doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Best of the Working Man's Doubles

I think farmer's gun is more suited, it evokes pastorale scenes. I have trouble with the tight-wad small businessman's Parker. His week of grouse hunting in New England, all at the expense of the workingman's paycheck.
Farmer's gun, is better!

That is exactly what I do myself. Although the high grade guns are great to look at, as I work on these lesser guns, I wonder how many stories of days in the field and the Thanksgiving bird they could tell. I do my best to treat them with all the respect due to them for their years of faithful service.

This has been a truly enjoyable thread. I've got to weigh in and cast my "totally unbiased" vote for the Nitro Special. At 6lbs 5oz and 6lb 7oz, the two 16's which normally accompany me after grouse, they are nice to carry, handle well and are practically indestructible. If you move to an A grade, you might even lose a couple of ounces.

I also have to comment on some specific posts above, first to outdoorlvr who was wondering about machining a NS to A grade shape. Although the engraving is different, I'd suggest just looking for an NS built after 1937. These frames have the more sculptured look.



With regard to the Wards guns (and Western Arms), it seems that guns were produced for Wards under both "brands". As mentioned above, there is a difference in the frame material between Western Arms and Nitro Special. There is also differences in the top lever, the trigger guard and the engraving. Below, you can see a Wards Deluxe (Western Arms), a Western Arms and a Nitro Special. Note the frame shapes. Hope all this is of some value.



Roy

Sweet guns Roy.

All of these are "working mans guns". GE LeFever,Nitro Special, Stevens 5100, Ithaca NID, Belgian 16, N.R.Davis,Ithaca Flues,and another Nitro (it's a little short)

I'm surprised no none has mentioned the Iver Johnson Hercules. It was quite a strong action and the one I had was a nice shotgun.

It is a shame but true that the working man's gun of American make has now joined the passenger pigeon, apparently never to return. The sad decline of the Stevens/Fox Mod. B /3ll & 5100 series can be chronicled by deterioration of quality materials and handwork (not that there was ever too much of that even in their heydays). Beech was substituted for walnut, pressed in checkering replaced the crude albeit handcut stuff, forend irons were replaced by plastic or graphite moulding. Compare a gun made in the 40's or 50's with one made a few years later and you will be dismayed at the loss of quality. Older Stevens marked "Ranger, Western-Field, Eastern Arms," etc. represent the best of what may always have been somewhat of a clunker, but at least an honest working man's gun. Chopper

dubblet, that's a nice layout! Chopper, you're right. My 5100 16ga is marked Springfield, my 5100 20 is marked Ranger; my 5100 .410 is the only one that admits to being a Stevens! The 20 came with twin ivory beads; all three have real walnut and crude but handcut checkering. From what I understand the 5100 designation ended in 1949. I wish I knew the stories these old "clunkers" could tell!

Double,

Lets see a close up of the straight stocked Nitro! It looks like a nice piece of wood from what I can see.

Tim

Dubble:

I second that! I'd like to see more details on that one.

Roy