I have enjoyed the Model 59 for the last 20 yrs in the grouse woods. Reading Frank Woolner's books I had never heard of one until then. I think they are most at home in the grouse and woodcock covers, the rearward balance point lends itself to the fast point and shoot that the game demands.
I would recommend to anyone that shoots these to stay with a 3 dram load and 1 1/8 oz of shot. From what I have been told by many old time lovers of the design it is a steady diet of heavy fast shells and not timing the action properly that caused the cracks in the frames. They were a long time favorite of high volume dove shooters because of the low recoil.
I would love to see this design modernized with carbon fiber on the barrel, titanium internals and synthetic stocks.
