In honour of Grandpa
 

This year I decided to start a new opening day tradition in honor of my late grandfather. He was an avid small game hunter, dove and squirrel were his favorites. I was able to acquire his duck gun when things were made available shortly before his passing a few years back. It is a 30” Winchester Mdl 101 choked full & full.

I was designated by my uncle to sort through his hunting items before dispersal since I was close by and knew more about reloading than most of the family. Grandfather was from another era I guess you would say and never threw anything out. When going through his hunting/reloading room, I came across the original box with the receipt.

I have many great memories of joining him in the field, whether it was dove, squirrels, turkey, grouse, or white tail. I have to look back for some pictures, yesterday I was reminiscing while taking the 101 in the field once more.

Thanks for posting. I have owned a number of 101s. Waterfowl, quail special, pigeon grades etc. There is nothing wrong with a 101.

A special gun for sure, you are lucky to have it. Like Reggie I have owned a number of them over the years, always thought they were good guns, even collected them at one point up to the early 80's I believe.

Nice tradition Stan. Just take those doves at 40yds and crossing or those high overheads. That gun and chokes would be perfect with some 3/4oz loads. I just love rolling a bird at nosebleed altitude.:cool:

Stan, my dad bought a Winchester 101 20 gauge the first year they were made. Still have the gun. Killed a Lotta stuff in my youth with it. It won't ever leave.

Great Opening Day tradition! Our guns embody history and the men/women who shot.

1966
 

A few pictures of the 101 with original box and receipt. I never saw grandpa shoot this 101 although he told me a few stories of duck hunting with it. When steel shot was the new rule, he then purchased a Mossburg 500 3 1/2”. It was not a pleasant gun to look at, but his guns were more or less tools, not for beauty.
Also a picture of my grandparents I believe shortly after their wedding in 51, a small photo of deer camp in Lycoming County Pa (40’s I believe) and then also grandpa with a young fox that unfortunately met his end while groundhogs were being hunted. Groundhogs were another favorite, many warm summer days/evenings were spent in pursuit of whistle pigs.

Good for you Stan.

Man that is priceless Stan.

That's a great find, especially with the original box and bill of sale. The old photos add to the memories too. That's great stuff.

The Lycoming Co deer camp photo, is that your grandfather seated front row on the right?

A great hunt, and a great tradition.

Stan,

That’s great memories. I have my grandfather’s Model 12, but no pictures of him using it. He was from the Muncy area in Lycoming County. Deer and small game hunting were things he always looked forward to in the fall.

Ken

Mike,
My great grandfather Dan was a member of the Bee Tree Hunting Club, but my Grandfather Elmer was not.
I do not have names for the guys in these pictures and I’m guessing Dan (great grandpa) was the photographer and not on the photo. Bee Tree Hunting club was/is above Cedar Run in an area named Beulah Land.
Most times on the drive (with Grandpa) to these areas was accompanied by several good stories of hunting and things that happened at camp. He had many stories from his father and attended sometimes when he was allowed as a son for small game.
2 weeks of (buck) deer season at Bee Tree were strictly for members. If the roster was not full ( I think 25 men) members were permitted to bring approved guests only. To become a member, I believe you had to attend at least one or two hunting season and then be approved by the members through voting.
I’ll not bore you guys any longer, just few photos of the old camp on State Forest Land initially and then the present day camp on land they were able to purchase alongside State Forest.

Ken,
My grandfather also used a model 12, never while I hunted with him. He also had a Winchester Mdl 37. The model 12 had a shortened barrel with a dab of solder for a bead. Of course that crossing of a fence while small game hunting and not being careful to check if your barrel is clear will get you. My cousin ended up with the Mdl 12

When our carrier was in port at Sasebo, Japan, in 1972, I bought a 20-gauge Model 101 at the exchange with a luggage case for $202. Gave it to my father for Christmas that year. Over the next 16 years until he quit hunting after the 1988 season, he carried it a lot, wore the bluing off the bottom of the frame and pheasant blood produced a blemish near the muzzles. He complained about the non-automatic safety the whole time. He was very used to the automatic safeties on his Parker and Remington doubles. On the occasions when he missed a bird with the Model 101, he often be heard muttering "I'd a got that with my ole Remington." In 2003 I passed it on to a cousin that my father hunted with a lot in Minnesota, who shot an early 12-gauge Model 101.

That’s a beautiful gun Stan with a great story and pictures.