Semi-annual wipe down event

[Ken Hill]

Garry,

I just went through my annual ritual. I realize I have too much stuff and too many guns. However, I don’t realize the depth of my disease during the year.

Ken

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Ken Hill

Garry,

I just went through my annual ritual. I realize I have too much stuff and too many guns. However, I don’t realize the depth of my disease during the year.

Ken

Ken, there's no cure, I'm convinced...and I suggest you don't seek one.

(And isn't it fun to revisit some of the guns at the back of the safe?)

[mobirdhunter]

I love the 28 gauge, and have killed more birds with it than any other gauge. Here are a few that have a proven track record of taking game (except for one that has yet to be blooded -- but I have plans!).

(My most used 28 is a little John Dickson & Sons box lock, but I'll save that for another day and another post. And there's a Parker DHE 28 lurking somewhere in the safe, not to mention several AyAs, but I digress.)

The little McNaughton at the top is one of their 24 inch cuties that they claimed some fame for, at least by their telling. Those short barrels are choked too tightly for my bore gauge to measure. The toggle safety is a challenge (I think Ken H. will agree), so I've determined this will be a squirrel gun, and I have plans to take a few this Spring when our season opens on the Saturday nearest Memorial Day. I hope for some cool mornings and for some very young squirrels to be out and about. I'll keep you posted.

This Watson Brothers 28 is a 28 inch gun, nicely balanced to the front, which works well for open field quail. It proved such here in Missouri and across the border into Iowa. I fell in love with the carved fences and deep rich, dark stock wood.

My newer Holland & Holland 28 came with a second set of new .410 barrels. I bought it with the express intent of shooting "at" dove (thanks to the posts of Farmer Hillis), and for woodcock on our farm's clearcuts, made a few years back in hopes of pulling in some birds. I got my wish on both Missouri dove and local woodcock. The 28 gauge barrels are also 28 inches, and make for enough weight to keep me swinging, although there's not a lot of swinging in our local, very think 'cock coverts.

This Thomas Bland 28 is in its original configuration except for the lengthened chambers and reproofing. I had Brad Batchelder add the leather covered pad. It's taken Missouri quail, but it's fit is just not quite right for my aging bones any more, and it now sits at the back of the safe reminiscing about being carried afield "back in the day." I bought this gun from Woodcock Hill which holds the Thomas Bland name, and have a letter from them affirming the gun's originality. Not a high grade gun, but still in great shape (the English know how to keep guns up).