THE FLUES REBORN

It was a "Christmas for grown-ups" last week.  'The Flues' came back from the gunsmith.  (Yay!)  I opened the package that contained my reconditioned shotgun and was absolutely stunned. 

First, let me refer you to my "personal history" of the Flues by suggesting that you type "FLUES" in the search bar above, and you will pull up the July 31, 2014 story of the gun, Frank, and how my now departed hunting "pard" left it to me--humor and all.

Ithaca Flues Model, made in 1911

In 2017 I decided to restore the Ithaca.  Perhaps it was because of the ache I felt inside, or perhaps it was my desire to create some sort of monument to my friend's memory and our story.  It seemed that the shotgun's journey was incomplete.    Whatever the reason, I looked up a shop that specifically renovated old Ithaca guns--not a 'factory shop' mind you, but a 'trade shop'.  I landed on Diamond Gunsmithing in Ithaca, New York.  After a brief back and forth, I sent the piece to him and then the initial installment on its repair.  

Shotgun in 2014

And I waited,...…


     And waited,...…..

         
           And waited some more...….

I simply didn't realize the process of renovating antique shotguns and the huge "que" I was in.  The shop was patient with me, and gave me status reports when I asked.  It was getting onto two years since I started this project, and I was afraid my personal piece of history was setting in the corner, dusty and forgotten.  

But NO!

While I was fighting back the frustration of unfulfilled expectations, I received a message letting me know that the restoration was nearing completion and asking me to verify what I wanted for chokes on each barrel.  A little later,  I got another message saying that it was almost finished and please send in the balance due.  (I sent it wondering if I was helping finance an exotic villa  somewhere.)

Soon  thereafter, a UPS email with a tracking number arrived.      A very few days after that, the package arrived.  

Came the moment of truth:  
Was I to be happy, or was I to be a fool?  ……… I opened the package. 

Shotgun in 2019

It didn't even look like the shotgun that I sent to them! … Everything was adjusted, re-blued, refinished, chokes opened up, and they even case-hardened the receiver.  

To me, the piece is like new--clean and beautiful.   (The pictures don't do it justice.) The master gunsmith turned an old misused piece into beautiful  functioning art.  He gave it new life, and life is good.  

It truly did seem like Christmas!   


Now if we can only renovate the shooter...…….

Ithaca Flues in 2019--Picture doesn't do it justice