“Think how pleased some old-timer would be if he knew that his pet [shotgun] is once more someone’s pride and joy.”
~ Gene Hill
Most grouse hunters are sentimentalists at heart and dream of owning a good side by side, which was the gun of choice for the old timers around the turn of the 20th century. The first half of the 1900s was truly the Golden Age for American side by sides and companies such as Parker Brothers, L.C. Smith, and A.H. Fox were producing some of the finest double guns ever made in our nation’s history. It was a time when industrial efficiency and true craftsmanship were co-equals in the shotgun industry.
Around the time of World War II, Americans turned their attention to pump guns and auto-loaders and the popularity of the side by sides plummeted. In fact, most of the big-named double gun companies went under or were bought out by the big wigs such as Marlin and Remington. The Golden Age had come to an end. Fortunately for grouse hunters, many excellent quality guns were made during this time and are still available for purchase.
The author’s Ithaca NID shows a beautiful patina on the receiver.
When I first started grouse hunting during law school, I started with a Coast to Coast 12 gauge pump gun and looking back it was like carrying a railroad tie. Wanting more quickness, I moved on to a semi-auto Remington 11-87. With this gun I gained quickness alright, but missed so much more than I ever hit. Quite honestly, my third shot was almost always wasted.
After a few years of wingshooting I began to recognize the grace of a nice double gun, but with the load of debt from school and a growing family any plans of upgrading were out of the question. In 2008 my generous brother, Shawn, gave me my first double gun, a Ruger Red Label 20 gauge over/under. I instantly loved the simplicity and beauty of this shotgun, but couldn’t shoot it well at first. With an adjustment to the stock length and lots of practice, however, I learned to be somewhat efficient with the gun and to make my shots count.
For the rest of the story, visit A Grouse Hunter’s Dream: Finding My Perfect Ithaca Double Gun.