I always write about double guns but you could make an argument that the most useful shotgun I have is my 20- bore Winchester model 12-- even the likes of Geoffrey Boothroyd, who Ian Fleming wrote into the James Bond books as Bond's "armourer", owned one, along with one of Churchill's Dixons (I have a letter from Boothroyd praising M12's but I will copy later-- it is 2 AM).
Hemingway shot one, I suspect in preference to other shotguns, as did my father-- a 16, that I grew up on, probably one reason they work for me (good material on Hem's in Silvio Calabi's Hemingway's Guns).
Unlike most shotguns it was made in 20 first, in 1912, two years before it appeared in 12 or 16, and I think the 20 frame looks and handles better. Here is mine, made in the thirties (they were made until the seventies) with my little Brit 20 and an older Hemingway biographical work, High on the Wild, showing his.
Incidentally there is a new Hemingway bio just out, Hemingway's Boat, that sounds interesting-- may read & review down the line...
9 comments:
Olivia Laing twote a link to the NYRB review of Hemingway's Boat. Result: I picked it up Friday and started it last night. So far (100 or so pages in) it is excellent.
Other than an Ithaca M37, I don't know of any American made single barrel shotgun that equals the svelte good looks of a subgauge M12. To my eye, the plain barrel with rattail forend looks the best; there's something about its hand fit and finish that draws me to them. I've had several over the years, including a 20 gauge, factory cyl. bore that I tarted-up with a Simmons VR. My gun ownership rights should have been suspended for that offense. I have one left, a 16 gauge plain barrel built in the 50s. I have all I need, but not all that I want.
Very nice - my first love was the Model 12 and have owned more than a few. I've even gone by Mod 12 as a call name on the net. At present I have four; a 20, 16 and two and a half 12's. Growing up in Iowa, a Model 12 was my Holy Grail of a pheasant and duck gun but somewhere along the line B guns infected my my being and have not looked back. Stephen, your 20 side x side looks like the perfect quail and gross gun. I'll have to find the Hemingway book. Thanks - JW
BTW, my 16 gauge Model 12 is a factory Deluxe Field Gun made in 1941 and is a joy to shoot. Winchester put a gorgeous feather crotch stock on that one and was lucky to find it in an OR estate sale.
Model 12, in Eastern Montana, will open more gates than a sxs. The new Ithaca on a 28 ga. frame is also mighty handsome...Tom Condon Glendive, Montana
Yeah Tom-- if I had the $$ one of those with upgraded wood would tempt seriously. Maybe even a LITTLE engraving...
I know what you mean about opening doors too. Long ago I wanted to write an essay on M12's and original 1911's and pit bulls and White's boots and other "working" guns & animals. Of course many have become fads now.
I love doubles for their light beauty but could go down to one of my 3 and this M12 without a problem-- those two I would keep, period.
...just sleeve the doubles till your past the fence...best to you and yours, Tom
shot my first whitetail with a M12 16 gauge... some writer fella helped me clean it and get it back to the home front. Eric
Yeah-- dragging it out after dark in the Maine woods might have been to much fun to bear if Mark's farmhouse hadn't been nearby...
Very nice- with this and the 99 Savage you have a nice pre-War set. Hope you get on to some birds.
Post a Comment