12 guage side by side that we found in my Grandfather's basement after he passed away. After doing someone research, I have determined that it was most likely my Great Grandfather's gun and that it dates from the late 1880s to early 1890s.
My dad remembers it as the gun that my grandfather used to take out in the woods to shoot a few squirrels or ducks for my grandmother to cook for dinner when times were tough in the early 1930s.
For me, this particular shotgun, even though it isn't the most unique or most valuable gun in my collection, has the most meaning because it saw my family through hard times.
I had it inspected by a qualified gunsmith, had the firing pins replaced (had to have them fabricated), and I bought some special low pressure shells from a company in Georgia that specializes in ammunition designed for vintage shotguns.
It's actually a very pleasant gun to shoot.
