The Silver Snipe was my "go to" gun for a few seasons, until my Dad made me get my own guns. I had to carry it open when I was a kid, and closed it when my Dad's Irish Setter pointed something. When my Darne was in France for a new stock, I used it for grouse hunting, and my Gordon pointed a grouse, which flew almost straight up-I shot the bird, and it came straight down and my setter caught it in mid air before it hit the ground!
A few seasons ago, I collected a rooster with the Silver Snipe that a hunting partner had expended two rounds at, making for a shot that was all of 50 yards for me, and the stars were obviously all in alignment, as I got him. At that range, I usually don't. Rubbing salt into an open wound was the fact that my English Setter, trained in my backyard, swam out and got the bird, returning through a dense stand of cat tails to do it-his high dollar dog with professional training every year didn't retrieve. The gun has seen a lot of 1 1/4oz Federal pheasant loads in 5 and 6 shot over the years, likely at the high end of what it was proofed for.
My Dad never exactly warmed up to the Silver Snipe, nor did my little brother, but, just going by results in the field, and the memories I have with it, it is one of the finest guns I own.
Best,
Ted
