First grouse (for me) with a 114 year old D Grade
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2026 11:40 pm
Four years of being the temporary steward of this old gun. It turned 114 years old one week before this hunt - serial number 300,001. I wasn’t sure my sporadic shooting skills would ever live up to what the gun deserved, but my dream has been to shoot a grouse with it. This Tuesday we embarked with a 60 year old mediocre shooter, 7 year old seasoned grouse dog, and the ever present desire to put the gun to the task it was made for. First flush, first shot, and I still can’t believe it happened. The gun has seen a good life: 3 stocks, hard field use, and a little gunsmith work in recent years. It might look like a safe queen, but I get it out every year to go out into the brush and do what it was made to do (yes on only on sunny blue bird days). I’m quite sure this 26” barreled 5 3/4 lb 16 ga has seen many grouse since leaving Philadelphia, but this was our first and it made a memorable day for sure.