102 years and counting
 

Winchester Model 12, 16-gauge, Nickel steel, 26” solid rib, choked Modified. Made in 1920.

First snow of the season earlier this week. Love to hunt with good vintage papers!

First pic - "the way we were". :)

Very nice!

Excellent! Special gun -- special bird.

don t get any better than this....charlie

Love to see those green 16 hulls (Remington?); that's what I remember being shoved into my dad's old Savage. Why they settled on purple I'll never know; love 16's but hate that color!

PS: pic looks great in b&w!

That's just special, Frank. I can't tell if it's lighting or carry wear, or a bit of both, but what appears to be "wearing off of the bluing" on the sharp edges of the action is special to me. I love seeing that. It is almost like a picture frame with matting outlining the action.

Great picture!

Thanks everyone. I thought it would be nice to see contrast of the B&W and color pics together. Phil, yes the green shell is a Remington Express and the fired red shell is a Peters Victor, both in 6-shot and both boxes test fired for positive ignition a few weeks ago. This early M12 has been opened for 2-3/4" shells - chamber and ejection port. Low brass in the chamber and with one or two high brass loads in the mag tube as per the old time convention. Stan, the Model 12's bluing is faded somewhat from use and exposure while hunting and she looks just right to my eye. Great character in this Winny and what stories she might tell.

Very, very few grouse to be found hereabouts in PA in my old haunts and other covers I've tried. Second season in a row and the worst I remember over decades of chasing them. Now off to the pheasant fields. :)

Great picture Frank. Was Nitro involved in your success?

Daryl, Nitro and I had been concentrating on grouse. This was our fourth cock bird taken since starting in the fields.

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Nitro has grown a bit since I last saw him. Good looking pup and he sure looks like he is focused on the task at hand.