jOe, you can't buy it-then the magic won't work. It must be left to you, by a felon, who can't legally own it.
Hey, I never said I sold my doubles. I just tend to save them, for when the bluebirds are flying. We don't get as much of that here as, say, in Memphis or Amarillo, so a Minnesota guy's got to be prepared.
I'll also admit, that as I've grown older, the flush is more exciting than the kill-but, if I am to kill, I expect and demand profiency of myself, and my gun of choice. Given the option, I'll not watch game suffer at my hands with even the most beautiful of guns.
I'll further the concept a bit-the "one gun" people, who want to believe one gun can do it all, don't live in my neighborhood. My grouse gun isn't a trap gun, my pheasant gun doesn't shoot duck tower, a goose gun is just that, and so on. I believe that thinking about the job at hand will lead you to choices about the best tool for the task at hand. If you are worried about the wood or innards of that 100 year old beauty of a double on a true rough shoot, you aren't focused on the task at hand, bringing death swiftly, and, mercifully, to the prey.
Pretty is as pretty does.
As always, there is room at my house for an ugly gun. As long as the shooter is expert with it. It won't be ugly at all, in that case. And, I have parted with some very pretty guns. Mostly, for good reason.
Best,
Ted
