 28 very well so it will be on the market soon enough.
My Perazzi MX20 is kind of a heavy 20 bore with the 31 1/2" barrels

I'm only a youthful 74, but its gotten to where a light 12ga kicks the fool out of me and and a heavy one is hard to carry. I bought a F.A.I.R Iside 28ga sxs for my dotage, and I like the way it shoots. There's also a H&R Topper 28ga single for when I can't be trusted with two shots...Geo

I turned 64 earlier this month. I find this subject to be thoroughly depressing and won't be considering my "final gun" now or probably ever. It will be what it will be.

What's left for my heirs will be up to them to sort out. I will be well past caring.

I guess I need to tell the Boss I need to buy a dotage gun.

Hopefully my French 8 gauge hammer gun if I'm hunting in Idaho where it is legal to hunt upland birds with an 8 gauge. If I am anywhere else and I kick the bucket I would hope to be using my Dougal Lock fast 10 bore hammer gun at the time of my demise.

James & Stan: This wasn't meant to be depressing (although I suppose it could go that way). I'm simply being forced to adapt to some changing conditions here (albeit grudgingly) and was wondering what others had come up with in similar circumstances. Ted's story of his pal on the Munger trail is bit of a downer, but I'm a cockeyed optimist these days (a surprising side-effect of attending too-many funerals lately). I'm looking forward and not back anymore...

eeb,
Outstanding suggestion regarding the "need" to buy a dotage gun! I'll fly it by the "tower" to see if it works. Great idea ebb!
Karl

I'll need my trap and doubles guns (O/U and SxS), my bird guns, my deer rifle, coyote shooter .17, a couple three snake shooters here and there and my hand cannon Borderbill gave me many years ago...

Lloyd,
If, a big if, I know, I get to walk a logging trail in my 90s, and meet a young guy who will let me pet his pooch, and enjoy a short hike down a sunny trail, with the chance of a Grouse at the end, I won’t be too down.

I promise.

Lost a good friend today. Noel Robinson was 85 years young, and still riding his English Bicycle around Lake Pepin for two days with a younger crowd, well, somewhat younger, for the most part. Not a hunting buddy, but, about the oldest friend in my stable, and an anchor in my Sons life. Noel was the Grandpa my son never really had.

Even with excellent health at the 85 year mark, nothing is promised. Noel died in his sleep, in his tent, on a bicycle camping trip.

Best,
Ted

Ted, sorry to hear of the loss of your family's friend. He couldn't have planned a better death. Gil

Ted, I was going to say the same thing but felt a little callous about it. Gil is right on here. If I'm eighty-five and out pounding the trail (on any form of self-powered transport) than I'll feel darn fortunate. Going out doing what you love, surrounded by friends, and in summer up there even....

That sure beats a lot of the alternatives.

My Webley 600 12 bore ejector made in 1946, with 30" barrels and Prince of Wales grip. What else do you need?

Parabola the stock on the Baikal is the original a very poor piece of Manchurian Walnut. The gun it's self was at the back of my gun cabinet for many years until freight took a hand in things this being Arthritis in my right shoulder so at the time I required a heavier gun for trap shooting, so out it came for a full face lift. Now I did post a how it was done over a couple of weeks under the heading of "A heavier gun required" but that posting has been allowed to slip into the past with my other how to do it postings I do not understand Dave Webber he would not recognise a jewel if it was handed to him in a silk lined box, so why the hell did he start DIY gunsmithing page if it was not going to turn into some sort of reference for folks.
I must say here that I worked as a ghost worker in the local trade specialising in all sorts of stock work case restoration and replacement case turnscrews amongst other things that all had high viewing numbers each in the thousands. So luckily for you one has been kept in the FAQ section under "Damascuses Traditional oil stock finish" It shows the same Baikal stock you see in this post being re finished. Today this post has 83,407 hits to date that being good spreading information, the down side the people who did the conversion to another host only had one form of punctuation a question mark though Webber's and the rest of the offerings are all perfectly punctuated. Is it Me? well may be but one thing I will say is that I would not pay them in washers! Rant over!!!!
Memories of those cheap Russian cartridges and another maker called Sellier & bellot where another eastern block maker we purchased if funds where low in the 60's and 70,s, they earned the name in our group as "Shit sticks" because it left the bores looking like a coal mine and took ages to get the rubbish out of the barrels even after just a couple of shots, though looking back now it is a memory with a smile.

