"This Old Gun" Series
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"This Old Gun" Series

There are shotguns that shine under the glass of collectors' cabinets, and then there are ones that shine in memory.

The following collection of stories are a tribute to the latter: The guns passed down across generations. The single-shots with checkering worn smooth by seasons gone by. The pumps with bluing rubbed thin where a grandfather's hand once gripped tight.

In these stories, you'll meet the guns that taught a boy reverence for the outdoors, that stood by a father's side until they became his son's, and that rose again from a dusty barn to once more walk the uplands.

These are stories of first hunts and final gifts, of fathers and sons, of legacy and loss.

Each gun is a marker in time — a reminder of where we come from and who we carry with us every time we step into the field.

These old guns are more than steel and walnut. They are family. They are memory.

They are our connection to wild places and to each other.

— Ryan Sparks, Quail Forever Journal Editor

A Gift Beyond Words

Browning Citori side
 

By Andrew Vavra

There comes a time in your life when you're so moved by someone's generosity it leaves you feeling guilty. You feel ashamed for not being able to come up with the right words to properly show the gratitude deserved. But then again, sometimes the space found between the words "thank you" represent much more than the words themselves.

Browning Citori stock

In the autumn of 2012, the father of one of my best friends passed away unexpectedly. He had just finished chemotherapy and had been cleared to go celebrate the occasion with his son out west for a bird hunt. With a heavy heart, it's still hard to believe his boots never touched the plateau prairie as the plane he was piloting westward from Minnesota to Wyoming tragically crashed.

This came as a shock to anyone who'd ever had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Don Kundel. He was a husband, father, friend, veteran, and a mentor who loved sharing his passion of wingshooting most of all; a passion that lives on today through his son and my close friend, Donnie.

Just after being hired by Pheasants Forever, Donnie lent me his father's 12-gauge Browning Citori for a pheasant hunt. Having never shouldered anything other than the same pump scattergun my whole life, I marveled at its beauty and the way it felt so balanced the first time I swung on a bird. Donnie quickly recognized my affinity for the Citori. To my disbelief, Donnie offered the ongoing use of the gun as long as it saw plenty of use and received proper care.

Browning Citori trigger

Time went by and I kept up my end of the bargain. I folded roosters, broke clays, knocked down quail, and shot in the general direction of ruffed grouse, all while feeling quite lucky to be doing so in the company of such craftsmanship. I thought the fact I respected and appreciated the gun was what counted.

I was wrong. What the gun represented was what truly mattered.

Before Don's funeral, I received a phone call from Donnie in which he said they wanted all the charitable gifts from friends and family to be directed to a PF and QF's "Build a Wildlife Area" project since they knew this is what Don would have wanted. I was humbled. Before I got off the phone, Donnie also told me they wished for me to keep the Browning Citori because — this too — is what his dad would have wanted.

I didn't know what to say. I still don't.

Browning Citori barrel

Every time I've hit the field since, that gun has felt different. Sometimes you can catch yourself going through the motions, just pushing through one last cattail slough or trying to reach the top of one more ridge and you forget to be a part of the actual moment. It now only takes a quick glance at what's in my hands to remember how lucky we all are to be able to walk fields with friends, enjoy the companionship of a good bird dog, and laugh about missed shots.

That gun is no longer fawned over for its fine wood and solid steel. Now it's cherished for representing a legacy I'm lucky to be continuing.

And one day, someday, maybe I will be able to give back and add to this legacy. But until then, I'm not going to take the moments I'm presented each fall for granted.

One friend's gesture has made a lasting impact on my life, one family's generosity will help leave a legacy in the outdoor world we all know and love. And for that, I have to say, "thank you."




 

Andrew Vavra is the Vice President of Marketing for Quail Forever. Upland hunting and conservation are a family affair for him, his wife, young son, and younger German wirehaired pointer.

This story originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of Quail Forever Journal