Rainy day guns?

[Eric Johanen]

My foul weather gun is a 12 gauge Gaspar Arizaga sidelock ejector with heavy frame and side clips. Beautiful wood and engraving 2 barrel set. Price was just too good to pass on and it has given me great service for years. Probably made in the 1970's before the Diarm disaster. I use the 2'nd set of barrels made after the gun was built not made by the maker. These are unmarked after market just slightly tighter chocks. At last years Great Northern, Friday was a all day real soaker and 3/4 way through the course the left lock stopped working. Finished up with a friends WC Scott. Dried it off real good and wiped it down. When I got to the hotel I pulled the locks and let it dry overnight. When I go home I pulled the locks again and the trigger plate and let it dry out for several days. Worked perfectly and applied some sealer to the lock inlets to prevent this from happening again. Wood had swollen and prevented the left lock hammer from moving freely. Side locks are really great for wet weather guns.