I posted this before so some may remember the guns and stories. My great-grandfather was born in 1855. I don't know much about this gun, but it was his 20 ga double. Probably purchased new in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Almost certainly before 1920. He very likely bought it used. None or my father's side of the family hunted much. I'm sure it was kept to chase away fox's around the farm. My dad was born in 1923 and the gun was passed down to him at some point in the 1930's.
Dad was drafted in 1942 right after he graduated HS. He was somewhere in Germany when the war ended. The unit he was in had just occupied a small town and had confiscated all civilian arms. When they got word the war was over an officer told the men they could have anything they could figure out how to get home.
Dad selected this Belgian made SXS. It was still new from a gun shop, (pre-war no doubt) and had the original tags on it. He found some scrap lumber, built a wooden box and mailed it home.
My grandfather on my mothers side had a butt load of very nice rifles and shotguns. He and his only son hunted a lot. They even traveled cross country to hunt during the 1940's and 50's My Uncle got everything and he only had one son. I have no idea where all of them ended up but both my uncle and cousin are gone now. He showed me the collection once in the 1970's. Even as a kid who didn't know much about guns I was impressed.
Dad was drafted in 1942 right after he graduated HS. He was somewhere in Germany when the war ended. The unit he was in had just occupied a small town and had confiscated all civilian arms. When they got word the war was over an officer told the men they could have anything they could figure out how to get home.
Dad selected this Belgian made SXS. It was still new from a gun shop, (pre-war no doubt) and had the original tags on it. He found some scrap lumber, built a wooden box and mailed it home.
My grandfather on my mothers side had a butt load of very nice rifles and shotguns. He and his only son hunted a lot. They even traveled cross country to hunt during the 1940's and 50's My Uncle got everything and he only had one son. I have no idea where all of them ended up but both my uncle and cousin are gone now. He showed me the collection once in the 1970's. Even as a kid who didn't know much about guns I was impressed.