Not a fine double but an American Classic

[Phil Yearout]

My late FIL shot a 12ga Model 11; he bought it from the estate of an uncle who was a very small man and he'd had the stock cut down to fit him. Jess never bothered to change it, but man, could he shoot it! I know what they say about the importance of gun fit, but...

[Researcher]

My Father bought a 12-gauge 30-inch full The Sportsman for $35 in 1938 with his employee discount at Seattle Hardware. He always lamented the Parker in their window display which he said he could have bought for $100!! The Sportsman was his waterfowl gun until the early 1960s when he succumbed to Jack O'Connor's short barrel writings and had it whacked to 26-inch with a Poly-Choke. Within a year or two The Sportsman was gone and he had a 2-frame 30-inch VH 12-gauge as his waterfowl gun, which still resides in my gunroom.

In 2002 after I retired and was cleaning out our house in Seattle getting it ready to sell, I found the leather takedown case he made for The Sportsman, so I had to buy one to go in it!! Of course once I had the 12-gauge, I needed a 16- and 20-gauge.

Six Hundred Dollor Collection 02.jpg

[charlie cleveland]

good storey and some really nice model 11 s....charlie

[Researcher]

They are all The Sportsman --

Six Hundred Dollor Collection 01.jpg

While 99% of the time I hunt with a double, on 27 October 2006 I took my 16-gauge, 26-inch, solid rib, improved cylinder, The Sportsman out and was presented with the perfect opportunity for a triple.

27 Oct 06 01.jpg

Full disclosure, earlier that day I poked holes in the air three times around a single rooster!!

My 20-gauge is a 28-inch plain barrel modified. I got a 26-inch vent ribbed SKEET barrel for it from Destry. I consider it my Bob Stack memorial gun.

[Double Lab]

Dave,

Is that the late, great Skitso? Looking pretty protective over those birds.

[Researcher]

Yes, that is her. Here she is watching me fish in Alaska in 2013 --

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Unfortunately, she felt obligated to get in the water and help land fish!!

[6pt-Sika]

Just picked up a pair of Model 11’s on GB . The first was a Sportsman 20 gauge with the short tube and a 28” plain full choke barrel . The other also a Sportsman but a16 gauge with the full length magazine and a solid rib barrel that someone put a doggy dick on years ago . Think I have a plain full choke barrel lined up for the 16 . The A-5 16 I bought earlier will most likely go in the rack at the shop .

[6pt-Sika]

Bear in mind these are GB pictures and the guns obviousely are not in my hands yet .

First the 16 solid rib gun with the damn doggy dick on the end of the barrel . Then the 20 . By the pics the 16 seems to be in nicer condition . And again I blame Frank and Mike for my buying these things

[charlie cleveland]

pretty nice shooting irons...charlie

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

pretty nice shooting irons...charlie

Only if I can break targets with them