These old shotguns, long post
Aug 29, 2019 19:35:18 GMT -5
Snyd, Longhunter1750, and 6 more like this
Post by squawberryman on Aug 29, 2019 19:35:18 GMT -5
A bunch of years back, before marriage I believe, my then girlfriend and I were on our way to Titusville to see her grandparents for an afternoon lunch of grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup. I missed a turn and in the process spotted a pawn/gun shop and we stopped in for a look. They had an awesome 12 gauge Model 12 on the rack for five hundred dollars. I asked to see it and the guy said "Make me an offer" to which I said no because I didn't have any cash in my pocket so I handed it back and away we went. After lunch I told Raeann I was gonna go the bank and get some money to see how far he'd let me haggle. Raeann's Grandfathers' name is Loren, who we named out daughter after (Lauren). I asked Loren if he wanted to go and away we went. I ended up getting the Model 12 for four hundred dollars out the door, I was pleased. On the way home Loren said "You know, I've got this old shotgun I'm thinking about selling". I asked if he knew what it was and all he said was "No I don't it was issued to me in the war." That'd be World War II, stationed in Egypt. That's him in the back row, second from the left.
Grandpa and Gigi were ok in life financially so I said "Loren don't sell the shotgun, hang on to it and give it to someone you care about someday that would appreciate it. But if you REALLY want to sell it I'd be interested in buying it." He nodded and that was all that was said. Not too long after that Loren passed away. I'm not good with dates even in my own life so I don't remember when that was. However I DO remember two months of time as it relates to this. One day in a November Rae was on the phone with Gigi and Rae said Gram wants to talk to you. After hellos and how're you doin's she said "You know, I think Loren would've wanted you to have that old shotgun." In my head I was jumping up and down doing backflips, even though I had no idea what or when it was coming. She said "I'll bring it down with me when I come back in March." March? are you kidding me? I have to wait five months? See my avatar. Well, March came and so did Gigi. We went to Rae's moms' house and waited. And waited. Gigi showed up and after hugs she handed me her car keys and told me it was in the trunk. I ran out there and opened up the trunk and pulled this out.
It is a home made wooden box with some divider/holder things built into it. The gun is a Savage 720, a clone of the Browning A5. It was broken down just like the picture, along with the three boxes of shells. One of them with a dollar sixty written on it has all twenty five rounds. I was floored. I had no idea there were A5 clones. I've got a Belgian Light Twelve and Sweet sixteen so I'm familiar with the workings. That weekend I took it to my buddies place to bust some clays and I can't shoot it any better than my Brownings. For some reason that square back throws me off but they are beautifully machined pieces of art and my boys will sort them out someday. The Savage doesn't have the magazine cutoff like a Browning. Here's some pics:
In my minds eye Loren ran over the tops of dunes blasting Krauts with this thing. It is beautiful in a menacing way. Parkerized with oak, a fantastic combination. I was curious to see if I could get any history about it so I contacted Savage. Savage doesn't have their own historical department but they do have someone who is like Roy Jinks is to Smith and Wesson. I called and spoke with him and he said send me forty dollars and some pictured and I'll see what I can find. This is the letter that came back. I was hoping for more of a dangerous or romantic history, but this is still awesome.
The Model 12 shoots like it should. The 720 sounds exactly in cycling and shooting as an A5. Thanks for looking.
Grandpa and Gigi were ok in life financially so I said "Loren don't sell the shotgun, hang on to it and give it to someone you care about someday that would appreciate it. But if you REALLY want to sell it I'd be interested in buying it." He nodded and that was all that was said. Not too long after that Loren passed away. I'm not good with dates even in my own life so I don't remember when that was. However I DO remember two months of time as it relates to this. One day in a November Rae was on the phone with Gigi and Rae said Gram wants to talk to you. After hellos and how're you doin's she said "You know, I think Loren would've wanted you to have that old shotgun." In my head I was jumping up and down doing backflips, even though I had no idea what or when it was coming. She said "I'll bring it down with me when I come back in March." March? are you kidding me? I have to wait five months? See my avatar. Well, March came and so did Gigi. We went to Rae's moms' house and waited. And waited. Gigi showed up and after hugs she handed me her car keys and told me it was in the trunk. I ran out there and opened up the trunk and pulled this out.
It is a home made wooden box with some divider/holder things built into it. The gun is a Savage 720, a clone of the Browning A5. It was broken down just like the picture, along with the three boxes of shells. One of them with a dollar sixty written on it has all twenty five rounds. I was floored. I had no idea there were A5 clones. I've got a Belgian Light Twelve and Sweet sixteen so I'm familiar with the workings. That weekend I took it to my buddies place to bust some clays and I can't shoot it any better than my Brownings. For some reason that square back throws me off but they are beautifully machined pieces of art and my boys will sort them out someday. The Savage doesn't have the magazine cutoff like a Browning. Here's some pics:
In my minds eye Loren ran over the tops of dunes blasting Krauts with this thing. It is beautiful in a menacing way. Parkerized with oak, a fantastic combination. I was curious to see if I could get any history about it so I contacted Savage. Savage doesn't have their own historical department but they do have someone who is like Roy Jinks is to Smith and Wesson. I called and spoke with him and he said send me forty dollars and some pictured and I'll see what I can find. This is the letter that came back. I was hoping for more of a dangerous or romantic history, but this is still awesome.
The Model 12 shoots like it should. The 720 sounds exactly in cycling and shooting as an A5. Thanks for looking.
