Archibald Rutledge's Parker

[RonBarnes]

Guys, do any of you have any info on Archibald Rutledge's Parker. I have read the Jim Casada collection featurings his best of stories and have a copy of Fireworks in the Peafield Corner. He mentions the Parker in his stories especially the deer hunting ones, he makes claims of 80 yard shots with buckshot (he was known to embellish a little). I have a little back ground on the parker, it was given to him in 1904 by his students at Mercersburg Academy. It had 30 inch barrels, choked Full and I am guessing a fairly open choke on the right barrel. He used the gun on all game, Deer, Turkey, Snipe, Quail, Grouse and wild Hogs. The gun was retired in 1936, his boys bought him a new Churchill double because the Parker (had become loose in the joints from use.) Rutledge used the Parker occaisonally out of nostalgia. I hav attache a couple of pics, but it is hard to make out much.

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[Destry L. Hoffard]

One of his relatives actually posted on the forum about a Parker he had about a year ago. He said the family still had the gun but didn't give much more information.

Rutledge also made box style turkey calls. I've always figured that if one of those turned up at auction it would make a record selling price for a call. I believe there's a pic of one in Harlan's book but there was some question as to whether it was really a Rutledge made call amongst the collectors.


Destry

[RonBarnes]

The box call you are referring to was called Miss Seduction. There is a actually a story by Rutledge called Miss Seduction struts her stuff. There were approx. 1500 made, he advertised them for sale in Outdoor Life and Field and Stream back in the day. They were not the best constructed calls but some were actually autographed by Rutledge. In the December 2008 Turkey & Turkey Hunting Magazine there is an article by Jim Casada about the call. There is a great picture of Rutledge using the call also he is holding his Parker.

[George Lander]

There is a picture (a different one) of Rutledge holding a Parker hanging in the Drawing Room of his "Home By The River" Hampton Plantation on the Santee, Charleston County, South Carolina. I took a picture of the picture & I'll post it if I can find it.

Best Regards, George

[Destry L. Hoffard]

If he made and sold 1500 of the calls it's amazing that so few have survived. The "Glodo" is the rarest of the rare and most valueable in the duck call collecting circles. I'd guess that there were far fewer than 1500 of those made and yet at least a dozen are known in collections. I think the 1500 number on the Rutledge turkey calls might be a little fat.


Destry

[RonBarnes]

Attached is the article by Jim Casada, in his opinion Rutledge made approx. 1500 calls.They sell, if you can find one for about a thousand dollars.2360

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[Destry L. Hoffard]

*chuckles* If Casada or anyone else has one for sale at that $1000 figure just send it to me straight away.

[RonBarnes]

I am with you, I have never seen one for sale. I have been trying to find an old Field & Stream with a advertisement for the call. I have been looking at some of my old Rutledge books I am guessing his Parker was at least a VH, it had a shield in the stock I can't find any better pics other than B&W in print.

[Ray Masciarella]

I think Harlan's book has an old Field & Stream ad for the call. I have been collecting old turkey calls, circa 1900-1960, for years and have never seen one for sale.
In fact, I have only seen one. Crudely made-sounds terrible by todays standards but calling was different back then. Used mostly clucks rather then the yelping we do today (which most hunters do far too much of-I've never heard a hen run around the woods yelping for hours).

[RonBarnes]

I know Rutledge only hunted turkeys in the fall of the year, there was no spring season back then. I dont know if that was the reason for the the different calls or not. I have only hunted turkeys in the spring, I understand that it is more difficult to call them in the fall.

[RonBarnes]

I read another Rultledge story in which he called his Parker a $37.50 grade I know a DHE was known as a $100.00 grade. I am not sure about what grade he was referring too.