Christmas ..1959..Stevens 311 20 gauge..26"..M/IC..Still have hang tag..$68.50 at Whitmers in Clay City, In. Has been restocked to straight grip ..XXX wood... by Dennis Smith..

Savage Fox Model B 16 gauge with beavertail and single trigger
 

My first gun purchase at 14. It has never failed, even though the finish is gone now, it is still resides close to the front of the safe for bad weather days. The best 50 bucks I have ever spent.

First gun purchase at 12. 1962. Mossberg mod. 42M? bolt action .22 for $35. Very straight shooter. Took a lot of tree rats with that one, and at some crazy distances with the 6x scope I put on it. Still have it in my basement here. Wore out the sear system and a repair is a tad difficult since the bolt can't be taken apart.

The first double gun I shot was my grandfather's VH12 in 1964, that my brother still has. First shotgun purchase the same year - a mint 20ga Mod 12.... for all of $45 !!

First gun...a Sears .410 (the kind with the push button opener). It's still in the family with one of my nephews. That little gun killed lots of squirrels.

Bill, I too own an early 1910 A grade 12. It's factory barrels are 26" IC/MOD. I've shot quail and dove with her throughout the years. I own a few Phillys in all gauges, this is my favorite. Over the years I've fit 28 and 30" barrels to her, but I'm always shooting those quick 26 inchers. She's a keeper!

When I was 11 years old, (1964) I asked my dad if I could earn enough money that summer would he let me buy a shotgun. I knew better than to ask my mom, dad was a little softer in some ways. Dad said yes, mom found out later in the day and said no, I didn't want an argument (dad seemed to lose those more than win and this was important) I asked my Uncle Lewi to intervene and he told my mom that I was only looking at a little 20 gauge, not a full sized man sized 12 gauge. He explained to my mom that a 20 gauge was generally considered a "kids gun" a starter gun etc. I even showed my mom the difference in size in the shotgun shells. She finally relented, I raked leaves, weeded gardens, scraped a lot of lead based paint off of houses. (that explains a lot about my behavior:) I ended up with a mossberg 20 gauge pump with 6 shots and the safety on top so if I ever had any left handed friends that wanted to shoot it they could. ( I only had one left handed friend) I wore that gun out, finally the barrel mushroomed when I was in my early 20's. My first wife got me a browning o/u 20 gauge, my brothers father in law was a gun dealer, and he got it in on trade. She saved up for months to get it paid off in time for next hunting season.

My first shotgun Stevens mod 94 tenite stock 20ga single bbl when I was 14 (1949) from a fellow schoolmate for $14, still have and shoot it every year just for the hell of it.

First shotgun of my own was a Browning Double auto in 12 gauge also called a Twelvette as I recall. That was in about 1956/57. It was a used gun but in great shape. Prior to that I used one of my fathers M12s in 20 gauge. I believe they were also produced in 20 gauge. I wish I still had that gun today. The two shot feature would make a great Grouse gun.

Henry, the Double Auto was a 12 gauge gun, and a nice one. If it had been made in 20 or 28 gauge, Browning wouldn't be able to keep up with production. Jerry Van Horn, we need pictures of your gun.

A bit off topic, but someone on the 16ga forum just bought the crispiest Stevens 5100 16ga I've ever seen...

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22553