Posted in DOUBLES on Jan 11th, 2012
Guyot is a gunmaker I’ve written about before. While I’ve seen a number of double-barrel shotguns marked with the Guyot name, I know very little about the maker. About all I’ve been able to come up with is that they made some real nice guns. This boxlock at Jaqua’s is an excellent example. It’s a 16g [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Jan 7th, 2012
Parkers double barrel shotguns are probably the most popular, and most collectible, of the vintage America side by sides. Here’s a good look at one of the earliest Parker designs – the Under Lifter hammergun. I handled a number of under-lifter Parkers. They’re surprisingly easy to open/close.
Posted in DOUBLES on Dec 16th, 2011
Otto Bock was some kind of sporting-good supplier based in Berlin during the late 19th & early 20th century. This double-barrel shotgun for sale on Gunsinternationl.com bears his name, even though I’m pretty sure he didn’t actually make it himself. Whatever the gun’s story is, it’s a hell of a nice side by side in awesome [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Nov 20th, 2011
In the last 182 years, W.W. Greener has made thousands of double barrel shotguns. May of these shotguns have made there way into the US. The ones you usually are boxlocks like this FH 70, this 12 gauge Empire. Sidelocks like this are less common, but you do see them (that one was converted to a straight [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Nov 12th, 2011
Here a few good looking guns that have caught my eye lately: Ithaca/SKB 280E, 12g, 28″ – this is a nice looking, well made boxlock with ejectors and shootable dimensions. These guns are solid, reliable, and the single trigger always makes the gun go bang. Perfect for ducks or pheasants. 12g Purdey – Even [...]
Posted in ENJOYING BOTH on Nov 8th, 2011
Woodcock cover can be thick. How thick? Like walking through a box packed full of spaghetti. Along with the branches scraping at your clothes and scratching you face, there’s are the slippery rocks and uneven ground beneath your feet. That makes the shooting tough. Or at least that’s my excuse for all the missing. Check [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Oct 13th, 2011
The 2 7/8″ 10 gauge is a load lost to time. Back in the late 19th century, it was the most popular load in this country and lots of American double barrel shotguns were made to shoot it. But as powders improved and shooting styles changes, more and more hunters swapped their 10s for 12s. [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Oct 1st, 2011
Post-1913 L.C. Smiths Field grades are the Rodney Dangerfields of the double barrel shotgun world. They get no respect. The disdain many people have for these guns isn’t fair, though. Many of them are nice hunting guns, and even though some of them have problems with cracking behind the lockplates, many of them are fine. [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Sep 30th, 2011
Work! It really gets in the way. If I didn’t need the money, I wouldn’t go. It’s been a busy couple of weeks at the office, so I’ve had little time for being here (or in the field). BUT tomorrow is October 1 — the best time of the year –and I’ll be out bright and early, [...]
Posted in DOUBLES on Sep 23rd, 2011
A W.W. Greener with a straight grip and a top safety is one of the double-barrel shotguns on my current want list. Nice Greeners are pretty easy to find. Greener made tons of guns, and many of them were imported into the US. Right now, there are at least a half dozen nice ones on [...]
