ANNIE OAKLEY'S PARKER COMING TO AUCTION

[George Lander]

Annie Oakley's Parker hammergun is to be auctioned at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas, TX in June, 2012. It appears to be at least a Grade 3 with sculpted breech balls. It also appears to be in magnificant condition.

Best Regards, George

[Bill Murphy]

I also have a flyer about an Annie Oakley gun coming to auction in Denver. She had a lot of guns.

[Dean Romig]

Is "Annie Oakley" stamped in the wood somewhere or on the barrels (a la Wells Fargo) or is there a verifyable letter of authenticity accompanying the gun?

[Mark Landskov]

Indeed, she could shoot, and was quite pretty!

[Dean Romig]

I like this one better...




.

[Drew Hause]

The Art of Wingshooting by William Bruce Leffingwell, 1895
http://books.google.com/books?id=e34EmE3tkfkC

"I was permitted to examine many of the fine guns used by Miss Oakley in exhibition shooting, and noticed among them one Charles Lancaster ejector, one Charles Lancaster nonejector, a Cashmore hammerless, a magnificent Smith ejector with a gold figure of herself inlaid, a Parker hammerless, a Scott Monte Carlo, a Scott ejector of highest quality, and an exquisite little Francotte ejector with Whitworth barrels. The value of the guns mentioned is $2,500. The rifles shown were Lancaster oval-bore .360 double-barrel, Holland hammerless .32-caliber double-barrel, a magnificent Marlin repeater, and a couple of handsome Winchesters. She also showed me two single-barreled pistols made by the celebrated maker, Gastinne Renette of Paris. These pistols have 14-inch barrels, and are made expressly for pigeon shooting. With them Miss Oakley has scored nine out of ten pigeons from two traps, using one-half ounce of shot. She shoots binocularly. Her shot-guns weigh about six pounds each, the right barrels being bored modified, and the left full choke. Her load for targets is 2 3/4 drams of nitro powder and one ounce of shot. For live pigeons she uses three drams of powder, but the shot charge is unchanged; an ounce of shot is used on all occasions and for all kinds of game."

Annie's BHE SN 117432 ordered by Frank Butler in 1903 and offered by James Julia auctions in 2009. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Weight: 7 lbs. 9 oz. LOP 14-1/4" with Silvers pad. No safety. Credit given for BH #107950

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/372219656.jpg

A search of the Parker records for all the guns turned over by Frank would be interesting!

[George Lander]

Is "Annie Oakley" stamped in the wood somewhere or on the barrels (a la Wells Fargo) or is there a verifyable letter of authenticity accompanying the gun?

Dean: The Heritage Magazine article states the over 70 items belonging to Annie's Great Grandnieces Terrye & Tommye Holcomb, that were stored in steamer trunks for the last 63 years, have been consigned to this auction
to be held in Dallas on June 10th, 2012. Their mother was Billie Butler Serene, who was raised by her paternal grandparents William E. and Emma Butler. William was the younger brother of Frank Butler, Annie's husband and mentor. Heritage states that " A beautifully engraved Parker shotgun, used by Annie in Buffalo Bill's Wild West performances was acquired by her in 1885 - certainly a step up from the plain models she is pictured with earlier in her career."

The artcle also states that after retirement Annie and Frank spent their winters in Pinehurst, NC where, at the Gun Club there, Billie's "Auntie Annie" taught her and many other young girls to shoot. Billie often posed in "Auntie Annie's" costumes and meticulously cleaned and oiled all her guns. Billie passed in 2009. Does any one here know if the Gun Club still exists in Pinehurst? If it does it would interesting to see what, if any, memorabilia of Annie might still be there. Annie and Frank both passed in 1926.

Best Regards, George

[Drew Hause]

Annie c. 1920 age 60 supervising a student. Between 1914 and 1922, Annie gave exhibitions and taught shooting at Pinehurst during the winter. Annie and Frank Butler were in a automobile accident in 1921, and she wore a steel brace on her right leg thereafter.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/370771091.jpg

At the 1925 Grand American, Annie broke 97 X 100. She also shot an Ithaca SBT

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/333126102.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

The Pinehurst Gun Club is now part of the golf facility at Pinehurst. There is an annual event in the area commemorating Annie Oakley, but all shooting is done off the Pinehurst property.

