Justin Julian
10-07-2017, 07:26 PM
Several years ago I purchased this 12 gauge CHE. Even though the rib matting ran right to the end, the book confirmed its 26" barrels and cylinder/full choke combo as original. I would imagine such an unusual choke combination would have been the result of a special order. The metal was scuffed and oxidized in places. The wood was even worse. Repair codes suggest it was sent back to Remington for a restock, and the results suggest it was done on a tight budget. The wood grain was not up to standards for the grade, and the checkering pattern was D grade instead of C. Then things only got worse when someone cut the stock down to 12", probably for a kid. I picked out a nice blank and off she went to Brian Dudley for a restock, with a skeleton butt plate and C grade checkering pattern. After polishing off the oxidation, several screws, the trigger guard, and butt plate were sent to Noelle Feutch for engraving. I (Classic Case Colors LLC) polished and rust blued the barrels, replaced the damaged beads, and color case hardened the frame and forend iron. The last step was a quick trip back to Miller Single Trigger company for a trigger tune-up, and the CHE was ready to go afield once again. The only problem was that by the time I got her back last year, all the bird seasons had closed. So it was a long wait until today when I finally had a chance to take her out into the grouse woods of northern Idaho. Back in the field where she belongs, she managed to scratch down a limit on her maiden voyage. It has been a long journey, but in my view, well worth every step.