Do U find early non-SxS's interesting?
 

Just wondering if you guys find non-SXS's from the say 1895 to the 1920's interesting, collectible and fun to shoot?? Guns like the 1897 Winchester, Model 10 and 11 Remington, 1912 Winchester etc. These guns killed the double gun for many reasons. I find the John Browning designed guns to be the most interesting, he was an amazing inventor and in many ways his designs have not been substantially improved upon. Besides our beloved Parkers, AH Fox. Lefever and LC Smiths which were all the result of inventing genius you have to recognize the non-SxS's of the period.
I also think the Vintagers etc. should start promoting shoots for non-SxS's from the golden era. I believe if open to vintage autos and pumps the vintage shoots would attract more folks.
What say you?? My favorite non-SxS is the Remington Automatic shotgun that became the Model 11. The action on a Model 11 is the perfect canvas for engraving.

I love model 11s. I have owned a number of them. I still have a couple.

Brian the Model 11 is a wonder, it was just not a incremental improvement but a radical departure from gun design of the day.

I have always loved the sound of a '97. I have my Dad's uncles gun, and I remember when the owner of Poly Choke offered to put one on it, my dad reluctantly said OK. Poly Choke was in an old brick mill building on the Farmington River, 2 miles away (Now houses our favorite restaurant )
I have a first year Model 1912 in 16ga, and my first shotgun, a Super Grade model 12 20ga.
The shop sold me the 1912 stupid cheap. He said " You know, you can't get ammo for these anymore":rotf:

I have always had an appreciation for Remingtons, but have not owned a single one. I think it's that 'Ford-Chevy' thing, or maybe because Winchester, Colt and Parker were all well known Connecticut companies.

Many think of vintage shoguns as only doubles, but the repeaters were very much part of the market after the turn of the century.

I just love old shotguns in general, I have remington model 11, browning A5, winchester model 12 I even have some obscure single shots like the remington 1893 to many to mention.

My late father-in-law shot a 12ga Model 11, and very well. The only gun I ever knew my father to shoot is a 16ga Savage 775a, also built on that patent. I finally passed that gun on to my nephew last year. Like many here I just love old shotguns, though I don't own any but SxS's and a couple of SBTs. As a 16ga fan I've toyed with a Sweet 16 once or twice but never took the plunge.

I have at least one Model 12, Auto-5, Ithaca 37 and 870 in my safe.

I have an early model 12 heavy duck - 32 inch solid rib, keep saying I will hunt with it but it never seems to make the rotation.

I grew up with pumps, shot a BPS when steel shot came out and still have my Dad's 870 Wingmaster- never owned any auto

but they just don't do it for me on the whole

Our vintager group (Virginia) shoots with the All American Pump Gun Assoc. a couple of time each year. It is a blast. They always have a couple of stations that throw triples. I shoot a couple of old single barrels a few times each year. My favorite is a 20ga. Lefever. They handle a lot differently than anything else.
Every now and then, a change is fun.

Winchester Model 20.
Single shot Hammer .410


https://i.imgur.com/1LVHmZE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/okEeELv.jpg

Because two of my favorite early 20th Century characters on the shotgunning scene, Ansley H. Fox and Harold B. Money, shucked the Model 1897 for the Big W, I always wanted one. I'd been using Model 12 Skeet Guns and the Remington Model 31 for decades before I finally got a Model 97. Found it far less forgiving than the more modern pump guns I'd been using, and was very happy when the Model 97 got traded off on a Superposed. I'm much more a fan of the Winchester Model 12s, Remington Sportsman autoloaders & Model 31s of the 1930s and 40s.

Even though my Father railed against two things in American shotgunnery -- Winchester Model 24s and bottom dumper pump guns, here in my 70s I broke his admonitions and picked up a little improved cylinder, solid rib, Remington Model 17. $200 out the door at my local pawn shop. Been a good bit of fun and when I took it to the grain elevators for Eurasians I got three in my first four shots before my usual shooting kicked in!!

Attachment 88517

Are you kidding me? Below are pics of a c. 1909 Grade 6 (Premier Grade) Remington Autoloading Shotgun (RAS) also known as the RA(Gun). The shorebirds and rendition of the dogs and waterfowl really put the hook in me and I had to have it. Enjoy!

Great topic Craig. I shoot my M12's regularly and they range in age from 1912 to 1948. An 11-48 in 20ga. is used when I'm ready to discard shells that are at the end of their reloading life and last but not least is a Rem M32.

Mikey K. does have a pump gun event at his shoot and maybe throwing in a vintage autoloader or O/U event is a possibility.

Im a big fan of auto-5s and model 11s, I also like early pumps like you mentioned. I personally find most guns of the era interesting and fun for a number of reasons. The craftsmanship and attention to detail, even on mass produced guns of the time, is unmatched today. I have a Winchester 1887 10ga that I think is pretty neat too.

I've owned everything you mentioned but I'm down to about a dozen humpbacks these days. My favorite is a Model 522 Stevens though, technically a "humpback" don't you know. I owe the coolest one I've ever seen, a straight grip trap model with killer wood and a 32 inch solid rib barrel.

Destry

I had a weak moment at a gun show on Saturday and bought a Red Letter Winchester Model 37 in .410.....

I have Model 12s from both grandfathers. One a Black Diamond trap, and the other a Pigeon Grade 16, along with their solid rib field guns mostly silver like they tend to be as they saw lots of use. I try and take one on the Thanksgiving morning pheasant hunt. There were no 870s in those homes, but I would love to have a Remington 17 in 20ga just like Researcher’s above.
One day I will find another Win. Mdl 37, .410 single barrel just like the one I had as child and shot many a limit of rabbits in front of our beagles. Just because you have a early Mdl 42 doesn’t mean one doesn’t need a Steel built single barrel.
I can run a pump gun, I know I can break more targets with the Belgian Browning O/U, but the Parker guns make the memories now.

