Perry,
It would appear that Mr. Bodio has been littering the board with his castoffs:
At the time he ordered his new Darne slug gun, the subject of the Double Gun Journal piece titled "21st Century Jungle Gun", I accepted an old (1946 vintage) R10 12 gauge he owned, in trade. Inspite of being the importer for Darne for a decade and a half, I never got around to ordering a gun for myself, and the restock of this gun, from a demi-pistolet to a straight stock, in St Etienne, while I watched, was as close as I got. Someone in the gun's past took out most of the choke, and gave it a backbore, but, I have used it with the Cylinder and Improved cylinder chokes it has now to good effect on pheasants and grouse since I got it finished, before 9/11.
Importing guns and ammunition was a lot more fun, pre 9/11, but, I digress.
I've used the gun a lot, the sling is particularly handy when you have an old dog, or, Father, that needs some help getting out of the woods. I would sling the Darne and carry my Dad's Silver Snipe for him, when he got tired, during the last few years of his life. I also had a Gordon that was still hunting at age 14, and a few times I carried him out of the woods, with the Darne slung.
It was preferable to leaving either of them at home.
I haven't spoken to Steve in a few months, he was running up against some health issues related to aging, and sold quite a few of his guns, but, was hunting more then either he or his doctors expected at that time. He was down to a Remington model 17, and a 16 gauge Halifax, last we spoke. He had quite a few rifles left at that time.
I'll contact him later this week. I hope he is well.
I haven't used it in a few seasons, but, I also own a 16 gauge Ithaca 37 pump, and they are a fine birdgun.
Do enjoy your trip. Bring plenty of ammunition, or, a second 12 gauge gun. You can get 12 gauge ammunition at just about any gas station or small town hardware store.
Best,
Ted
