A Gift Beyond Value

[Bruce Day]

This is a gun with issues, yet in an important way, it is one I hold most dear, for it was given to me by a great man, Austin Hogan. He knew I liked C Bernards and surprised me with this gift at an annual meeting some years ago. The gun is originally from Portsmouth NH and was obtained by Austin "in terrible condition". He has spent time and money with it, so have I, and I treasure it because it came from him.

The 12ga Bernard barrels are cut by two inches to 28" and have about .008 of constriction. They are marked as 6lbs, so they are quite heavy for a 2 frame gun. The 10ga Damascus barrels are upland barrels, 26" uncut and cylinder chokes. With the 10's the gun weighs a little under 7 1/2 lbs, with the 12's , about 8 1/2. I have shot some heavy loads with the 12's including Remington Hevi-Shot on my occasional waterfowl hunts. It handles heavy loads the best of any of my guns including a Model 21 and a Browning Double Auto.

The stock has a visible crack repaired by Austin, maybe someday I'll send it to Dennis Smith. I'm in no hurry. The stock has normal drop , about 2 3/4" DAH so its very shootable. I could put a skeleton butt plate back on if I found an old Parker plate, but again, no hurry.

Its an 1889 gun, a very early C and an early Bernard, and an early two barrel set, kinda neat. Its missing the spare barrel forend, I'd like to find it someday. Look at the engraving if you please, look at the detail and the artistry. Some people say the Parker dogs are not well done, look at these if you will, because I can't see how they could be better. And some others don't like elk or deer engraving, well, I sure like this scene.

So, THANKS AUSTIN. This is a gift beyond value and I treasure it.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I've got a big heavy 10 gauge lifter gun that was a gift from the great man himself as well. I email him at the end of every hunting season with a full report of it's activities. It's going with me on the 15th to knock the dust off the squirrel season. I horde factory loaded 10 gauge paper shells in 1 1/4 ounce of 6's and 5's for that purpose. I'm down to a box and a half, if anybody knows where some are......

DLH

[Brian Dudley]

A very fine gun to treasure Bruce!

[charlie cleveland]

what a treasure...dought if i would ever fix the flaws every cratch glue mark will always remind you of AUSTIN . what a friend to have...i think the parker dogs and the elk scene is top notch what does it matter what others think... destry hope you knock out several squirls with the big AUSTIN TEN .... i will keep an eye out for the paper shells... charlie

[Todd Schrock]

What a wonderful gun Bruce ! :bowdown:

[Kevin McCormack]

Hey Todd:

You're not by any chance related to Rick Schrock, the guy who lived in the trailer at the the end of the gravel road by the put-in on the Little Wicomico River below Princess Anne, MD are you? He sure saved our bacon one night after we came off the duck marsh well after dark -turned his mercury vapor yard lights on, which you could see for miles across the gloom.

[Dennis V. Nix]

Bruce, that is one beautiful gun. I would cherish it too and use it often.

[Dean Romig]

Very nice Bruce. I love those early graded hammerless guns.

PM sent.

[Bruce Day]

On another thread there was a question about proper barrel rib markings. For Bernard barrels, TPS states that a roll stamp was not made until the mid 1890's, with prior Bernards having the rib inscription hand engraved.

It is not unusual to find Bernard and Damascus barrels from high grade guns without arrows on opposite ends of the rib I have several with curly-cues or squash blossoms, the latest being a 1904 gun.

[David Dwyer]

I have an early one frame underlever 12 gage twist barrel gun that Austin gave me several years ago,. I decided to upgrade it to an A grade, had Sam Welch do the engraving and Brad do the stock , CC work and metal work. Lord willing hope Brad will have it to me by the annual meeting!! Austin is one fantastic man.
David

[Craig Larter]

Any theories as to why Bernard barrels seem to hold black and white color so well??? Many examples have lots of wear but the barrel patterns always seem very strong??

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Bruce. It's even clearer now.

[Dean Romig]

Craig, Dale Edmonds refinished a set of Bernard barrels for me a few years ago (long since sold) and he told me that Bernard barrels require only about half the 'iterations' that damascus barrels require to bring out the very best black & white finish. Perhaps Dale can answer your question.

[Brian Dudley]

Most likely just the properties of the steel used in making the Bernard barrels.

[Bruce Day]

Brian, I don't agree with your supposition that Bernard barrels don't wear to silver as readily as other damascus patterns. I've seen some silvered ones, but many others not, and I believe that as in many high grade guns, people tended not to use them as much or when they did, take better care of them. As a result we often see high grade guns in good condition, and seldom see Trojans in good shape. Being a Bernard collector, I'd like to agree that Bernard iron and steel is better, but I have no proof than it is.

The best I can come up with is that there is a Parker letter that in response to a query about which barrel composition would withstand wear better, Parker's answer was Acme, Bernard and last Damascus.

[Brian Dudley]

Bruce,

I never made the statement that Bernard steel wears better than others. That was a statement made by another member.

I do not have any first hand experience in owning Bernard barreled guns. So I would not know if they do or do not age/wear any differently. But, if they do... apart from good care, it might be due to the steel.

[Bruce Day]

Bruce,

I never made the statement that Bernard steel wears better than others. That was a statement made by another member.

I do not have any first hand experience in owning Bernard barreled guns. So I would not know if they do or do not age/wear any differently. But, if they do... apart from good care, it might be due to the steel.

My mistake, it was Craig Larter and his comment was directed to silvering.