-=> Quoting Cloyce Osborn to Steve Gunhouse on 06-05-96  17:34 <=-
 Re: Dusters?
 SG> OTOH, I think I could fit my 20"-barreled Defender under my duster as it
 SG> is. (A duster is sort of the cowboy equivalent of a trench coat, for the
 SG> culturally challenged.) 
 CO> Kinda like a 'slicker', right?  Maybe like the one I've got behind the
 CO> seat on my pickup and the one in the trunk of my ex-wife's car?  We
 CO> won't talk about whatever artillery you might find there, we're just
 CO> discussing slickers/dusters, right?
I've seen the term "slicker" applied to other coats, so I'm not certain.
A duster is knee-length and features sort of a short cape. It is also
split in the back (for riding presumably), and has a flap on the front to
cover the buttons (to keep the dust out). A good one is typically made of
oilcloth - so it's also good in rain. Mine's more of a modern equivalent,
with snaps instead of buttons.
 SG> A "coach gun", such as the IGA or others we use in the cowboy shoots
 SG> here, would be easier. A double is naturally about 4-6" shorter than a
 SG> pump or semi-auto with the same barrel length, due to the action being
 SG> shorter. I just laid a 28"-barreled side-by-bide next to a pump of the
 SG> same barrel length, and the difference was 4" in overall length.
 CO> True but, when I went to set up my home protective battery, the only
 CO> double I had was a Holland and Holland.  A voice in the back of my head
 CO> murmured "you even think about it, boy, and I'll make sure you never
 CO> think about anything again."  I respectfully put the H&H back in its
 CO> case then went and found a model 1897 Winchester which I amputated to
 CO> 20 inches.  A few years later, I located a Mossburg 12 gauge to which I
 CO> applied similar appropriate surgery. Just a couple of years ago I came
 CO> across another model 1897 which had been fired with its barrel plugged
 CO> with mud.  Only took a couple of minutes to fix that.
We also use 1897s in the cowboy shoots, if you can find them. Personally,
I don't believe in "amputating" guns - especially as you can but a
Mossberg "Persuader" or Winchester "Defender" which comes with an 18.5 to
20 inch barrel and holds 7-8 rounds. Simple surgery on an 1897 won't do
that. ;-)
I've mentioned it before, out here we have something refered to as a car
gun. Anyone can legally carry a longarm in their car any time - except
of course on military bases and such. Naturally, in that case the shorter
the better. The Defender would be a good car gun, but a coach gun might
be even better. Plus of course the psychological effect of looking down
"both barrels". (But my car gun is usually either a 9mm Camp Carbine or a
.44 model 94, no particular reason.)
My own doubles are a Damascus-barreled Baker and a Fox model B, and I
have no inclination to cut either at this point.
 CO> Now if you want to visit my house and call ahead of time, I'll have
 CO> the coffee pot on before you get here.  Dragon Lady will probably be
 CO> fussing around trying to get you a suitable snack ready.  If you forget
 CO> to call ahead of time, I hope you're fast on your feet. :-)
I'm not much on coffee, but thanks for the invite. ;-) I don't typically
drop by anywhere unannounced.
Steve
... License Plate Frame:  My other auto is a 12 gauge.
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