onpoint
Active member
Nope, not Grandpa's gun
Great Grandpa's gun?
Nope, not Great Grandpa's gun either
Great, Great Grandpa's gun
Yes Sir Ree.
Let me tell ya a little bit about this gun. When I was dating my wife 28-29 years ago. My then future father inlaw told me he had a SxS shotgun from his Great Grandfather. He told me it had London Fluid steel barrels and it was a 12ga. He told me it was worth $1,000's of dollars. I only got a glimpse of it once and that was only seeing it leaning in a closet. I never handled the gun. I didn't even know what brand it was. I know at one time he said it was a Ithaca.
Well, on our trip out in South Dakota this past couple of weeks. We had been at my father inlaw's for a family reunion and traveled on to our place about 3 hours south. The next day we received a call from the father inlaw. He asked if we would be interested in purchasing the shotgun from that his Great Grandfather had owned. My wife always thought it would be willed to her. Well, tough times have brought my wifes father and Vickies step mom to sell some things. The gun being one of them. He said he had a Pheasant lodge owner who was going to purchase the gun but wanted to ask us first, if we would be interested.
We both looked at each other..scratching our heads..thinking we can't really let this gun out of the family. We didn't know much about it but just knew we couldn't let something like this go. We purchased it site unseen.
Well, it turns out it's not of any great value but the gun is very shootable, although well worn. I wish it could tell all the stories of living on the prairies of South Dakota from the late 1880s/early 1890s when it was purchased, to today's date. Vickies Grandmother was born in 1912 and is still alive. She's going to help her dad put together as much of the guns history as she can.
It was sold by Simmons Hardware Company under the name Utica Firearms company. What I gather is, they were built by Crescent Firearms company. Which was eventually bought up by Savage arms. The design of this gun was used for many, many years. The lock mechanism is much like the 311 Stevens/Savage SxS's that were built for years. Fox
http://www.savagearms.com/history/
The gun will make a commemorative hunt every year as long as my wife or I can continue to hunt. Then our two sons will carry on the tradition. They will be 5th generation to own and shoot the gun. I ordered 4 boxes of 2.5" 7/8oz # 6 loads from Poly Wad to shoot in the gun. I also ordered a new top lever spring from Gun Parts Inc. I have done quit a bit of cleaning/working the action and lubing. The gun is working much better now. At first the top lever wasn't returning to full lock up. The spring is weak but it is now locking up near 100% of the time, although still weak. I will have it replaced.. Maybe I'll do it.
Here are some pics. The stock was repaired at one time. It looks to have been shot when the stock had become loose. Whatever they used, it's holding well. I hope we are able to put a few birds in the game bag with it. I'm sure several Grandpa's would be very proud to know that it was still providing a good meal for folks.
It is 12ga with 30" barrel's . I believe 2.75" chambers. Empty hulls fit in very nicely and the gun closes well. To be safe, I ordered 2.5" for now. I was told it was choked full and modified but will have to take their word for now.
Great Grandpa's gun?
Nope, not Great Grandpa's gun either
Great, Great Grandpa's gun
Yes Sir Ree.
Let me tell ya a little bit about this gun. When I was dating my wife 28-29 years ago. My then future father inlaw told me he had a SxS shotgun from his Great Grandfather. He told me it had London Fluid steel barrels and it was a 12ga. He told me it was worth $1,000's of dollars. I only got a glimpse of it once and that was only seeing it leaning in a closet. I never handled the gun. I didn't even know what brand it was. I know at one time he said it was a Ithaca.
Well, on our trip out in South Dakota this past couple of weeks. We had been at my father inlaw's for a family reunion and traveled on to our place about 3 hours south. The next day we received a call from the father inlaw. He asked if we would be interested in purchasing the shotgun from that his Great Grandfather had owned. My wife always thought it would be willed to her. Well, tough times have brought my wifes father and Vickies step mom to sell some things. The gun being one of them. He said he had a Pheasant lodge owner who was going to purchase the gun but wanted to ask us first, if we would be interested.
We both looked at each other..scratching our heads..thinking we can't really let this gun out of the family. We didn't know much about it but just knew we couldn't let something like this go. We purchased it site unseen.
Well, it turns out it's not of any great value but the gun is very shootable, although well worn. I wish it could tell all the stories of living on the prairies of South Dakota from the late 1880s/early 1890s when it was purchased, to today's date. Vickies Grandmother was born in 1912 and is still alive. She's going to help her dad put together as much of the guns history as she can.
It was sold by Simmons Hardware Company under the name Utica Firearms company. What I gather is, they were built by Crescent Firearms company. Which was eventually bought up by Savage arms. The design of this gun was used for many, many years. The lock mechanism is much like the 311 Stevens/Savage SxS's that were built for years. Fox
http://www.savagearms.com/history/
The gun will make a commemorative hunt every year as long as my wife or I can continue to hunt. Then our two sons will carry on the tradition. They will be 5th generation to own and shoot the gun. I ordered 4 boxes of 2.5" 7/8oz # 6 loads from Poly Wad to shoot in the gun. I also ordered a new top lever spring from Gun Parts Inc. I have done quit a bit of cleaning/working the action and lubing. The gun is working much better now. At first the top lever wasn't returning to full lock up. The spring is weak but it is now locking up near 100% of the time, although still weak. I will have it replaced.. Maybe I'll do it.
Here are some pics. The stock was repaired at one time. It looks to have been shot when the stock had become loose. Whatever they used, it's holding well. I hope we are able to put a few birds in the game bag with it. I'm sure several Grandpa's would be very proud to know that it was still providing a good meal for folks.
It is 12ga with 30" barrel's . I believe 2.75" chambers. Empty hulls fit in very nicely and the gun closes well. To be safe, I ordered 2.5" for now. I was told it was choked full and modified but will have to take their word for now.
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