Let's go down Memory Lane - Who inspired us to treasure double guns, shooting sports

[OH Osthaus]

No bird hunter double gunner in my history

I started a story once about bird hunters being born not made, maybe i should finish that.

My mother told me that when I was a toddler I latched onto a calendar top that was a cartoon of a hunter eating his lunch being flipped off a fence rail by a spaniel chasing a pheasant between his legs, a double shotgun was leaning against the fence. I would sit on my grandparent's porch and watch their neighbor come back from the field with his brace of gordon setters.

I read anything about bird hunting in the big three hook and bullet magazines that my uncle got each month. Dad was a rabbit hunter, i started going afield with him when I was 8, every time we flushed a grouse I would stand there with my mouth open (still do) and watch it fly.

Got my first double after college and my first bird dog not long after that.

Now i have a few doubles and a brace of Old Hemlock Setters.

[Roundsworth]

I received my very first shotgun when I was 12 years old. It was a single shot Monkey Wards Westernfield Model 100SB in 20 gauge. I believe they were made by Savage.

As for SxS shotguns....I spent about seven weeks at Lackland AFB in 1998, attending the AF/Navy Law Enforcement School. I saw a copy of the DGJ at the exchange, purchased it, and soon began buying SxS shotguns. There was a Ruger Red Label 28 in there someplace. I quickly lost interest and it found its way to Puglisi's shop. At present, I have three Parker 10s, a mint Husqvarna 20B Lefaucheaux 12 made in the 1950s, and a .410 on order from Mark DeHaan. My 'beater' is an 1898 vintage Marlin repeater.

[Double Lab]

I guess I would have to give credit to my Dad (who will be 94 this year and still hunting and shooting). He had a few shotguns so when I started hunting I was about 12. It was for rabbits and squirrels and it was with a Rem. M58 auto which had everything backwards. It was a right handed gun and I was a lefty. Damn safety was a pain to get off but shooting bunnies and squirrels gave me plenty of time. Then one day we flushed a covey of quail and I knew then that that was the game animal of choice for me. My Dad had (I still have it) a Trojan 12, 28" M/F with the safety where it should. For years he would tell me it was too valuable to hunt with and I remember asking him "why do you have it". The next weekend I was tromping through the woods in search of Mr. Bob, no dog and killer tight chokes. What did I know. That was it, I was hooked on a double and bird hunting. Thanks Pop.