I think that you are correct in noting that there seems to be some connection between double barreled shotguns and the Deep South. I have one opinion of why this may be true, and it is based on my family history which is deeply rooted in the rural agricultural Deep South since before the RevWar.

At the close of the War Between The States and through Reconstruction, men in the South were forbidden to own rifles or rifled muskets. Enforcement of this was under the control of a Federal Judge located in each county of each "Reconstructed State", and it was enforced. Shotguns and smoothbores were permitted, and when I was a youngster it wasn't at all rare for an old musket to turn up that had been bored out of all rifling and used as a shotgun.

In 1874 a riot occurred during the national elections in Barbour County, Alabama, and one of my great grandfathers was involved and was charged by the County Federal Judge for, quote, "importing into Eufaula large quantities of the new BREECH LOADING DOUBLE BARRELLED SHOTGUNS". Two points of law aparently were at issue here. First, the issue of two barrels which was not considered acceptable under the terms of Reconstruction, and, second, "breech loading" which had not even been considered under Reconstruction requirements!

Human nature being what it is, I think it is safe to assume a man deprived of an effective weapons system would try as hard as possible to improve on the weapons system he was permitted to have to offset the disadvantages. This is my opinion on why there is a preference for doubleguns in the Deep South. My opinion may warrant some consideration, but it may be totally off-the-wall incorrect! Who knows?

Attention reb87....I can post photos on other message boards through photobucket, but can't figure out how to post them here!Recently I took in trade an old back action lock doublegun,a J.P.Sauer & Sohn made in 1890-95 which was "liberated" from Sauer's factory armory when it was overrun by American GI's in 1945. It's a GI Bringback. If I email you a couple of photos and, after your looking at them and considering them interesting enough to post, would you be interested in doing so?

Last edited by woodsrunner38; 12/06/07 11:52 AM.