[calvin humburg]

If anybody comes across pictures of the gun George speeks of I would like to see them. Did you see the gun George or just hear about it? good day ch

[Dean Romig]

Thanks George, that's good enough for me!

Dean

[George Lander]

If anybody comes across pictures of the gun George speeks of I would like to see them. Did you see the gun George or just hear about it? good day ch

Calvin: There is a picture of the Parker in Heritag's magazine "I Collector" I don't know how to post pictures here but if someone here can I will e-mail him the picture.

Best Regards, George

[Buddy Marson]

Drew, I can find no information that 117432 was owned by Annie or purchased by Frank Butler. If you could point me to your source I would appriciate it. I own the next sequential BHE made after 117432 and would like to know if Butler had any involvement with my gun. Thanks!

[Drew Hause]

Buddy: that infro is from the Julia description. It might still be on the auction site
http://jamesdjulia.com/catalog_archive.asp

[George Lander]

Drew: Is that the SN of the gun coming to Heritage Auctions? On the flyer I received from them no SN was listed, but looking on Heritage's web site I pulled up the auction scheduled for June 10th. Although no descriptions are there yet they did have some pictures. The only Parker that's showing there is SN 48767 which the book has as a D3 12 gauge capped pistol grip no extras w/ 30 inch barrels. It could be the one on the flyer that they sent me although the grade looks higher than a D3.

Best Regards, George

[Pete Lester]

Calvin: There is a picture of the Parker in Heritag's magazine "I Collector" I don't know how to post pictures here but if someone here can I will e-mail him the picture.

Best Regards, George

E-mail me the picture George and I will put it up for you. E-mail addy sent in PM.

[Bill Murphy]

I looked in the catalog, George. It looks like a Grade 3. How it connects to Annie Oakley, I don't know. Is it one of the Oakley-Butler guns listed in The Parker Story? I haven't looked yet. What is the story about the "Old West Show and Auction" Annie Oakley gun that is to be sold June 22-24? That seems to be a GH grade gun in high condition. My Annie Oakley gun has absolutely no provenance and is probably worth about $150.

[George Lander]

I don't know about that one Bill. The one at Heritage Auction is scheduled for June 10th. and is called "Wild West Signature Auction" and all the lots are to have descended from Annie & Frank's family that were kept in some old steamer trunks.

Best Regards, George

[Bill Murphy]

The Marlin rifles are very high condition also. If they can be traced to Annie Oakley, they will sell for very big money. The Parker is a screamer also.

[Bill Murphy]

The description of the Dr. Dave Rozier gun in the Julia catalog states that Frank Butler ordered it, but, strangely, it is not listed in the Oakley-Butler guns in The Parker Story. I guess we would have to spring for a $40 letter. The Heritage Auction gun is listed in The Parker Story as a Frank Butler gun.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I'm assuming one of these guns is the gun featured in the Muderlak article. The G grade 16 gauge hammer gun? I didn't read the whole thread but it sounds like it.

DLH

[George Lander]

Destry: The only Parker that I'm aware of in the sale, as Bill Murphy posted, is a D3 12 gauge hammergun with 30 inch barrels & capped pistil grip that is mentioned in The Parker Story as a Frank Butler gun.

Best Regards, George

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I only lightly read the thread, there was mention of a hammer gun and a trunk full of stuff from the family so I was thinking this was the 16 gauge.

Bill: Your gun stands on it's own merit, it doesn't need to be an Annie Oakley piece to be great.


Destry

[Bill Murphy]

Destry, this is not the little 16 gauge. I think the 16 will be buried deep for a few more years. Thanks for the compliment about my gun. I have not worked very hard on its provenance, but may in the future. I will display it at the Southern with no comment about its possible previous ownership. I will miss seeing you there.

