Shotguns are often the punctuation marks to our stories from afield, the equipment at the heart of the enterprise but seldom the soul of the story. Imagine, instead, a story fired by and from a single gun, a narrative thread woven across families, generations, and even continents. A simple shotgun, passed in solemn ritual from proud fathers to other men’s sons, young boys poised to take their place in the fellowship of men for the first time, carrying their first gun. This shotgun, shown here. And while this is an ordinary shotgun—this is no ordinary story. — Miles DeMott

 Passed down from generation to generation, “A Gun to Grow Into” expresses the importance and symbolism for the lucky few who’ve held the Stevens Model 311 A from big hands to smaller hands. Waiting timidly, two young boys are

the next generation to experience the symbol of fellowship among hunters.  There is pride in the recollection, but there is also the tacit reality that a boy’s early steps to manhood are cast in the footprints of his father and that, while that training may start on the field, a boy’s education in the company of men extends well down the road to adulthood…

 The full feature “A Gun to Grow Into” is published in the December-January 2016 issue.

Photo by: Elmore DeMott