Log In
April 15, 2005
Offline
Zebulon said
That sums it up well. I flinch every time I see an old ’97 because my uncle’s was the first one I ever shot, at age 12, and was the last 12 gauge I shot until I was 23 when I bought my first Browning Light Twelve. The unpleasant memory of that hard steel buttplate stayed with me for quite a while.
Bill,
The most unpleasant gun to shoot of the batch that I pictured is the high-wall 20-gauge. The gun only weighs a smidgeon over 5 lbs. and with the 26-inch Full choke barrel it kicks like the proverbial Mule.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 30, 2023
Offline
Bert H. said
This is my mini tribute to the Browning/Winchester shotgun history (I need to reshoot the picture to add one of my Model 1893 shotguns and an early production Model 1897).Bert
I like it. That’s an early 1887 if I’m not mistaken, I have one and a 1901 as well, but the ’01 has had a couple inches lopped off the barrel unfortunately. Which 1885 caliber is that?
I still think the 1887/1901 action is one of the most efficient, elegant designs he could have come up with….crazy smart.
January 20, 2023
Offline
Weight does matter. Were you fortunate enough to have [what looks to be] the Light Twenty in your youth?
I saw a new one of those the year they were introduced, 1955 or so, leaned in a corner of my Dad’s friends house. As much as I admired them and wanted one, Later, when I could afford one, I listened to ignorant people and bought the Light Twelve instead. Sold it when I thought it was too heavy. Finally in middle age got the Twenty but, in a moment of blindness, gave it to my son. He still has it. The Light Twenty is something most seem to hang onto.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 20, 2023
Offline
Jeremy P said
Bert H. said
This is my mini tribute to the Browning/Winchester shotgun history (I need to reshoot the picture to add one of my Model 1893 shotguns and an early production Model 1897).
Bert
I like it. That’s an early 1887 if I’m not mistaken, I have one and a 1901 as well, but the ’01 has had a couple inches lopped off the barrel unfortunately. Which 1885 caliber is that?
I still think the 1887/1901 action is one of the most efficient, elegant designs he could have come up with….crazy smart.
I thought i should give a boost to these authors, since the big A discourages them. Haven’t been through the book yet for lack of time but there’s a good illustrated history of FN and BAC, and what appears to be a heavily detailed collector guide reference section, what part looked like what in what years, etc. Nice photos of Val and his Double Auto. 
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
March 31, 2009
Online
I might know who Bert bought the 1887 from? I just gave my Dad’s 1955 A5 light 12 to my brother yesterday. I don’t have any grandsons to pass it down to.
April 30, 2023
Offline
Chuck said
I might know who Bert bought the 1887 from? I just gave my Dad’s 1955 A5 light 12 to my brother yesterday. I don’t have any grandsons to pass it down to.
That’s cool you had it to start with. I had no family who left me cool firearms, except for one smith & wesson model 10 snubby revolver that my grandmother kept in the nightstand in the 1970s-80s. It wasn’t really left to me, but more rescued/taken so another relative wouldn’t snatch it and pawn it. It’s like new though, and I can pass it down now.
April 15, 2005
Offline
Jeremy P said
Bert H. said
This is my mini tribute to the Browning/Winchester shotgun history (I need to reshoot the picture to add one of my Model 1893 shotguns and an early production Model 1897).
Bert
I like it. That’s an early 1887 if I’m not mistaken, I have one and a 1901 as well, but the ’01 has had a couple inches lopped off the barrel unfortunately. Which 1885 caliber is that?
I still think the 1887/1901 action is one of the most efficient, elegant designs he could have come up with….crazy smart.
Jeremy,
The high-wall Single Shot is a 20-gauge. Winchester manufactured approximately (750) of them in 1913 & 1914, many of which were exported to Australia.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
Offline
Zebulon said
Weight does matter. Were you fortunate enough to have [what looks to be] the Light Twenty in your youth?I saw a new one of those the year they were introduced, 1955 or so, leaned in a corner of my Dad’s friends house. As much as I admired them and wanted one, Later, when I could afford one, I listened to ignorant people and bought the Light Twelve instead. Sold it when I thought it was too heavy. Finally in middle age got the Twenty but, in a moment of blindness, gave it to my son. He still has it. The Light Twenty is something most seem to hang onto.
Bill,
That Light Twenty was my father’s gun, but yes, I did shoot it quite a bit in my youth. It is a 1962 production gun, with a 26.5 inch matted MOD ** choked barrel. I have been its caretaker since May 1999.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
Online
Jeremy P said
Chuck said
I might know who Bert bought the 1887 from? I just gave my Dad’s 1955 A5 light 12 to my brother yesterday. I don’t have any grandsons to pass it down to.
That’s cool you had it to start with. I had no family who left me cool firearms, except for one smith & wesson model 10 snubby revolver that my grandmother kept in the nightstand in the 1970s-80s. It wasn’t really left to me, but more rescued/taken so another relative wouldn’t snatch it and pawn it. It’s like new though, and I can pass it down now.
I still have a handful of family guns that I have been trying to decided who I might pass them down to. If my nephew in Idaho will meet me in Cody I’m going to give him his great grandfather’s Model 90 in WRF. I recently sold off 6 of my hunting guns. I haven’t hunted since 2015 and need room in my safe.
1 Guest(s)
