It was a Great Day!

[Stan Hoover]

Was able to enjoy a great first day of dove season here in PA again, my favorite time of the year is here again. We had exceptional weather with low humidity, hunting was a little slow but the doves started to show up in the evening.
What's not to like, some great action, an excited dog who loves to bird hunt, and being able to shoot a vintage SxS that was meant for bird hunting!

[Randy G Roberts]

Nice work Stanley. Looks like a very cool Grade 3 possibly ?

[Stan Hoover]

You are correct Randy,
It is of course a top lever, about as close to new condition as I've had the opportunity to acquire.

A 3 frame, 12 of course, and weighs 9 lbs 6 oz. Why only 30" and only regular chamber length?

It seems like it could have been a special order gun due to it being a 3 frame, but nothing noted in the Letter>

[Chris Robenalt]

Vintage style hunting for sure Stan! I enjoy a hammer gun day. I may do one this first season myself. Are the dove flying pretty well back there?

[Stan Hoover]

Vintage style hunting for sure Stan! I enjoy a hammer gun day. I may do one this first season myself. Are the dove flying pretty well back there?

Hello Chris,

The dove seem to be a little less plentiful here local, we spent a few hrs after them yesterday but only saw a little action in the evening. It is all about being where the dove are, that being where cornfields have been harvested currently.

[Stan Hoover]

Hope you guys are all having fun out there, doves are a little sparse but we're enjoying some beautiful weather here in PA.

[keavin nelson]

That Parker certainly has some beautiful wood on it!

[Kevin McCormack]

Nice dove stool\can\seat\perch, Stan. First started using them duck hunting in shortgrass marshes in the late 1970s; legs never dug into the soft muck because there aren't any, they carry a lot of stuff, they are waterproof with a tight-fitting lid, and can act as a myriad of tools in a waterfowling environment (boat bailing, dry storage, emergency toilet, temporary livesaving device if the lid is watertight). Adapted them to dove field use after a couple of soggy hunts a few days after a soaking rain set up beside a picked corn field. The traditional pipe-framed dove stools sunk into the soft ground either fore or aft, sometimes pitching the gunner at the crucial moment of shooting, often when they had drifted off to sleep during extended lulls in the action. One thing we found the world is not short of is a surplus of 5-gallon pails!

[Stan Hoover]

Great analysis Kevin,
I must have this particular bucket for 15 years or more, the lid is cracked and doesn't stay on very well. It has served me well.

Nice dove stool\can\seat\perch, Stan. First started using them duck hunting in shortgrass marshes in the late 1970s; legs never dug into the soft muck because there aren't any, they carry a lot of stuff, they are waterproof with a tight-fitting lid, and can act as a myriad of tools in a waterfowling environment (boat bailing, dry storage, emergency toilet, temporary livesaving device if the lid is watertight). Adapted them to dove field use after a couple of soggy hunts a few days after a soaking rain set up beside a picked corn field. The traditional pipe-framed dove stools sunk into the soft ground either fore or aft, sometimes pitching the gunner at the crucial moment of shooting, often when they had drifted off to sleep during extended lulls in the action. One thing we found the world is not short of is a surplus of 5-gallon pails!

[Stan Hoover]

My brother in law called and said he found another farm that could be dynamite! So we gave it a whirl, many dove feeding when we arrived, but they weren't real happy about us interrupting their feeding and cleared out pretty quickly.
So it was a rather slow evening with some high flying birds, but the 32" 20 gauge proved it was up to the task

[Reggie Bishop]

I thought all those long barrel 20s were in RR's vault?

[Stan Hoover]

I thought all those long barrel 20s were in RR's vault?

I managed to rescue this one before it fell in that black hole never to be seen again:rotf:

[Randy G Roberts]

I managed to rescue this one before it fell in that black hole never to be seen again:rotf:

The black hole, that's a little exaggeratory. I am hurt. As you know long barrel 20's have escaped that black hole previously. Having said that if the gun you posted would have went into the black hole you are correct. You would have never seen it again. :rotf: That one is a rare bird, enjoy it.

[Stan Hoover]

The black hole, that's a little exaggeratory. I am hurt. As you know long barrel 20's have escaped that black hole previously. Having said that if the gun you posted would have went into the black hole you are correct. You would have never seen it again. :rotf: That one is a rare bird, enjoy it.

I apologize sir, I should have said museum:bowdown:

And I thank you kindly for letting a long barrel 20 escape in the not so recent past, that may be the next on the dove gun roster:whistle:

[Reggie Bishop]

Stan I would love to see more pics and have details on this one!

[Stan Hoover]

Stan I would love to see more pics and have details on this one!

I assume you mean the last gun pictured?

[Randy G Roberts]

I apologize sir, I should have said museum:bowdown:

And I thank you kindly for letting a long barrel 20 escape in the not so recent past, that may be the next on the dove gun roster:whistle:

Stanley I believe that you are obligated to do just that. You should be able to touch them a good ways out there with that one. Good luck ! :corn:

[Reggie Bishop]

I assume you mean the last gun pictured?

Yes please.

[Stan Hoover]

The gun that possibly passed through Indiana while traveling from Nevada to PA, and miraculously escaped being snagged. :)

[CraigThompson]

Hmmmm I think it may be quite the debate as who has more southern Indiana versus Lancaster County PA :rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:

[Reggie Bishop]

Very nice! Thanks for the pics!

[Stan Hoover]

A few more.....

It is not currently wearing the original trigger guard, one of the previous owners had the complete trigger guard washed in gold, very gaudy in my opinion, original letter does not support it being gold washed, so that is being corrected

[Randy G Roberts]

Nice gun and a very rare configuration as you already know. Well played Stanley :)

[Reggie Bishop]

It is very nice. I like a vent rib long barrel 20 a lot! In fact I let one slip away from me, but thankfully I have a backup.

[Stan Hoover]

Nice gun and a very rare configuration as you already know. Well played Stanley :)

Could you lay your ear to the ground and figure out where that 3E landed:crying:

Maybe it landed in Tennessee and Reggie will fess up and show us some pictures:corn:

[Randy G Roberts]

Could you lay your ear to the ground and figure out where that 3E landed:crying:

Maybe it landed in Tennessee and Reggie will fess up and show us some pictures:corn:

I hope Reggie has it. I could find some closure with that at least.

[Reggie Bishop]

I wish Reggie had it too! I assume it was a 32" gun?

[Randy G Roberts]

I wish Reggie had it too! I assume it was a 32" gun?

Yes it was. Appeared on GI and I missed it by mere minutes 😭. Priced way way under value IMO.

[Stan Hoover]

It is slow day, times like this make time for thoughts to wonder:whistle:

This particular Parker was sent to Missoula MT. What game was harvested, grouse, quail, fox, or perhaps even big game???? Was it used to harvest game out of necessity for filling the pot or frying pan...

Or perhaps ordered as a gift for a daughter or special wife....

[Dean Romig]

Beautiful D Stan…

Original or restored by Brad?





.

[Stan Hoover]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;417111]Beautiful D Stan…

Original or restored by Brad?


This 20 was restored by Turnbull by a previous owner is what I was told.