My first side x side was a 16-bore Stevens 311 with 28" barrels that I purchased from my uncle in 1969 for $40. Gun handled like a fence post; but it was the gun with which I learned to shoot doves, and I made a few phenomenal and memorable shots with that old club. From that gun I graduated to an A5 Light Twelve, with which I bagged a load of game; but shooting doves with that gun became so easy that I needed a new challenge so graduated to a new Ithaca SKB 280E 12-bore. I loved that gun until it began to double; and by that time I really wanted a "vintage" gun; as I was reading too much nostalgia stuff. I then owned a variety of odd stuff till my wife gifted me my first real double gun, a very old and high quality Fredrick T. Baker 12-bore with 100% engraving coverage and which featured, unbeknownst to me, a set of blued Damascus barrels.
This was my only shotgun for several years and I hunted it hard, killing everything from snipe to deer. One day I decided it sure would look better in the gun cabinet if it had some new finishes; so I send it off to Del Grego, who promptly replied that it's barrels were Damascus and included a copy of an article on the terrible dangers of shooting Damascus barreled shotguns. This scared the crap out of me, as I'd already seen a Field Grade Smith blow and remove a good portion of a man's hand (that barrel was plugged with a wad). Later, when Del Grego returned the gun, it looked great and I tried to continue shooting my new prize; but wasn't having much success as I was too focused on the fingers of my left hand. I haven't fired that gun since the mid-90's, but it remains special; and is only double gun with which I won't part.
My first "real" American classic was an 1890 vintage Parker 16-bore G Grade gun that I purchased from New England Firearms in 1985 with none other than David Trevallion acting as salesman. Although the gun had a beautifully figured stock, it was really rough; so I asked David for his opinion and will never forget his response, "well Tom, you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear"! But I tried. I sent that gun to Del Grego also and he proceeded to make it into a "new" Parker; only that he insisted the gun be mono-blocked with new 20-gauge tubes. As this was a "O" frame gun, the result was OK; but I was always disappointed that he refused to return the gun to its original 16-bore configuration. But I killed a lot of game with that little gun and was fairly happy until the next temptation came along; a 34" Parker DHE 12-bore with Titanic barrels. The owner and I swapped even-up; but I hated that gun afterwards and it wasn't long before it had a new home. Knew very little in those days; but obviously, with what we know now about Parkers that gun would still be in my possession. Since then I've owned, sold, and traded dozens of double guns; don't know that I have a favorite shooter nowadays, given that I have almost no opportunities to hunt anymore, but do enjoy owning (looking at) my remaining Syracuse and Hollenbeck doubles.
And if you're not bored at this point, I'll share my yellow hammer story. Some years ago, while my wife and I lived in Watkinsville, GA; we went thru a period where a yellow hammer gave us the devil. It was in the spring, and maybe this bird was staking out his territory; but every morning as it began to crack daylight, he'd lite in the gutter above the window next to our bed and let the world know he was there. And trust me when I tell you that he could make one hell of a racket hammering on those gutters! Obviously it was quite a start to be awakened in such manner, and I'd get up and go beat on the wall and window in an attempt to run him off; but in no time he'd be back. This went on for about three weeks, and during that time I'd had enough so that I was stalking that bird with a vengeance; but it seemed I couldn't get the drop on that little beast no matter how hard I tried. He'd either see or hear me as I tried to sneak into position, or fly toward a neighbor's house making a shot impossible (the only safe shot would be towards the creek below the house). So this saga continued till early one Saturday morning. I'd been on the road, got home late, was exhausted and in a deep sleep when the bird's banging started again. So I jumped out of bed and grabbed my little one frame PH Grade 12-bore Parker and headed to the basement (the basement door was below our bedroom). He was still telling the news when I grabbed the door knob and threw open that door; instantly this offender was out of that gutter and sailing thru the tree branches towards the creek. I've no idea how I made that shot standing there bare-footed and clad only in my BVD's; but that irritating beast was dead in air at the shot. Thoroughly awake at this point, I grabbed some shoes and britches and retrieved my prize. It was quite a pretty bird I thought; and given that I'd put a great deal of effort into bagging my "trophy", I though it only fitting that it be mounted. So I carefully wrapped my bird and took it to the local taxidermist only to be treated like an idiot, "how dare you bring that thing into my shop, why that's a song bird; which by the way has been illegally killed. So git out of here lest a game warden come by and write me up for possession of an illegal animal; why I could lose my license"!
Last edited by topgun; 02/13/18 07:00 PM.