I remembered that thread about the Baikal face lift when I saw the pics of it again yesterday. It surely was a transformation.

Once again, well done, damascus.

At 32yrs young I’ll have many a gun yet. If my Greener Empire BLE with top safety and 28” barrels was the only gun I ever used again for duck hunting I’d be okay with that. She’s a little portly for walking game.

At 63 and still in good health I don't know that I've finished accumulating favorite guns. I can see my newly acquired Jackson 20 gauge being one to carry into geezerdom. At 5 pounds 4 ounces it shouldn't tax even a dottering, older version of me. I can see keeping the Ithaca 37S 16 around for a long time as well as a svelt Beretta Blackwing 20. My Cogswell and Harrison 12 is pretty light but a frailer, older Marty might find 12 bore loads a touch uncomfortable. We haven't arrived there yet. There's an Arthur Hill 16 arriving today at my LGS. It may be my new favorite. Time will tell.

I cannot see ever parting with my 400 Whelen. It's a tad heavy but it is my all time favorite rifle build and big game rifle. I have a left handed Remington 700 KS Mountain rifle in 300 H&H that's been with me since 1993. It won't go anywhere. Additionally I have some left handed mini Mausers in 17 Rem, 6mmx222 and 25x222 that are perfect for much of what I'll hunt in Idaho once we get moved. And well suited weight wise for old dudes. My Dad's Winchester 67 single shot will stay around until I pass it to a family member.

The only gun I ever parted with due to my age, or rather my arthritic wrists, was a Linebaugh built 500 Linebaugh. Beautiful revolver and wonderfully accurate but even with light loads it was a bit more than my wrists wanted to take. I still shoot a Bisley 480 and haven't found it punishing yet. I'll move down notch when it does. A couple 44 Specials and 41 magnums will probably always be at home with me. Surprisingly, I've grown quite fond of a Glock 44. It seems to find it's way into my kit on nearly every outing. Mine is superbly accurate and dependable with 15 of the 17 22 LR loads I tried in it and weighs 16 skinny little ounces fully loaded.

I built a .500 Linebaugh double rifle years ago…wouldn’t want to shoot it in a handgun!

At 81 and in good health my 16 gauge ejector sterlingworth at 5 lbs 13 ounces with a second set of 20 gauge barrels would be hard to beat! Bobby

Rotflmao!
JR

Lloyd, my post was half tongue in cheek. I'm way to busy looking forward to life and all the great things still to enjoy and look forward to, to worry about what I hope will be a quick downward slide. Hell, send the right woman my way and I'd have another kid!

Gutsy, dude. I wouldn’t try that. Might just be my experience, but, “Right Woman” is a moving target.

I digress.

Best,
Ted

Karl
You are right. I try , and I pray to God to help me finish well . I am pretty sure the few guns I have are nothing more than icons of my sporting dog hunting life . I don't think of them as any more than that .....

I know I'm a nut case, but some of my dove, quail and duck guns are more than that to me. I have given them names that, to me, reflect their "personality". They're the ones I have really bonded with over the years and days afield. Maddie, Susie, Sledgehammer ....... my guns have been an important part of my life for some 62 years. Nothing about that has changed, as I ease into my senior years.

I’ve never named a gun.

Now dogs, I’ve named. Always somewhat obsolete people names.They were all Setters, kept everybody in familiar territory. Paddy, Gypsy, Stokeley, Louise. I’m thinking the next pooch (Louise is 9 as I write) will be a small, female Gordon Setter named Helen.

