My fascination with Drillings started with the 1955 Shooters Bible, and was refueled each year when the new Bible came out. I didn't actually own one until I was in my late 20s, and I bought it because I could afford it. I paid little or no attention to the practical details, and was just lucky it had #1 and #2 in what I consider a reasonable order of importance: Condition and Caliber.
I have owned so many, I probably can't remember them all, but until I met my second wife, who had family, and property in Maine, never found myself in a hunting situation where I could have used both features at the same time, legally. Legally, because many states have rifle restrictions, and many also have limited coinciding games seasons. Game wardens in many states have widely differing opinions on the legality of a drilling, since mere possession of one, with rifle ammo can constitute hunting. The idea that a drilling filled the need of the man who couldn't afford separate shotguns and rifles, and the gun was simply a necessary tool, not unlike a shovel or axe, is false. In fact, the Drilling has always been an expensive gun. They were most common in European countries where the hunter could, and often did, bring home a true mixed bag.
If you can find one in Good condition, in a Caliber that makes sense, consider your self lucky to find one that fits well in one configuration, even luckier if it fits in the configuration that is going to see the majority of use, and gifted from the Lord himself if you find one that fits in both configurations.
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12-26-2015, 12:15 PM
Hybrid Mode