Originally Posted by Phil Yearout (Post 442768)

I've related my fondness for the 16 so many times and in so many places that it's become a cliche. My dad shot a Savage 16 - a "poor man's A5" - and when I got old enough to shoot a real shotgun it was that one. It was the only gun I owned and when years later I went in search of my first sxs shotgun it had to be a 16ga. And it was. I have 12's and 20's and even a little .410, but if I'm afield it's likely a 16 hanging in the crook of my arm. I've never lauded it as superior or cared what anyone else shoots; I just like 'em. I've got four now. and if I coulda ever found a 16ga SBT I'd probably be shooting it too. I've been a member at 16ga.com since its inception, but frankly I've never cared a whit whether the 16 lived or died. I've got enough ammo stockpiled to last my remaining days, so...

This is the gun that started it for me; thanks Pop...

https://i.imgur.com/JKc6xXql.jpg

Originally Posted by DavidCook (Post 443076)

That is the exact same gun that started me !! I still have it. It was my dad's gun. When I restored the wood, I found a happy birthday note from a lady who had bought it new for her (I assume) husband in 1952. I know the entire provenance of it. It has been around for as long as I could remember (I was born in 57) so I am going to make a fairly educated guess that my dad bought it from the original owner.

I recently restored the wood, put in new friction rings and recoil spring. The blueing is still good.

Originally Posted by Phil Yearout (Post 443305)

Nice! You're 10 years younger than I. My dad bought two identical guns, both in 16ga; my oldest brother got the other one. He gave his to one of his sons and tried for years to buy dad's gun from me for the other son, but I just wasn't ready to turn loose of it. I finally gave it to my nephew on a trip a couple years ago, and I regret that I didn't do it while my brother was still around to see it; he would have liked that.