Just about every time I'm out on the clays course, someone asks me what I'm shooting. Always a side by side and a box lock, side lock or hammer gun. Smokeless or black powder loads. I shoot all of them about the same for score and explain to them what it is and some of the finer points of each. I offer them a opportunity to shoot a pair or more and many take me up on the offer. They are interested in the gun and loads and are a bit surprised at how well the black powder loads perform on the targets. It offers them an appreciation for what went before and is still useful in the field and on the course. I believe I'm seeing a few more doubles on the course in the last year or so. LC's, Parkers and a occasional Fox. Not too many English or Continental guns fielded but I'm covering that category. Some times it's a new purchase of a family gun pulled out of the closet and shot for the first time. Our Sport/Hobby is never going to be gangbusters but it has the potential of growing is we all do our bit one at a time.

We can all tell a story: I was hunting Pheasant in South Dakota some years ago, and was in a group of Minneapolis business men who all had autoloaders of some kind. One guy asked me what that gun I had was: I said "It's a Parker." His reply: "Oh, I never heard of one." At the end of the day, another guy said "Let me see that gun of yours; you were really killing birds with that little popgun." (A 16 gauge) These weren't stupid guys; they just were of the next generation.

We have to acknowledge that nostalgia plays a part in it; todays youth - unless they were raised with a bunch of old guys like us - didn't grow up with double guns, or even pumps...for most of them - if they grew up hunting at all - it was autoloaders and everything was higher, farther, faster, and more of it.

Take a look at the hook 'n' bullet magazines and websites; except for those catering to the hobby aspects of outdoor sports, you won't find many articles or ads about vintage guns or guys with bamboo rods and brook trout. Mostly it's pictures of guys (and gals) in camo with painted faces who'd look more at home in a military skirmish than a bird cover, and ads for rods that will make anybody cast a mile with giant fish and slogans like "fear no fish!"

It's hard for a guy with two shots in his gun who comes home wet, tired, and happy to have one bird in his bag to compete with a video game where you can shoot a hundred of something anytime you want to from the comfort of your armchair. I few will get it, but not many.

Maybe we should submit some double gun articals to popular magazines to promote ourselves? Dual submit to Parker Pages and XYZ. Who knows, maybe they would print it and give some unknowing shooter/hunter some insight to what we kike to do.

Nostalgia plays a big part as does availability.When I started in the business in the late 1960s,if you walked into a show with a nice Parker,Smith,or Winchester,you drew a crowd. Everyone wanted to see one because they thought they were rare.I looked on Gunsinternational this morning.They have 471 Parkers listed.When you can go down a list like that and price shop,it really takes some of the mystique out of the experience.Really good ones are rare,but the average beginning gun buyer does not know that.

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Dean,just to get back to your main point about prices.I bought a 12ga.DHE 11/2 frame at the Louisville show 2 weeks ago for $2300.It had a little honest wear but was in super mechanical shape.Nice "average"guns are going down in price.Mint,rare,or special order guns are going up.

There is a DH being offered for sale right here on our Members Only section at a very low figure, for what it is. I'm shocked it is still for sale. Some of this makes no sense to me these days.






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One thing that might help is to try to get local gun clubs to have a few SXS only events.It gives them something new to offer their members and might stimulate some interest in doubles.Maybe the PGCA could even sponsor such an event.Most of the live pigeon shoots now have SXS only races.I have sold a few #2 frame tight choked guns to those guys.I don't see why the sporting clays crowd would not go for it.

Dave Suponski puts on a SXS shoot each spring at Addieville East Farm. The owner/operator of the place along with his staff are always excited to see us come. I'll be bringing my grandson again this year.
Dave's son Danny, used to come to all of these events.... before he discovered there was an opposite sex.... And that brings up yet another obstacle we need to recognize in younger folks - girls and peer pressure.





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