California Side by Side Society

http://www.casidebysidesociety.com

Roger G. Sanger founded the Society in 1995. His desire to share the camaraderie of the side by side gun with other collectors and shooters resulted in the first gathering in April 1996. (See Double Gun Journal, Spring 1999, page 65). Today the Society has hundreds of members in California and other Western states.

Society members are men and women dedicated to the collection, preservation, heritage, and enjoyment of the side by side shotgun and rifle. No other firearm elicits the romance of history and gunmaking like the side by side. From early American subsistence hunting to Edwardian shoots in 19th Century England and dangerous-game exploits in 20th Century Africa and India has come a fascination with the side by side gun and a renaissance of interest among modern collectors and sportsmen and women.

Our members are as diverse as the guns they collect. Some have a love affair with a particular maker (Purdey, L.C.Smith, Piotti, and many more). Others have a fascination for a particular type of action (hammer, hammerless, sidelock, boxlock, sidelever, under lever, etc.). From muzzleloaders to breechloaders, black powder to nitro, and small bore to big boomer, members' varied interests spark much discussion--but the common factor among all the members is that we enjoy side by side firearms. We enjoy collecting them, displaying them, and in most cases shooting them.

The Society is a non-profit, mutual-benefit 501(c)7 tax-exempt IRS corporation with constitution, bylaws, board of directors and officers. A brochure is available detailing Society activities and membership information. The Society maintains an active Web site and email system. A newsletter is sent to all members quarterly and posted on the Web site. Inquiries may be sent via email, telephone, fax or postal mail.

The Society is organized into five California chapters, each with an executive committee. These chapters are: Greater San Francisco Bay, Greater Sacramento / San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, Greater Los Angeles Basin and Greater San Diego. There is also a group for out-of-state members. The chapter system allows more member input at the local level.

Social gatherings with display of fine guns, catered lunch, guest speakers and an organized shoot are offered in both northern and southern California four times each year, usually in the spring and fall. Fun Shoots are offered in each chapter area, usually six times per year.

Hunting events are organized and sponsored on a statewide basis. Currently the Society has an alliance with Rock Springs Ranch and Lodge, a 19,000-acre Orvis-endorsed wingshooting lodge and estate in Central California; with Green Head Hunt Club in the San Diego area, with High Desert Hunt Club at the Tejon Ranch in southern California and with Turk Station Ranch and Lodge in central California. Hunts are organized by Roger Sanger, who can be reached at the Society's state office. These events include dove-season openers, cornfield pheasant hunts, Continental pheasant shoots, mixed-game wingshoots, couples wingshoots, and double rifle / drilling wild boar and released-bird hunts. Other special hunts may be arranged through the Society. Each event has a separate brochure detailing the activities, and these brochures are mailed to all members.