The last small group of Knicks was built for and sold by Bill Jaqua if I remember correctly. Catalog listing and actual production is sometimes miles apart. Recently, a $5000 grade was sold at one of the bigger auctions for a very low price. I never did look at the listing or the pictures to see if I missed "something".

Bill Jaqua was a very creative marketer.

What ever became of the "Little Persuader" which he bought at auction and was featured on the front page of the WSJ? That article legitimized gun purchases as an acceptable investment alternative. My understanding is that he sold that gun shortly after buying it for about a 25% premium. And what about the matched sets of English Best Guns he commissioned with the elaborate display cases?

Just received email the first batch of Ithaca Letters are going out by the end of the year from the Cody Museum. I've requested letter on a very early SBT.

A sign of the times is comparing Bill Jaqua's little collection of small bore Purdeys with the dozens of small bore Purdeys that Robert Petersen threw on the market when he passed away. "What's up with that?"

I wonder how Ithaca found him, Harry? I suppose at some point, only making twenty guns a year, having an in-house engraver didn't make sense. Did he ever discuss how he came to work for Ithaca with you?

I was manning my tables at the Easton, Maryland gun show many years ago, a bunch of nice side by sides on the tables. An older gentleman and a companion hung out in front of the tables showing much interest. One man asked about one of my guns and I handed it to him to examine. His comments lead me to say, "You seem to know a bit about these guns. My name is Bill Murphy." He replied, "I know a little, and like them a lot. My name is Bill Jaqua, glad to meet you, Bill."

Received my Ithaca Letter from the Cody Museum:

Ithaca SBT was shipped on June 10, 1910 to C. T. Summerson at Nixon Hotel, Butler Pennsylvania.

I'll do research on C. T. Summerson tomorrow.

That date doesn't sound right. I was under the impression the Ithaca SBT came out in 1915.