doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Family Doubles

I've noticed for years that a number of our members here are lucky enough to have very fine family side by sides in their collections. Guns that have come down through family inheritance. Sadly, my family tended to employ more utilitarian firearms; I have my Grandfather's A-5 16ga, and an Uncle's Remington 11-48, but alas, no doubles. Not even any conversation as I was growing up about old doubles in the family.

Here's an opportunity to showcase your heirloom doubles. Besides I'd like to see pictures for myself of just what I've missed through my own inept choice of doublegun poor antecedents!...Geo

Well, I have one and it was my gateway drug into the world of doubles. Bought new by my great grandfather in 1909 (or thereabouts) it was passed down to my grandfather, father and then to me. We have a pic somewhere of my grandfather showing off the day's bag in southern Manitoba from 1942. (He was a major in WWI, injuries left him unable to do further military duty). Includes a couple mallards, a few sharptails and a wild turkey.

When, for some reason the gun peaked my interest around 2003, it had sat unused for nearly 50 years, as my dad was a one gun guy...M12 16 gauge.

By luck and without knowing how skilled the craftsmen would turn out to be, I sent the gun off to a full restoration that included fixing the doubling problem, refinishing the stock, new case colours and new bluing. Unknown to me at the time, CJO did the bluing and the CCH. I would meet him later.

I use it on blue bird days when I am jump shooting ducks and can take care of it. It has also been my turkey gun of late. Original full and full chokes.

I had it restored as a present to my dad but have to admit, I fell for SxS the day it came back and I could see how beautiful they could be. He gave it to me on my birthday about 8 years ago. That was only after he had a detached retina problem and was advised not to shoot anymore. That's what he gets for playing squash into his eighties!


Please note, the wood finish is fine on the cheek, just a problem with the photo.

Canvasback, that is one he** of a nice gun and great story.
Kirk

I have my wife's grandfather's Remington model 11, 12 gauge, with a polychoke. Was his bird (quail) gun. Kicks like a young mule.

C/Back that is one fine example of an early Fox! "A" Grade with 1st style engraving I think?...Geo

That is a nice clean Fox. I inherited two A5 16s standard weights.Bobby

James, that is a beautiful and well done restoration. Great legacy you have. My half-century of hunting and fishing with Billy has given me the enjoyment of seeing guns his grandfather bought and used. Billy's dad passed them to him and Billy will ultimately pass them to his son. One is a four-barrel set of custom made barrels for a Remington M-32. The other fine double is a 20 gauge Browning Superposed. His M-32 with the 20 ga. barrel is below as is the Browning.

You got it George. That's exactly what it is. Although of course they aren't original finishes so diminished value for a collector. But I didn't care and neither does my dad or my son. We wanted the gun in condition to provide enjoyment for another 100 years.

Thank to the others for their kind words. My brother and I, at the same time as this gun, also had a Win M1894 SRC in Win .32 restored to as new condition for my dad. It had been bought new in 1904 by my father's other grandfather. And we presented the two restored guns to him at the same time. He loved what we had done for him. He gave the M1894 to my brother.

James, didn't Doug do that gun for you?

SRH

No Stan, Doug never touched this one. He did a beautiful job on a set of 16 gauge Sterlingworth barrels (among others) for me and of course we talked about Foxes a lot.

In fact, knowing that I had a few barrels that had been blued by CJO, as soon as I would get a set back from Doug, he'd want me to get his barrels out and CJO's barrels out and get on the phone with him so he could have me compare. He was DEDICATED to doing the best job possible and wanted to compare his work to others he respected.

Just as a side note, I had a couple of phone messages from Doug that I couldn't bring myself around to deleting. I guess I'm a sentimental fool but I couldn't do it. Anyway, buggered up my phone this past weekend. Lost 2 1/2 years of data, photos and other information. Including Doug's voice.