Real Nice Gene... Tell us the story

Beautifull gun

Thanks guys!! I knew most would enjoy seeing my old squirrel gun all dressed up and ready for the woods action! Many a squack and quail/grouse has succumbed! Tough on birds too close though and limits were scarce and I've always hated wasting shells, otherwise missing.

Barry, I wish I would've thought to have Howard add a squirrel where a pigeon would be!! Did you guys know that Winchester speciality shop would sell a pigeon grade without a rib?

The first mid-bead I installed was a cloths-pin whittled down in the form of a ramp with the mid-bead glued in and contured to fit the barrel conture, also glued on. Yes, I earned my way to the 27 with this gun shooting alone from the 26 yard line. Worked all night the night before, got about 3 hours of sleep Sunday morning. Made it to Marietta GC in time to get signed up for the last squad of handicaps. 96 was the high score that day and I managed to shoot a 95 and got the half yard I needed to make it to the 27. After paying my entry fees, options and for new AAs! My winnings for the day was $.25 cents!! Not exactly Big Dog winnings??

Shooting it from the 27 and hearing the spectators comments while shooting is the reason I began using muffs and plugs to prevent hearing the comments. Some clubs 27 yard line was real close to the sidewalks! I can still hear those comments too! "Lookie there! That guys gun ain't even got a rib!!" Another would chime in, "yeah but he's smokin targets from back there!" After soaking all this up I'd hear that old familiar greeting from the scorekeeper, lost!

In the very early 70s I was shooting practice at Bob Taylors in Las Vegas. Since there were only three of us shooting that day, Bob came up with the idea we should shoot a round from the 27 for $10 bucks! I said no way! Bob was a 21 yard shooter, Earnie Austin was a good 27 yard ahooter and I was on the 23 at the time. I wasn't about to just give my hard earned cash away though! I suggested we shoot from in front of the clubhouse, use new shells from the Pro-Shop and play for fifty bucks? They thought that was a fantastic idea!! Here's this hill billy with a squirrel gun and no way can he beat us! First round Bob Taylor broke 3 targets, Earnie broke 9 and the squirrel gun kid broke a 17!! After I got my money, Bob suggested they have a chance to get their money back so I said sure, same distance! Results were, Bob had a total of about 7, Earnie had a total of 20 and me, a total of 32 or 33? A couple months later, I had another yard added to my card at the old Mint GC via the western VP during the Fall Handicap shoot!! Bob dropped a dime on me and used his friends on the CHC to make it happen! Oh well? BTW, in front of the clubhouse was 52 measured yards! I knew I'd have to get Earnie away from his comfort zone to stand a chance of beating them.

Yes, this old gun has loaded my memory bank with great shooting memories! Don't ever sell a good squirrel gun short?

Bryan, I'll tell you the story of my gun being stolen at Sparta.

Hap

Glad you have gotten what you had returned to.there are always mdl12 stories from most of us. They all brIng fond memories, mine came when I sold mine for what I paid for it.

hi hap thnks for putting up the pictures and the nice comments. i like the title of the thread also. i can put a squarel on the mag. band that would be a first.it is a nicely nice mdl. 12. ps i can see the $ sign engraved in the first picture.thnks again howard

Wow Hap, after what you and that gun did together losing it must have been tough. That is some serious scratchin'.

Hap, Who did the blueing?

Hi Hap. The Winchester Custom shop would do about anything anyone would be willing to pay for. Enjoy your gun.

Howard, thank you for all you've done in helping me restore my old gun my friend!! You did a great job, way more than I expected and for such a pittance too!!! If it's alright by you, I should post your phone number here in case any of the guys want to embellish one of their favorites? Send me an email and let me know and I will post your contact info here!! I'll see you at the Grand soon $.

Setterman, I had a local man do the prep for the gun to be engraved, Al Lingham. Once it was home again from Howard, Al also blued it for me.

Wireguy, that certainly was a tough time to go through my friend! I don't know how many nights sleep I lost figuring out who took all my guns from my home. I did get two model 12s back eventually though, this one and a 20 ga.. The 20 was headed toward Mexico when the CHPs stopped the car, the car also was stolen.

Thanks Barry!! I'm truly enjoying my old gun now and the best part is yet to come! I even shot a few doubles with it years ago. Never did shoot many doubles and a 95 was the best outing I could muster with it. I have every intention of competing with it again and soon! I hope to get into the old gun shoot put on by Federal at the Grand with it, wish me luck!!

Happy Hap :-)

Those pictures look good Hap.

Thank you for the mention

Al

Hey Az Al. I have an old Remington .22 rifle I'd like spruced up and reblued. You interested and where are you?

Barry,

I am in Tucson.

Yes I am iterested

Al

Happy Hap,

Great stories and very well told. Just goes to show that it's more the shooter than the gun.

Don in PA

Thank you Al for the prep and great bluing job you did on my gun!!

I shot a round from the 27 with it Sunday. It still smokes targets with enthusiastic glee when you poke it in front of targets!! Hope I can get in the Federal fun shoot-out for older guns at the Grand with it!! Probably be the only squirrel model to apply, LOL!

Thanks Don in PA for the compliment!

Hap

AZAL. I'll get with you the next time I'm at a Tucson Shoot. No hurry. I will recognize you and/or your little doggy.