Hi all, just one of these cold winter day threads to ease the boredom. So...how and when did you evolve into a DG fan?
Mine started about 35 years ago, prior to that my dad bought me a 12ga Springfield 67 pumpgun. I shot it for a couple years then I got a 1100 auto that I used for all my hunting, but always had a sneeking desire for a double. I remember reading an article by Claire Reese about 20ga SxS's. That article got the ball rolling for me. I had a Remington 878 12ga that I sold so I could fund the purchase of a SxS, the guy I sold it to asked why I was selling. I told him that I wanted a SxS, he told me that I'd be back shooting an auto within a year. Never did happen. My first SxS was a Springfield 511 in 20ga (what a piece that one was!!), then I moved on to a 311 and a BS-E, all 20's. That in turn lead to better and more quality guns as the years passed until I'm at where I am now.
To be honest the learning curve was hard in the early days, no Internet, etc and few articles about SxS's in the Gun publications. After getting a PC I found this board and boy did the info flood in. I'm still learning a lot from his board and others. For that I thank each and everyone of you.
I've also been able to pass on my love of SxS's to my two sons and one of my daughters, I hope they will pass on the tourch to their kids someday.
It's been a fun road and I hope to continue on it for a few more years.
So...how about you?
Best!
Greg
My Dad, who was born in 1896, served with General Pershing and Captain Patton on the Mexican Border chasing Pancho Villa prior to WW1. In berween WW1 & 2 (he served in both) he sold Packard, Auburn, Cord & Duesenberg automobiles. n the 1920's there was the threat of a race riot in Columbia, SC. The owner of the dealership went down to the local sporting goods store and purchased a 12 gauge Fox Sterlingworth for home protection. After things cooled down his wife didn't want the gun in the house & so he gave it to my Dad who kept it the trunk of his car in an canvas breakdown case (his friends were constantly taking him hunting). The trunk must have leaked because the imprint of the canvas was etched into the barrels by the time I came along in 1939. Before he pased away in 1974 I had the Fox completely restored to "like new" & gave it back to him and he was almost in tears remembering hunts long past. I am sure that is how my affection for double guns came about.
Best Regards, George
