Goodbye...

It wasn't easy, but it was...

This weekend I will be handing over my first 3.5 inch magnum shotgun to a new owner.  Part of me hates getting rid of firearms, but the other part of me knew it was time.

I bought the Benelli Nova many moons ago when I was just a bright-eyed promising student of the University of Maine.  After winning a Mossberg 500 Ducks Unlimited 12 gauge shotgun the year before, I decided it was time to trade in a gun I never intended to shoot for one that could help me bring down the almighty common eider.  So my father and I went to the local gun shop, presented the Mossberg as a trade, and brought home a black synthetic Nova.

It was at the time an exciting shotgun to purchase.  Crafted with polymers and space-aged ergonomic lines, the Nova certainly became popular and resented by the waterfowling community for reasons that existed purely of personal preference.  I just liked the fact that I had a new pump action with recoil reduction technology which distributed energy through a mercury filled cylinder.  But the gun still kicked like a mule, reacting to the force that every 3.5 inch magnum shell unloaded.  Being young, tough, and somewhat invincible, recoil was like drinking a lot of beer.  The more you pounded, the more man you became or at least that's what I thought.

I found that college and my early teaching career put a damper on sea duck hunting, as I discovered partridge and continued to pursue deer like there was no tomorrow.  Finally, when I returned home to the coast and with a few more years & dollars to my life, I opted to go autoloader.  First came the Mossberg 935 and then my current steel slinger, the Beretta Xtrema2.  Officially, the Nova no longer had a chance even as a potential back up.   So the black blaster was oiled heavily and mothballed, until this week.

How the Big Bear currently looks...

For those who read this blog know that 1) I'm finishing a house and 2) did a plastic restoration project on my 2003 Yamaha Big Bear.  Well, the house is almost there and my plastic project worked but the red seems to fade a tad more readily only to suggest that my fix was not long term.  Okay, let us get back to why I'm completely on a tangent.

How it will look soon...

I found new plastic fenders locally for the Big Bear, but really don't want to take any more allocated money towards the house and put it towards the wheeler.  So I decided, what was the fastest way to grab some quick cash without losing something of extreme importance?  Answer was the Benelli Nova.

Winner of the Nova auction...

I texted my best man who I thought wouldn't mind first refusal, then asked a few of my students who may convince their parents to buy the good deal for them.  Turns out, everybody seemed to want in on the deal.  The winner.... my best man Mahoney.  He already owns a camouflage version of the Nova,  and wants it for his son for his 10th birthday.  So now, Uncle T's little man will have a piece of my history to go along with the little .22 single shot I bought for him on the day of his birth. 

As I exchange the shotgun for cash to put towards my new plastics, I am pleased that the gun has a special owner who will know who had it before he did.  My guess is that when he comes down for our future sea duck ventures he'll use my autoloader, while I get stuck with the black bruiser .

Sometimes, goodbye isn't really all that bad... especially when the Big Bear gets a face lift...

Have a great day.

The Downeast Duck Hunter

Number 150... actually 275...

Good friends are hard to come by...

I like these trivial milestones simply because it demonstrates the commitment to family, friends, and the outdoors.  My aspirations and achievements have changed over time bouncing from a potential contributor to a publication, to becoming a Maine Guide, to now simply writing for those who have enough interest in my literary prose.  Most importantly, I write here to network with others who share many of my passions and for my family to enjoy now and down the road.  I will say that number 200 will be dedicated to my youngest, but today I'd like to dedicate this post to several friends whom I collaborate in the blogging universe with a more detailed network of communication.  Without any pressure for establishing a particular order, here goes...

Kevin over at Ducks, Dogs, and Downriggers...
We've exchanged quite a few emails over the past few months conversing on topics such as sports, fishing, and obviously duck hunting.  He's a sharp duck hunting mind that I certainly can relate to, whether it's preparation, planning, or precision & performance within the realm of the wildfowler.  There will be a duck swap, a bucket list cross off in the works.


Terry over at Women's Hunting Journal...
When it all began, Terry was one of the first who took the time to genuinely get to know me.  She was flat out curious about sea ducking, so after some blogging interviews and countless emails we've attempted a sea duck hunt in Maine this past Thanksgiving.  The stars didn't align, however the open invite always stands.

Trey over at Brave Eagles Hunt with Antique Brownings...
My wife says he's my internet boyfriend, I say he's just an awesome pal.  I knew trouble was brewing when he gave me his cell phone number, but we've created one fine friendship over the past year and a half.  We do take the time to ship cool local items several thousand miles whether it's fine Georgian peanuts or a Maine Christmas wreath.  I look forward to hanging out in real life, there is no question that our friendship is of outdoors brethren and fraternity trouble.  The southern sniper and I are in the works for guided adventure in Maine this October.

Steve over at the Maine Outdoorsman...
My pal and continual harasser within the ranks of blogging, I'm pretty fortunate he got me into writing even though his site and material are certainly at the next level above my journal.  There's a lot we've done and a lot we are going to do.  Our story is quite impressive, sometimes God has good plans for good people.  I owe much of my Maine Guide's license and other successes to Steve; he's been a great mentor, cohort, and buddy throughout our 14 years of friendship.

I do not intend to slight any other outdoor blogger or writer in this post, I simply based my dedication on the basis of a better daily communication other than the occasional post in the comments section.  So at this point, I thank the above four friends that I appreciate dearly.  I look forward to putting you all on that monster drake eider. 