I suppose I could name a gun. Maybe Norse names for their Gods? Thor, Magnus, Fenrir, Oden, Loki?

I gotta’ ponder that.

Best,
Ted

Like many here, I have a few to choose from... but for the sake of tradition, my last hunt, coming up sooner than I'd like, will be with a London 'best,' a Charles Lancaster 12-bore central-fire breech-loader from 1864.

A guy could do worse....


Best,
Ted

Children should not be playing with such things

Not a Linebaugh, but I have a friend, a petite lady who lives in AK, that hunts bears with pistols. She has taken five, with perfect success. She will not shoot one at more than 20 yards. She graduated from a .44 Magnum to a .454 Casull, and now uses a .500 S & W. She is an amazing lady.

Right now, I can't imagine anything preempting my Cashmore Paragon. But who knows what will cross my path yet?

My guns are like friends in that when I find a new one or go somewhere with an old one, I am expecting to have a good time. Even if at the end I'm soaked in sweat and covered with burrs and blood.

Well, you know what assumptions will get you.

I DID say “right” woman. Hahaha. They are hard to come by and worth treasuring when you find one. I’m not holding my breath.

I can’t be with a woman who can shoot a bigger gun than me.

James is looking, not holding his breath. A match made on doublegun?

Best,
Ted

Not sure I like the premise mainly because only one gun is beyond me. I will make an odd stab anyway.

I don’t count inherited family guns.

I could only imagine (not likely to happen) cutting down my collection to four guns. A 12ga Boss SLE, 16ga Purdey SLE, 16ga Christophe SLE, 24ga French BLNE.

Lastly, I don’t see cutting down anytime soon, other than to finance other options. I like all the guns I have, or I would not have them.

I can understand that Ted, and we may not be alone. This lady has never married, guides hunters for moose and bear, and spends over a week in the bush alone when she hunts for herself.

Married or not, she's one amazing lady, this Brenda Crim.

http://www.akmissions.com/brenda-crim.html

Steve,

An outstanding pinfire. Or is it a converted pinfire? Not sure from the angle provided but it would appear the hammers have been changed or modified.

I'm thinking my last gun should be a 36cal. smooth bore single barrel fowler with a flint lock.

Little Fox Sterlingworth 20 gauge ejector, upgraded to an AE made to fit me with custom wood. Choked .004 and .014. 5 lb 13 oz. Might have it laid beside me in the box along with a bunch of dog ashes. Maybe a fired shell or two.

I've heard it said that "God does not subtract the time from a man's life spent bird hunting". That said, I plan on being out there every fall season that I can stand upright!
Karl

Not a pin-fire at all, but an original central-fire, built for the early French Schneider cartridge design. The action is a slide-and-drop (another French design, by Gastinne). Lancaster made his early central-fire guns in two types, either for his proprietary base-fire cartridge, or Schneider’s. A fascinating gun, with this one having been nitro-proofed.

At 50, I'm already sure this pretty lady will be my hunter colleage forever.

Mr. Campero, that single-shot is a beauty. I have an Army& Navy British 20ga single with the hammer, but mine has a top lever. I can't hit very well with it, but I enjoy carrying it. I've always felt the old hammer singles were the coolest shotguns around...Geo

Stunningly beautiful gun, Mr Campero!

And I agree with Mr Newbern, hammer singles are truly special.

Mr. Newbern, I'm agree with you. Old hammer single barrel are special. Show us your Army&Navy, please. Mine has 28 ga chamber but 24 overvored barrel. Great and fast patterns!

Mr. Nash, what an outstanding underlever single barrel! Saw in other thread! Lovely 16 ga Thomas Seymour!

I'd be proud to if I could figure out how to post a picture on this forum...Geo

When does my "dotage" start? I must be getting close at 76.

My father hunted through the fall he was 80, 1987/8 season. Carried his 12-gauge AE-Grade Remington and his 2-frame 12-gauge Parker Bros. every bit as often as the 20-gauge Winchester 101 that I brought him when our ship stopped in Japan in 1972. I think he quit going because all of his buddies were dead and I lived on the other side of the country.

