I was walking an old logging road while hunting over the weekend on a sunny cool day and looked down on my favorite Model 31. I’ve had this gun for 15 years now. I’ve used it for a variety of hunting. Squirrel, turkey, coyote, etc.

Nearly every day in squirrel season I use it. According to the health tracker on my phone I walk a little over/under 10,000 steps and climb about 22 stories on average during this time from mid August to mid November when I switch to a rifle for deer.

I wore the original blue off the receiver the first couple years. I re-blued it in 2016 then again in 2021. Its pretty much gone again from that second refinish. I carry and use this shotgun a lot. I’ve taken more game with it than anything else. Hundreds and hundreds of squirrels at this point. But I take very good care of it. Its always oiled and cleaned when I’m done with it. It is not a safe queen.

I have some guns I have semi-retired. They served me longer than this one in non-hunting roles. But I don’t know why. Who am I saving them for? Some asshole who won’t care anyway? I will use this one until it is used up then retire whatever parts are left over.

I’ve told the story before of how I got it. It’s last owner was Brady’s uncle. he collected shotguns. His wife had been cheating on him many years and one day he had enough. She came home from a fling and the guy went and got his favorite 22 revolver and popped her in the head then himself.

Brady’s cousin asked him to help her sell off the guns from his estate. Brady saved this one for me knowing I’d been looking for a full choke 16gauge Model 31 like his since 1997.

A rough back story for sure.