Long long long ago I was working in an Alaska gun store in "Buzzerd Gulch", and a really old sourdough (Eldon B.) showed up just before we opened, he knocked politely at the door, we let him in the shop, we locked the door, he said he was leaving Alaska and had a few guns he wanted to sell or put on consignment. I had read stories back in the 50's and 60's about him, he built one of the early roadhouses long ago, he also guided and trapped.

Now remember he had a few guns to sell.......He was to old to be able to bring the guns in, so several of us young men went out to bring them in the shop, yep there were a few......I stopped counting at 120 and there were more. I kind'a recall someone said 135 or 136 total.

Well it was soon clear, "WE HAD A PROBLEM". We quickly locked the store doors, and put up a hand made sign, "Plumbing problem, closed till noon".

Sadly we did not photo the collection, which truly is very sad, for it was an unbelievable experience to view. We could not photo it as many many many were not legal, and sadly for history we destroyed many of them. But was an education for me about the very things we discuss about survival, and using what you have to survive. If you truly love classic firearms, can you imagine the experience of viewing classic original firearms that would (today) bring $2,000.00 to $3,500.00 destroyed because they had been turned into Set-guns, for trapping back when trapping with set-gun was legal.

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskan Sourdough:
can you imagine the experience of viewing classic original firearms that would (today) bring $2,000.00 to $3,500.00 destroyed because they had been turned into Set-guns, for trapping back when trapping with set-gun was legal.

Silly question, but wouldn't it have been possible to remove the set-gun mechanisms to make them legal?

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskan Sourdough:
can you imagine the experience of viewing classic original firearms that would (today) bring $2,000.00 to $3,500.00 destroyed because they had been turned into Set-guns, for trapping back when trapping with set-gun was legal.

Silly question, but wouldn't it have been possible to remove the set-gun mechanisms to make them legal?

There is "NO" mechanism. Typically they would take a firearm they don't need or use, and hacksaw the barrel as short as possible (Imagine a Savage model 99 cut at the forward grip, or Winchester Model 12 cut as short as possible, or Winchester model 1873 cut as short as possible). Now you drill a 1/2" dia. hole (maybe two holes) through the butt stock. You use the holes and other available parts to lash the rifle/shotgun/revolver to a tree (maybe using two close trees).

We saved what could be saved (often just the receiver) in a emergency period of time. What could not be saved we destroyed.

That's enough to make a gun lover sick.
Regardless of how it's been chopped up.

George