I'm not Catholic ( but I did sleep with one last night, and have for 43 years) - I understand that St. Christopher was "de-saintified" a few years ago, and now more properly addressed as "Mr. Christopher"

I am Catholic and also sleep with one (51 years now) & I was brought up by the Ursuline nuns to understand that St. Christopher carried the Christ Child across the swollen river on his shoulders. He is, and always has been, the patron saint of travelers.

Best Regards, George

Same here Big D, except, being youngsters, we're only in our 31st year. George's description of St. Christopher is my understanding; a not inappropriate guardian for a hunter. I was not aware of his demotion, nothing serious I hope. As an undergraduate, I was managed and informed by the Jesuits for which I am forever grateful.

I found a $100.00 bill under an L.C. Smith buttplate years ago. It was quite a find as we were just married ( 28 years ago ) and with 2 new businesses, 3 girls within the next 4 years, and a hundred bucks was quite a find! Still would be actually. Jerry

im like the rest ..i took off a few butt plates but come up empty handed...have not took off any butt plates in a long time... charlie

Pulled the butt plate off a 1934 vintage Winchester model 61 pump .22 and found two locks of very fine brown hair, pieces of newspaper from The Denver Post July 1935 edition and a $1.00 Silver Certificate series 1935.

Leighton,

Tell us more about where you get your information on that hammer double. When Buckingham mentions his first shotgun in his writing I believe the only description is that it's an "old English gun with donkey ear hammers" but no brand name is mentioned. Maybe my memory is fading and I don't feel like digging through the books to find the exact passage.


Destry

I bought a vh 12 ga. back in the 1980's and removed the butt plate and found his name and his hunting license from 1921 from oregon and i still have the gun and the last name was Clark.

I had pulled the butt plate of my 1888 10 ga. Parker Hammer gun and found just the scribed center line of the stock with both screw holes going thru it.

Jack Kuzepski

I found a 1917 hunting permit inside an Ithaca. If I remember right it was made in 1916. I laminated it and put it back inside. I traded the gun for a septic tank pump out. No S**t. Thats the truth. If that little 20ga had been a Parker he would have had to pump it out many times. How is that for Provenance? That made me think of the fellow in Alaske shooting the poop down in the toilet. Who was that? Gerald.