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Gentlemen,

I have learned over a life time of Grouse & Woodcock hunting that having a small collection of good guns is much better than owning poor quality cheaply made guns.
For one the guns I own have never needed repairs, it is true that these guns were not inexpensive when investing in them. Most of my high quality double guns were handed down thru the family from many generations of Grouse hunters, some participated in Pigeon shooting contests in the era. Now I use most of these guns for Grouse hunting and shooting Clays, the guns have never let me down while Grouse hunting or shooting Clays. I always advise the Grouse hunters I mentor to purchase the highest quality gun they can afford. I do own a few modern double guns like the Ugarthechea IV side lock Spanish made gun that I just invested in and a few Turkish made CZ guns, which I am testing to see what their actual quality really happens to be. These inexpensive entry level guns are the exception in my gun collection for sure. They have all preformed well over the pasted 7 years, even though they are entry level double guns. I have been very lucky with my entry level gun purchases, I also did my home work on these guns, most are the G2 versions of the guns. I still do not recommend them as a Sportsman primary bird gun however, with the exception of the CZ 20 gauge intermediate double gun which seem to have been made on a higher quality scale from the rest of the entry level guns. IMO the quality of these entry level guns varies greatly so they should not be purchased as a primary bird gun at this time.

IMO it is better to have a small collection of high quality guns than to invest in low grade entry level guns, that will need repairs after shooting them for a short time.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Some very high quality double guns of the Classic gun era.
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1729 Location: Denver, Colorado

Dave:

My small collection of good guns is being prepared for the long trip across the great plains of this country right now. Just the ammo I have to sort and then haul is daunting (too-many different guns, for too-many different places) this year.

If all goes to plan, I won't be back in Colorado until early November. I have so much to take that I'm concerned about having enough room in the vehicle for myself to travel comfortably. My wife will join me in Minnesota for a good part of it, as will my son. We made these plans last January and it's nearly time to execute on them now (just where has the year gone?).

I'm having a hard time balancing the concerns nearly everyone has when they leave home for an extended period, and then the anticipation of how it all might be. My own physical plant has been a mild concern of late, nothing serious mind you, but enough to detract from all of the fun I would be otherwise contemplating. I used to be "bulletproof" but now I'm fairly sure that I am not.

I'll be taking my own advice this year (about making every Fall count) and giving it all I've got. If for any reason my next years aren't exactly the same, well...I shouldn't have too-many regrets.

Via con Dios muchachos!

Lloyd3,

Have a great time on your extended vacation!

all th best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Joined: 22 May 2020 Posts: 359 Location: Ky

Give them hell Loyd. Sounds like you’re living the dream. Happy for you. Hope I can pull something like that off soon. I started the gym thing again ( blew out my knee last month), to be prepared for some outdoor mileage behind some dogs asap!
This year mostly the same for me as last but will hit Kansas and/or Northern Wisconsin next year. Started training my replacement at my office last week!

Jta5er,

My brother just retired from 84 Lumber, he was the main lumber purchaser for Joe Hardy for over 25 years, it took 3 men to due his job even after he taught them how.
Make sure you train the man/men for your position well, if you want to keep your retirement check coming. Seems like many of this younger generation really do not want to work for a living these days.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Joined: 22 May 2020 Posts: 359 Location: Ky

I’m just training one to do my sales duties. I will still do the owner thing just 30-40 hrs vs 60-80. 😁 I can take some real vacations this way, instead of texting in blinds and stands.

Jta5er,

I hear that buddy!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1289 Location: Nebraska

I'm with you, Dave, the Winchester Model 12, Ithaca 37 and Browning's beautiful Auto-5 make up an unbeatable collection of fine quality guns! Not to disparage the 870s, M31, 1100 or any other repeater, those are just the ones I've settled on over time.

kgb,

Great to see you posting again, I hope everything out west is fine and that you are happy and healthy. I sold the Grouse Camp this last month, got good price for it and the surrounding land. I am still healing from my leg operation this last month, Agent Orange is beating me up pretty badly, but should be ok for this coming Grouse season. I know you will probably never get back this way again and I miss your participation Grouse hunting greatly, I still have the Grouse sweatshirt you gave me on your last visit to the log cabin.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1289 Location: Nebraska

Dave, it's hard to imagine you without the camp, or the other way around, actually, smack dab in that beautiful country. Everything runs its course though, and I'm glad to see you're staying a step ahead of the Agent Orange exposure's effects. No doubt you'll get your time afield this year, the dogs are counting on it as always. Have you arranged alternate lodging in the northern tier, or will you be staying closer to home in the southwest of the state?

kgs,

The deal on the sale of the camp was that I get to use the camp to hunt and fish out of for the rest of my life, starting after the camp is fixed up a might to the new owners specifications. I also looked into the Ruffed Cut Lodge just across the creek, I am waiting to hear from the new owners on weather I can have a dog with me in the Ruffed Cut Lodge.

Giving up the Grouse Camp was very hard on me, however I could not longer take care of the log cabin and surrounding acreage, it was time to let it go.

all the best,

your old buddy
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1289 Location: Nebraska

Dave, that IS a deal! Hope it works out as planned, and that the roughcut cabins act as a good backup. It'd be hard to stay away.

Good luck this season!

Kirk

kgs,

Good luck to you also, be careful out there!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man