[George Lander]

You can now click on Heritage Auction Companies web site "HA.com" and go to the June 10th., 2012 auction "Legends of the Wild West Signature Auction" and see great pictures of Annie & Frank's Parker SN 48767. There about 10 images that you can click & make larger. It is definitely a Grade 3 and according to "The Book" is Toplever D3 12 Bore No Extras with Capped Pistol Grip and 30 inch Damascus Barrels.

Best Regards, George

[Pete Lester]

Pictures of Annie's Hammer Gun sent from George Lander.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2725.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2726.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2727.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2728.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2729.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2730.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2731.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/IMG_2732.jpg

[George Lander]

Thanks Pete...........George

[Richard B. Hoover]

George,

Any guess as to how much the Annie Oakley Parker may sell for?

Richard

[Bill Murphy]

Richard, Richard, Richard. Just bid and don't worry. We've been in PGCA too long to worry about the bottom line. It's all about the history.

[Richard B. Hoover]

I still am not sure. Will my wife kill me if I mortgage the house?

[Larry Mason]

No worst........ She and her new husband will be forever thankful that they have a cool piece of history while you are making the new mortgage payments for them.

[George Lander]

George,

Any guess as to how much the Annie Oakley Parker may sell for?

Richard

Richard: I'm going to venture a guess that it will exceed $200,000 JMHO

Best Regards, George

[Bill Murphy]

That's a bunch of money when you consider that she and Frank owned so many guns. `I don't remember how much Doctor Rozier's gun sold for, but it should be in the Julia archives. Still no information on the Colorado gun. I just checked the website today. It may be one of the TPS listed guns but I don't know for sure.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

No Bill, you don't understand. George is calling his shot here, he's going to buy it for $200,000. I sure hope that $50k 4 bore moves before the auction so he'll have a real shot.


DLH

[George Lander]

Markette Hunter: I've placed my bid on Annie's Parker and the 4 bore is'nt 50K anymore it's 75K. Just thought you'd like to know.

Best Regards As Always, Georgie

[Bill Murphy]

I have no information on the Colorado Annie Oakley gun, but the picture puts it as a DH in high condition.

[Drew Hause]

Just found this 9-15-94 article in the New York Times confirming the dimensions of Annie's Lancasters, by Ralph Greenwood
6#, 28" barrels, LOP 13 1/2", DAC 1 1/8", DAH 1 7/8"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/403954904.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/21690841/370778598.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

Drew, you brought up a good point. Annie's dimensions are well known and documented, both in Lancaster's records and Parker Brothers records. When the authors of The Parker Story identified the Butler-Oakley guns, they separated them into two groups defined by the very different stock dimensions. The Annie Oakley dimensions are so different from other dimensions specified for Parker guns that her specific dimensions are unheard of in guns other than hers. Her drop at comb and heel dimensions are straighter than even those ordered today. Her length of pull dimensions varied somewhat over the years, but the drop dimensions stayed pretty much the same, very straight.

[Bill Murphy]

By the way, another supposed Annie Oakley gun or two are coming up in the Julia auction. One of these, lettered to Frank Butler, with an Annie Oakley engraving pattern, should sell for more than the one sold out West a while ago. That "Out West" gun sold in the $140s, but was not Annie's gun, but Frank's, according to the stock dimensions. Oh well, the details are quickly forgotten when the provenance of a selling price are added to the gun's history. Watch the Julia auction. By the way, I don't remember, if I ever knew, how much the Grade 3 hammer gun went for. Does anyone know? As I recall, it was pretty heavily provenanced.

[George Lander]

Bill, The Annie Oakley Parker coming up at Julia's is a BH Grade, so it should go for enen more than the hammer gun. I believe that the estimate is 30-50K which should be way low IMHO.

Best Regards, George

[Bill Murphy]

I never found out whether the high condition hammer gun had order book provenance or not.

[William Davis]

Don't have the details in front of me but remember a Marlin sold as one of Annie's guns, serial number showed built after her death. Famous person guns nice to own and if I had the disposable cash would have a few. But would be very careful buying.

William