Back in the late 1970's I guess it was I came across a good buy on a Birmingham proofed J P Clabrough & Bros 28" 12 gauge Damascus. Not a super light weight 2 6 lbs 14 oz's but light enough to carry well & had near perfect balance "For Me", 1/4 choke in each barrel with good stock fit & just the right amount of cast off. While I never kept records I can truthfully say that while using that gun I had a higher kill to shots fired ratio than any other gun I have used before or since. I don't recall the exact load used but loaded 1 oz of either #6 or #8 shot @ around 1125-1150 fps depending on use. Powder was the then new on the market DuPont HyScore (pre 700X). I shot predominately quail, rabbit & an occasional woodcock.
Woodcock were not predominant in the area I mostly hunted but were an occasional bonus while either quail or rabbit hunting.
I recall the first season I used this gun I shot around a dozen to maybe 15 woodcock, but the amazing thing was however many it was that was how many shells I expended, didn't miss a single one that year with this Clabrough. I shot it heavily about three seasons & then foolishly sold it. After long years of regret it later cams back home to roost but by then I was not out & about hunting so much as previously so has not been put to much more use.
A good shooting gun is not necessarily dependent on being a "Best" by any means. This Clabrough was likely built in the late 1890's, is well built, but certainly not a "Best". It is a back action sidelock extractor gun with side plates which resemble a bar action. In an 1895/96 Clabrough Golcher & Co of San Francisco, Cal this gun sold new for US $50.00. This compares to, from the same catalog, a Parker PH @ $52.00, Lefever G @ $45.00, Rem A @ $45.00, Ithaca #2 @ $48.00, Baker B @ $50.00 or L C Smith #1 @ $45.00, all extractor guns.
My old Clabrough has no built in wear compensation at all to the locking bolts or hinge joint but some 120 years later is still tight & on face. makes one wonder about the value of compensation. The one thing you don't want to do though, unlike a Lefever, is take it apart with the hammers down. it's a bugger getting it recocked to put back together.
