I’ve seen that motto

That is a beautiful gun, and a great story. I also started out with muzzleloaders. To this day, if I pick up one of them, I go back in time to those early hunts with my dad...

Good stuff !

WOW a grouse with a muzzle loader, that is one heck of an accomplishment. A red letter day, congratulations!

Frank , do you carry the gun with hammers cocked? I know you don't use a pointing dog so your feat with that gun is admirable.

Thank you Craig and Daryl. Yes, a Red Letter Day. This was a bit easier shot as the grouse crossed an opening. I hunted the Harkom with its hammers at half cock; of course it/they can’t rest on the percussion caps. I’ll have my thumb on the right hammer while working birdy areas and it’s easy to bring to full cock at the flush. I’m probably not going to get a second follow-up shot while walk up grouse hunting here in NE PA, and thus I don't try cocking both hammers at the same time. Actually the same as when a kid I hunted with an Eastern Arms single and a Belgian W Richards double barrel hammer gun.