Abby gun done and ready for a test drive

[tom tutwiler]

I've posted different pics of the Abby gun in various stages or progress. *Finally had time with pretty good light to take a few pictures of the mostly finished product. *Still needs to have a little tweak or two (nitre blue the cross pins), but its essentially done. *Lots of craftsmen are responsible, but the key folks are Dan Rossiter and Jack Jones. *Dan did the metal work which was extensive and the restocking with a stick of California English and Jack did the engraving. *John Gillette at Classic Guns did the case coloring. *Gun has a swamped top rib with twin ivory beads and a rolled trigger guard. *Lots of ideas went into making this gun, including polishing and case coloring the triggers themselves. **

The base gun was made in 1913. *Not bad for a 100 year old gun. *It started life as a Fox Sterlingworth ejector 12 gauge. *Finished gun is 6 lb 14 oz. *Dan could have made it a we bit lighter by doing a few things, but its very well balanced and is made to fit me. *Test drive will be next Saturday at a local preserve with Abby of course. *She is 13 and thank goodness she is in good enough shape to take her out with the gun and have a bit of fun. *Anyway, a few pictures:



















PS. *I'll be using spreader loads next week and it will be a Chukar hunt because that's the only bird available this late in the season. *Original chokes are mod/full and the chambers are the original length as well. *I'll probably open up the right barrel and keep the left where it is.

Double PS. *Forearm was inlet for a escutcheon which was case colored and engraved by Jack with the initials "AG" for Abby Gun.