This writer was recently doing a little internet surfing and visited the Kittery Trading Post site, as they have a huge inventory of new and used guns.
While shooting a few clay targets at the Orange Gun Club a couple of weeks ago, it was obvious that my shooting with the Franchi Veloce, a 20-gauge over/under that was purchased used from Kittery a couple of years ago, was off. The gun had immediately gotten my attention when picked up off the rack, as it was extremely light, weighing just five pounds, five ounces. My Ruger Red Label 20-gauge weighs two pounds more than that and a lighter gun makes a noticeable difference when you lug it five miles a day for upland hunting.
The Veloce is also a pretty firearm with a gold inlaid receiver that features upland birds on both sides. When it was on the rack for sale, it was in rough shape with some surface rust and was priced well below value as a result.
After buying it, some research resulted in my finding out that #0000 extra fine steel wool and some motor oil could be used to remove the surface rust without harming the blued metal, and some elbow grease and a little time cleaned the gun up like new. So, when a 20-gauge Browning Citori White Lighting showed up under-priced on the KTP used gun site, the wheels started turning.
Years ago, during the peak of my New York guiding, the money earned was used to buy a “nice gun,’ a Browning Citori Feather White Lightning two-barrel set in 20 and 28 gauge. A beautiful firearm with exquisite metal engraving and beautiful walnut stock. Unfortunately, my personality doesn’t allow me to take that gun into the upland woods for fear it will be scratched. Yes, the foolishness of that is clear but you know what they say about old dogs!
The White Lightning seemed perfect as it was priced less than 50% of retail because the silver nitrate receiver had some pitting. Those tiny flaws made it perfect for me to use when busting through the thick covers where most grouse and woodcock hunting takes place without worry. Even better, my negotiations after driving up to Kittery went beyond my goal of what to pay in difference, as my cosmetic work increased the value of the Franchi as a trade-in.
The Citori also came with a great SKB case that holds all the chokes, tools, etc., and the deal was made. A little minor gun-smithing to restore an original Browning butt plate is all that is needed. The owner who traded in the gun obviously had longer arms than me and added a recoil reducing butt plate. The industry standard “length of pull” is 14 inches and that is my measurement, so the gun should fit perfectly and be my backup and/or pheasant gun.
Having a new gun does buoy one’s spirits, but what has really changed my attitude is a cardiac ablation surgical procedure that was performed last Wednesday in Worcester. Arrhythmia had been diagnosed during my annual visit to my cardiologist in January, and a cardioversion was very unsuccessful in March and resulted in some after-effects that required two months of physical therapy.
The Athol Hospital PT staff worked miracles and my recovery was complete but the arrhythmia remained and caused me to be lethargic and really lacking in drive and energy. That all ended with the ablation and my restored heartbeat is perfect. Every single staff member from nurses to surgeons at UMass Memorial Hospital was outstanding. The pressure on hospitals and staff is enormous, but they all were professional, skilled and personable.
That has me all fired up about fall upland hunting and it looks like Nova Scotia might happen after all! Plans to be in Vermont for the last week in September and New York grouse camp mid-October are set and after that it will be day-by-day. Now that my energy level has returned to normal the gear will be organized, the truck set up for the dogs and travel, and all the pre-hunting season details like pulling out the boat and getting the garage cleaned so two cars can get inside will be handled.
The dogs are ready and with my recovery, it will be possible to get out and look for wild birds to get them in shape. A key to that is diet and we switch over to a high-energy diet as the season approaches. That means a trip to Mount Tully Kennels where Steve stocks a wide variety of specialized foods and there is something to fit every dog. Life is good!
I’d also like to let the community know that the Mahar Fish’N Game Club’s annual raffle is underway. Prizes include a kayak, a $200 Cabela’s gift card and a $50 Herrick’s Tavern gift card. You can get tickets at the Corner Cafe in Orange or by contacting club Advisor Evelyn Cunha at ecunha@rcmahar.org.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.
