I posted earlier about my Christmas present from my lovely wife and photos were requested so here they are:
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As you can see in the photo the stock was shortened at some point then rather clumsily extended again with a pretty pedestrian piece of walnut. I considered fixing this but decided that it is part of the gun's history and to leave it alone.
Here are the details from the previous post:
God, I love my wife. Last year for Christmas she got me a CZ Upland Ultralight 12 gauge o/u. This year she went a bit further afield and found me a T.W.Stake 16 gauge SxS. Then she got on the internet and helped me identify the proofs and research the history. The wood of the stock and fore grip is well-worn, but the grain is beautiful. The metal bits are about 90%+ condition. I am totally geeked about this gun.
The first thing I noticed is that the engraving is deep and razor-sharp. Tastefully executed and not overdone. It has double triggers, a Greener lock, selective ejectors so it will only eject the shell you have fired. The 'Fluid-steel' Krupp barrels are 28 inches. The right-hand-bore/front trigger is cylinder bore, the left is improved/modified. The choke markings are in a style indicating a manufacture date between 1910- 1924, and there are complete nitro proofs. The bores are in excellent condition and the chambers accept modern 2-3/4 inch ammunition. Lockup is bank-vault tight, balance is exceptional. The trigger pulls are light and crisp and the fit and finish is impressive. When it's in the 'safe' position a gold-inlaid 'S' is exposed.
I've been out shooting trap with it a few times, and I love the way it shoots. Now I'll keep going until I love the way I shoot... At 6.2 pounds it will make a great field gun, and I hope to take it over to my brother's place in Eastern Washington for upland birds this year.
It is amazing to me that a shotgun of this quality can be had for a few hundred dollars. The modern equivalent would cost several times as much.
Now the wife is insisting that if I am going to have so many shotguns I need to go hunting more often. Oh, and since it is possible to find damascus barreled shooters I'll need one of those, too. Is it any wonder that I love her?