Dear sir, it is easy to post pictures in this forum

1 Go for example to Imgbb.com


2 Upload the pictures you want to post.


3 Copy this code and paste it into your message (complet BBCode is better)


Hope this can help you.

Regards!

OMG I like single shots. That's a beaut!

My Tolley isn't a hammer gun but it's still pretty damn fine.

Geo,
If you can email me photos, I’ll get them up for you.

Best,
Ted

tedjs@usfamily.net

Hi Steve, Still collecting pinfire info, and pictures?

I guess I'm already in my dotage at 83 and some health problems, I can't walk far enough to hunt grouse anymore.
I can't walk good enough to shoot sporting clays, but I do shoot skeet ( not very well).
Although I have a lot of guns it seems I mostly shoot a 20 gauge Parker Trojan and a Remington 20 gauge model 31.
Pete

All my Model 12's, except my 28 gauge- shells are too expensive, and in MI we can't hunt dove and quail- and those midget game birds are just right for a midget gauge gun. Grandson Jordan (senior in HS-Honor Student- has been shooting my 20 gauge M12- 28" mod. solid rib field gun--and is a good and very safe shot with it, as well as the Winchester .22's and the Colt Woodsman, and after going out with these past 2 Sats. for ducks and geese (succesfully) is getting his Fed. duck stamp and will join me next Sat-- He'll use my field M12 12 gauge 28" full mfg. 1921--I am proud of him. RWTF

Wow! That's stunning Steve, how often do you shoot it and what do you put through it?

I guess I’m down to one or two hunts a year now, so it doesn’t come out as often as it deserves. The barrels are nitro proofed, and I use low-pressure 2 1/2” shells, currently Challenger brand, with 7 1/2 pellets in a 7/8oz load. The gun would fit me better if I shot with a stiff collar and top hat, which I might do one of these days!

Afraid I am already there--and still shooting my CSMC M-21.

I looked up Challenger shells, pretty interesting. I have to run up to Toronto in the next few weeks, so I was thinking of grabbing a flat, but the pain to get it back across the border is just too much. Speaking of which, any great double gun shops or resources I should check out around Toronto?

That's what you do when you don't have Sporting dogs to name ...

Here’s my dainty hammer single. However at 10-10 and 36” I will probably have to give it up in my dotage…

When does one's "dotage" commence?

Well....

dotage
dō′tĭj
noun
A deterioration of mental faculties associated with aging.
The state of one who dotes; feebleness or imbecility of mind in old age; second childhood; senility.
Weak and foolish affection; excessive fondness.

Harsh. Really, my wrists just ain’t what they used to be. Oh, vision is down a notch.

But, the neurons don’t seem scrambled, just yet.

Best,
Ted

Wonderful gun! I do love those singles.

My guess is when you start to dote about it....

Wow!! You just gave me the excuse/reason I was searching for to slip another one into my safe. My lovely wife is tired of hearing about the guns I have bought for her - that she has never seen!! While on the subject since I am 73 with a bad back and shoulders, I have found myself drifting to the smaller gauges and lighter guns in the past few years. For so many years I thought it required a 12 gauge to kill anything larger than a squirrel or rabbit, but rest assured I have come to dramatically different conclusions thanks to many on this board leading me with their discussions into the world of the small gauges. I now hunt upland with nothing other than a 16 Dickinson double or an A5 (new gas powered version) in 16 for the largest and a Dickinson double and Ruger o/u 28 for the smallest. But, there is yet hope for me to completely go over to the small gauge side - I just picked up last Friday a little Turkish made .410 that is just slick as an eel!! It gets baptized on quail this year.

[quote=Stanton Hillis]I remembered that thread about the Baikal face lift when I saw the pics of it again yesterday. It surely was a transformation.

Once again, well done, damascus.[/quote

How can I find it? I would like to read it and see the early photos. ]