Have a great day,

The Downeast Duck Hunter

note:  The Downeast Duck Hunter here today replaced the former DEDH site two years ago, thus establishing a total of 275 posts whereas the current blog stands at 150...  to check out the old blog, click HERE.

The Winchester Model 1890 Sliding Action Repeater

Winchester Model 1890 Slide-Action Rifle

I've enjoyed taking the time to dig into the history behind this rifle and look forward to doing the same with other older models that I've encountered over time.  In the works as of this post is my 1932 Remington Model 11 Sportsman in 16 gauge, I've got plenty of information already on it but I just need to find it and put it all together.  There are many sites that were useful in my research, and I've listed one of my favorites below.  Without further ado, let's roll...

Features:
Visible hammer
Calibers:  22 short, long, 22 Winchester Rimfire (WRF)  
Tubular magazine hold 15 short, 12 long, 11 LR; 12 WRF
24 inch octagon bbl. 
Weight: 5.75 lbs. 
Sights:  open rear; bead front. 
Plain straight-grip stock, grooved slide handle 
Originally solid frame; after No. 15,499, all rifles of this model were takedown-type.  Fancy checkered pistol-grip stock
Nickel-steel bbl.  supplied at extra cost, which can also increase the value by 100% or more. 
750,000 produced from 1890-1932.

Source:  25th edition Gun Trader’s Guide, Stoeger Publishing Company.  Accokek, Maryland (2003)

The 1890 model has the honor of being the first slide action rifle produced by Winchester and was designed as the Winchester 1890 pump action rife by John Moses and Matthew Browning (US. Patent 385,238). 

The 1890 was chambered for .22 short, long, and rimfire (WRF), but these rounds are not interchangeable thus limiting the ability to mix ammunition.   Translation, you shoot what the rifle says it can, no exceptions.

The .22 Winchester Rimfire cartridge (WRF) was introduced in 1890 loaded with a 45 grain bullet with a full diameter heel, rather than the tapered heel bullet of the .22 Long Rifle.  Just like our modern centerfire and magnum rounds, the .22 WRF fires a .224" diameter bullet.

The Model 1890 was produced from 1890 to 1932 and sold as a fine, affordable firearm that provided hours of enjoyment in the field or at many shooting galleries.  After checking the serial number on our 1890, I found the number above 830,000.  This then then to further investigation and apparently serial numbers were picked inconsistently with entire groups skipped.  The total production of the 1890 from 1890 to 1941 is 764,215 but the highest serial number to date is 849,110.  With some further digging, I found that the 1890 was sold as inventory clean up from 1932 to 1941.  Therefore, it would be fair to suggest that there is some discrepancy about the actual number of 1890 rifles produced. 

The 1890 was offered in several models as time progressed.  The very first models (1890-1893) were produced in a solid frame until number 15,500 brought about a take down version as the second model.  The receivers of these two models were case hardened until 1901 when with the third model, all receivers after were blued.

To access an excellent site with the ins and outs of the Winchester Model 1890 I'd certainly recommend:  Two Ponies

The Model 1890

 

Ask my dad exactly how many firearms he owns and he'll tell you that he doesn't know...

You see my dad grew up in poverty, not the poverty today with all the fixings but the kind that was tough.  He lost his dad at age 13 and my grandmother was not around, which left his upbringing to his grandparents and himself.

As a child I always remember him saying- when I was a boy I didn't have much and always said when I get to be big, I'm going to have what I want.

A truly self-made man, my Dad and Mom built a great life together making things great for my sister and me.  Not to say that the nose to the grindstone work ethic didn't get transferred, but it would be fair to suggest that we've worked hard utilizing our education while Dad did it with his body.  Through millions of sandworms, hundreds of thousands of clams, and thousands of lobsters, we lived a working middle class upbringing.

But one thing always stood out, all kinds of BB guns, shotguns, rifles, and ammunition were stockpiled.  The hunting memorabilia from his childhood were continually garnered which leads me to today's post about one I shot two weeks ago- the Winchester Model 90 .22 Caliber Repeater.

This sharp shooting little gem was picked up several years ago from one of Dad's friends who owns a gun shop.  The octagon barrel and flawless pump action with incredible balance made this model very popular with not quite a million made.  On any account, I'm in the process of gathering more information but thought I'd share a photo of the rifle and the group it provided at 25 yards.  Have a great day.

The Downeast Duck Hunter

Daddy's Ice Fishing Buddy

I'm a fortunate guy that I've got two beauties that enjoy outdoor time with their proud dad.  Whether it's shooting the Red Ryder or Ruger 10/22, hiking in the forest, or trying to catch a fish, they always seem to be excited about the opportunities.  But then again, they've been exposed, taught, and accommodated well to the aspects of my world.  There has been times when the trip was cut shorter than expected or an alternative plan quickly landed on the table.  On any account, this quick post is about my oldest who is a seasoned angler at seven years of age and has been chasing trout with me for over four years now. 

After several hours of failure broken up with quite a few tows in the sled, a few rounds of Mario Kart on the DSi, and the occasional trip around the tip ups, we were in dire straits with the fishing.

I will close with this...

My daughter told me she felt bad that we hadn't caught any fish. I told her that I'd rather catch zero fish with her than one hundred by myself and we must be optimistic and patient. That's what makes a good fisherman.

Shortly thereafter, we got our chance.  You'll see below and have a great day.