A few weeks ago a recently widowed lady and avid column reader called. She wanted to know if I would look over her late husband’s guns and place an approximate value on them. Though I’m certainly not in the appraisal business, I told her I’d help her out. The guns ranged from a Colt AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to an antique Ithica double barrel shotgun with Damascus barrels and side hammers. Most of the appraisal was easy enough, but I had no idea as to the value of the old Ithica double barrel.

I have a copy of Fjerstad’s Blue Book of Gun Values, a must volume for firearms enthusiasts, but it did not cover old Ithica shotguns. After a number of fruitless phone calls to the black powder guys I knew, I decided to call Chuck Oster, former Cabela’s gun library guru. Chuck was able to help me out. The gun was a desirable piece, and with a soft spot in my heart for widows trying to live on social security checks, I probably paid her more than the gun was worth.

Loading my own black powder shells will be my only option for this gun as black powder loads in 16 gauge are no longer marketed. As my current shot shell reloader is for 12 gauge, I needed 16 gauge equipment, and it was time for a trip to Mitchell’s Precision Reloading. By the time you read this I might have my custom 16 gauge black powder shells in hand if I can find some empty 16 gauge shells to reload. These are currently unavailable. Until then, I’ll find myself wishing for a shot at a pheasant or two with this piece of history. Perhaps with the season going through January, I’ll get that chance.

I received a note from my good friend Frank Kloucek of Scotland. On December 4th, Frank dropped his first ever whitetail buck, a five by five, with a single shot from his scoped .243 rifle. At 64 years of age, Frank proved it’s never too late to get started. Now he’s thinking antelope hunt! You might recall that Frank, a former Democrat legislator, was instrumental in protecting us from lawsuits initiated by felons who were injured by innocent victims trying to protect themselves.

Speaking of Democrats, Prior to the November election I wrote that if Joe Biden won the presidency, he would pursue his party’s gun control efforts by working to overturn the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The PLCAA generally protects licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits brought to recover damages from the criminal misuse of their products. These suits would pose a great threat to the industry as well as gun owners. We hunters, target shooting enthusiasts, and home/selfprotection advocates are in for a fight we cannot lose. Consider joining the NRA (National Rifle Association).

Here’s another way of looking at it. Should Louisville Slugger be punished for attacks by criminals using ball bats? Should Ford or GMC be liable for damages when someone intentionally crashes one of their cars? I hope Joe Biden can pull this country together and put an end to partisan voting in Congress, but I am certainly not for the repeal of the PLCAA. I hope Frank isn’t either.

See you next week with a great Christmas story.