Single-Minded Gun Guy

  

Maybe it's the old Boy Scout in me. Maybe it's survivalism or maybe it's just the freeing simplicity of the concept where a person is reduced to a few simple tools and his/her wits getting by in the great outdoors. A few years ago, I started watching Dave Canterbury's videos on bushcraft and loved them! One of the things that he supports is the idea of having a single "do everything" firearm using the Harrington and Richardson single shot that's been produced for many years under many model names, such as Topper, 148, Pardner..... the list goes on. As much as I love modern semi-automatics such as ARs, I really enjoy the concept of these simply, little to go wrong designs.

While in the process of scouring pawnshops for a H&R, I came across and became interested in the $99 Hatfield shotgun sold at Walmart, due in part to the amazing price, but also because of what one Youtuber that goes by "Booligan" was able to do with it!

It's an old formula pioneered over 100 years ago by American gun companies, but one of the mods that this Turkish manufacturer was able to come up with was to move the hinge slightly thus allowing for the gun to fold back under itself creating a folding 16" firearm that can easily be carried in a backpack. While contemplating getting one of these, I stumbled across this...

Apparently, the manufacturer for the "Hatfield", either contracted it with another company or decided to bring a lightly modified version in themselves and sell it under the name of Fedarm SS12. They can often be found on Gunbroker, the online auction seller for $50 to $70. Got mine for about $65. I bought a 9mm Luger 5" chamber adapter/barrel for it and started using it to test my 9mm hand loads. VERY convenient not having to chase brass around! So, much so that I traded for.... this.....

A Rossi R223HB, meaning a Brazilian manufactured version of the same concept chambered in .223 Remington so I can test my .223 hand loads that same way! It basically cost me nothing because I refurbished a laptop I was given and exchanged it for the gun. Unlike the SS12 above and any of the H&Rs this is no lighweight; it's equipped with a "heavy barrel" and is quite accurate. I'd really like to have a 9mm Luger barrel for it as well so I don't have to use a chamber adapter. So, I started looking for a cheap Rossi barrel that I can use as a "stubb" (explain later), or maybe another .223 barrel (which is close enough in case diameter that I could marry a 9mm barrel to it. In the process, I found this:

 

It's called a "Trifecta" for obvious reasons and mine came with a 7mm08 barrel, a 20ga barrel, and a 22LR barrel. Despite Rossi claiming that barrels require a trip back to the factory to "fit" them to a particular frame, mine fit the R223 just fine and visa-versa. I don't have any need for a 7mm08 barrel, but what can it hurt! However, I sure like having the 20ga and the 22LR barrels. Plus, I got it for a song at $175 off of Texas Gun Trader from a guy who had run out of room in his gun safe! All of a sudden, I'm the owner of 3 single shot long guns, in 2 shot gauges, and 3 rifle calibers with the capability to shoot a 4th!

Now I still need to find another barrel to make into a 9mm! In the meantime, while I was researching, I found that Rossi made a couple of interesting items for a short time. 

The first (which is practically, although NOT easily attainable) is the P4102211 Matched Pair Pistol. Basically the same frame/receiver but fitted with a pistol grip and short barrels in either 45LC/410ga or 22LR. I'd love to have one of these. Although they aren't terribly expensive (about $200-250), but they are hard to find because they weren't in production for very long. The other though....

First of all; they were only sold in Canada and to add a level of complexity, it's legal there since our Canuck friends, while having generally more restrictive firearms laws, have some less so, regarding short barreled shotguns! So yeah, it's be difficult if not impossible to import! Now, it would be possible to buy a regular 12 gauge single shot, then file a Form 1 with the BATF along with the $200 fee and wait, and wait, and wait..... Then at some point in the future when you're old like me, and it's been approved, you can make your own Canadian Rossi Shotgun Pistol! Am I going to build one of these? No, I don't think so. If I were to invest $200 in a BATF "tax stamp", I think I'd want to create a modern "Howdah" (or Houdah). What's that you say?

During the time of the British Raj, hunters, both Victorian and local potentates, would go afield carried by elephants in the "Houdah" (platform). The "pistol" (and I use the term loosely) was carried as a "defense of last resort" when hunting dangerous game like Tigers and Lions... oh my! They originally began as flintlock, then cap & ball, but appears to have reached the pinnacle of development in the break-open form chambered in large-bore calibers such as .577 Martini. I've become slightly obsessed, but them, but they (like the Pedersoli above) tend to run into the thousands depending on whether you get the kit or finished form. Can anyone say sawed-off Coach Gun!?!