It's based around a somewhat rare 12 gauge barrel sold by Connecticut Valley Arms, manufactured in 1987. One interesting feature is the ability to accept choke tubes - though they are a proprietary design and even more rare than the barrels. I managed to pick up a set of Full and Modified chokes in a stunningly handsome pleatherette case
, and an Improved Cylinder separately. It will do shot, but it can also be a 69 caliber pumpkin-chucker - devastating at short range.The barrel came to me somewhat beat up and missing mounting studs for the under-rib, so it's silver soldered on. I made pretty much all the hardware with the exception of the lock and buttplate. Everything that wasn't already solid nickel got plated, including the lock, and I poured a pewter nosecap. The stock is beech, which is a good, solid, straight-grained wood - figured woods would be put under too much stress in a big bore shotgun like this, and tend to fail right at the wrist or behind the lock plate.
