If The Gun Fits Buy It

                                              The rest of the winter for me was spent skiing with occasional trips to the hunt club with the Setter's. It was now springtime 2006. The Setter's and I had come a long way together and I was thoroughly enjoying our life. I had sent off a nice Thank You note to Dave and Shirley our new found Kansas friends. We looked forward to returning to their part of the country. Tom had gone south one more time to hunt Quail this time in Arizona and New Mexico with the guy he had bought his trailer from. His dog Annie unfortunately had been bitten by a rattlesnake which he later found out having her swollen leg examined at the U.W. Vet school. in Madison.
                                               I had learned Tom and his brother Mike were planning  a weekend trip south to Mississippi and Alabama to visit 3 different gun dealers specializing in side by side shotguns or double guns if you will. These guys had been around different kinds of guns all their lives and spoke in a language often foreign to me. But I had become curious about all the different guns Tom had shown me as we hunted and shot skeet and clays. Since I had been thinking about a new gun myself for several month's now I thought this might be a good opportunity to gain some more knowledge before I made a decision. So I asked to ride along. No problem. I was on the bus!
                                             As we took off besides each having a small over nite bag the back of the Excursion was filled with guns these guys were looking to sell or trade. And as we drove on the discussion centered around the specific guns they knew each dealer had they might be interested in having communicated by email or by phone ahead of time. Most of this jargon was Greek to me but I just sat back and listened asking an occasional question.
                                             We arrived at the first dealer's and after introductions in the front office and showroom area were led down a hallway to the "Gun Vault". This was an actual vault the walls of which were lined solid with guns almost all side by sides of every gauge and vintage. After a brief orientation to what was where we were left to sort through the inventory. Tom and Mike began searching for items of interest inspecting,shouldering and discussing condition and values.. I was just in awe and asked a few questions getting  often times a more detailed explanation than I could really comprehend. These guys obviously knew what they were doing. Tom just suggested I not worry about the prices of guns and just shoulder the guns to see what felt right then inspect the gun from there. This was great advice because it doesn't really matter what a gun costs but whether or not it fits and you can shoot it! Of course we all have a price range but more dollars spent won't always get you a better result. I of course started getting this lesson when I got educated about how to properly mount and shoot a gun. We spent the better part of the afternoon in the vault with these guys sorting and inspecting then asking questions. I had found one gun that when I shouldered it felt right immediately. I put it to my shoulder several times comparing it to other guns and it was different. It fit. I looked at the price. 1200.00. It was an old Webley and Scott. English made vintage gun. The Barrels were perfect. The receiver lettering was worn and the stock had the usual marks for a gun of it's age. Tom inspected it and agreed the price was fair and related what could be done with the receiver lettering etc...However I passed not having the confidence myself regarding vintage firearms. But these hours spent just getting the feel for more guns than I had ever put to my shoulder in my life was time well spent as I got a feel for what each type of gun was like. After these guys completed their business we were off to our next destination.
                                                 When we got to the next dealer in Mississippi a sign with a telephone number was in the window. Hoping we could get in we made the call and a while later the secure front door to the showroom opened. This was a small southern town with old store fronts and long narrow shops. This one was again filled with side by sides. But also taxidermy and related sporting collectibles from paintings,bronzes and Indian artifacts to a fancy collection of custom made pistols
                                                    So the process of going from rack to rack started again. Inspecting, mounting and shouldering guns then discussing values. I found a couple more guns that felt good to me and asked questions. They happened to be German made side by sides with beautiful heavy engraving. Gorgeous guns. Tom and Mike again made their decisions and arrangements to purchase or trade as I took it all in. I like to gather information before making a decision and consult experts then digest and pull the trigger so this was all good for me.
                                                   We drove on and got a hotel for the night. I was enjoying watching and listening to these brothers whom I had known all my life go back and forth on the debate about the virtues of one gun over another and the dealers valuation. I was just amazed frankly of the knowledge these guys both had.
                                                   Next stop was a rural location for a dealer in Alabama just outside of Selma. Spring time had already turned this area green so I enjoyed the ride through this rural area. Occasionally at a crossroads you'd see a roadside barbecue shack with outdoor seating and a roaster/smoker outside. We passed a nice sized house that had burned to the foundation with just the fireplace and chimney still standing then took the next lane to the right and we were there. It had been their house and they were now living temporarily in the original house on the property. Bob and his wife welcomed us into the living room with a couple large gun safes on the wall. Tom and Mike knew the guns they were interested in having called ahead so Bob went to work bringing them and related guns out to show. After decisions and terms were agreed on we were given a tour of the property. Bob had a skeet tower and a pigeon shooting range set up as well. Mike also got to test shoot a gun he was interested in. These people were very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.
                                                 As we hit the road I was glad I had invested the time to come along. After seeing hundreds of guns and digesting what I had seen and heard my decision was to purchase an American made gun. When asked about manufacturer's both Tom and Mike said Ruger was the most successful and reputable in their opinion. I wanted a gun made right here in the states so if I had an issue wouldn't have to deal with a third party. I wanted a direct link to a manufacturer. Hence my decision was to purchase one of the limited production run Ruger Gold Label side by sides.

Mick fall of 2006 with a nice Rooster shot with my Gold Label 

                                                  I love my "Gold Label" and it fits me well. I can also attest to the service of Ruger when I've dealt with them as first class and importantly seamless. However even today I remember how that Webley and Scott gun felt and how right it seemed and regret not having purchased it just for that reason. But I've since found other guns that do the same and remark about the same thing as I carry them in the field. I'm by no means an expert or a collector. Nor am I interested in owning a piece of firearm art if you will but just in having guns I can shoot well. And that I do.