I am a fan of Winchester Model 12's only buy ones with a solid or vent rib. Great guns

I have owned a few Model 1148's Chambered in 28 Gauge over the years and really like them ! I Love how the barrel moves to cock them ! Very Unique !

I shoot 5-stand every Wed. evening and for weeks now I have been toting two guns to the range. A Parker repro and a model 12 solid rib skeet gun choked IC. A round with each and I am not sure which is more fun.

Nothing wrong with single barrels, personally I'm pretty weak for old, original A-5s. Weak enough to own several, got a first year Sweet 16 that's a favorite early season duck buster.

I have a custom stocked Briley choked M-97 that is a deadly shooting blind gun.
Mostly protect pecan orchards from crows.
Also, a Damascus BBLd M-97, all original. I think Damascus was a 20 dollar option on a 15 dollar gun. Let that sink in for a minute.

My favorite is my Winchester '97 Black Diamond with matte top on the barrel. Straight stock with highly figured wood. Unsure if it's a Tournament grade or Trap grade. Looking under the buttplate to see if it was marked but didn't find anything. I shoot this gun in my Greater Lowell trap league. The look on the other teams faces walking off the line with a 25 shooting a 96 year old JMB classic is priceless .

Upland gun is my Remington Model 17 with solid rib choked IC on the barrel. Six pounds on the nose and wonderful to carry.

Sporting clays or a skeet is my Remington Model 11 20 gauge with 32" barrel. This gun makes me a better shooter.... The sighting plane is longer than my 34" barreled Parker.

I purchased a Winchester model 50 Deluxe Skeet WS1 12 gauge several years ago. it wasn’t until just a few weeks ago that I took it to the dairy for some Eurasian dove and pigeon action.
Whether it was the Weight that tamed the recoil or the design I am not sure but the recoil was not bad and it was a joy to shoot.

At the moment I’m hung up sort of on 16 gauge . And am after a couple 16 Model 12’s . I’m partial to Model 11’s and A-5’s but the Belgian A-5’s I prefer are the flat knob years meaning 66 or so to the mid 70’s . Have a circa 1954 870 I kinda like it was roughish when I got it and it’s still a little rough but I smoothed it out a bit . Bought a 16 gauge Winchester 37 a couple weeks ago , not sure why but it’s a kinda neat gun .

Ithaca mod 37's rule for non S/S shotguns.

I have always loved the Dam barrel '97, and would own one in 16 if I could find it.

Similar to Parker, Fox, Lefever, etc double guns, many of us have our favorite maker and model of repeater because of actual/perceived good reasons and often just plain nostalgia. For me that's the Winchester Model 12 whether for hunting or clays shooting. Reliability is right up there, something I can't say for other vintage pump gun models I've seen being used at events. I'll repeat what a friend said while three of our gang were shooting clays with M-12's on Wednesday ….. they should have stopped designing pump guns after the Model 1912 came out. Ha! Besides, Model 12's with ribs "got the look" that few other repeaters whether pumps or semi-autos can even come close to. Yah I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

There are few scenarios nicer for M-12 clays shooters than can happen at an event along with B, K, P o/u's and competition gas guns with the latest hyped up screw chokes, and having their owners see you grind up the clays with an old fixed choke Winny 12 that fits well and almost pumps itself. :)

Strangely I like the look of a doggy dick (Cutts Compensator) on the end of a Model 12 vent rib gun or A-5 and even an 1100 skeet gun . A Poly Choke however is another matter as I loathe those things .

An old family friend loved Model 12's and 870's with Cutts Compensators. Dad bought a Model 12 20 with a Cutts just in his honor.

Not quite like mine, but might meet your needs --

https://www.poulinauctions.com/spect...-pump-shotgun/

Researcher

Yes Sir, that one would do nicely! I believe it will top my allowance, but what a wonderful display of talent.

I prefer Remington Auto Loading engraving on the grades 4 Tournament,5 Expert,and 6 Premier to anything the Winchester factory did. Kevin your grade 6 autoloader is very handsome thanks for the pictures.

The only pump I own now is a 20 ga. Model 37 from 1946 with a deluxe Polychoke on it, and factory checkered wood with good dimensions.. 6 lbs 3 oz. and the blob on the end is sort of like the muzzles of a double--it fits into my field of view but does not lure me into sighting down the single tube. I just dont shoot it enough to get back into the pump action reaction mode. Hits well on the first shot, though.

some really nice engraving on these guns...charlie

Russ, my best friend Terry likes to carry his 11-48 28ga on occasion--it was his first gun, a birthday gift. It has a plain barrel, full choke. But now, thanks to a PGCA member, he now has a vent rib Skeet barrel.

I have a mod 12 black diamond skeet with a factory cuts and the duck bill rib. Probably the smoothest pump I ever shot. Carvel

Simply... a superb gun Kevin!





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I really enjoy shooting the 42 I bought from Phil Carr two or three years ago - It's very nice and fits me very well.

My first (and only until I bought the 42) pump I bought when I was 17 years old - a Stevens model 77F in 20 gauge with a POS adjustable choke. I hacked off the choke, cleaned up the burrs, drilled and tapped a hole and ran a brass machine screw in and filed it to a poor rendition of a 'bead'. (I must admit that my gunsmithing skills have improved markedly from those early days.) It is a great little Skeet gun and perfect for early grouse and woodcock.

I've ben told it is a knock-off of the Ithaca 37.

I should have taken the pictures in better lighting.

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