Austin, congratulations of the Provenance article in the new issue of DGJ that arrived in my mailbox today. I'll read it tonight when I can devote all of my attention to it. Josh Loensteiner also has a fine article on a very special LeFever.








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Yup, Bruce, that's the way I remember hearing about it.

Just observation, not judgemental!
 

How he treated both his wives and his lovers will always be a topic for discussion in some circles. Of his four known wives, the one that fascinates me is the third one, Martha Gelhorn.

Daughter of a prominent St. Louis physician, educated at Bryn Mawr, a published writer even when she met E.H., befriended by Eleanor Roosevelt, their marriage separated by conflicting careers as WW11 correspondents- quite a person indeed.

I can appreciate some of E.H.'s "gusto" for life in the "macho" lane, without having to emulate it, as much as I can appreciate songs by the late Jim Morrison or Janis Joplin without having to embrace the drug-crazed world they developed for themselves.

My forebearers taught me to respect women. Doesn't mean I profess to understand them, however!!

There was a good article on Hemingway shotguns in the last shooting sportsman. He didn't shoot himself with a Parker and there aren't any Parkers mentioned in the article.

DLH

If you've never read "Islands in the Stream", a short novel by Hemingway, it, in my opinion, best describes the man, his moods and his relationship with his sons and ex-wives. George C. Scott played him in the movie. My favourite part in the movie is David Hemmings, George's (Ernest's) alcoholic buddy, shooting the hammerhead shark which was threatening George's son with a B.A.R.

Destry: I believe that his last weapon of choice was a Boss SxS.

Best Regards, George

I will second that choice George!
 

And not just because I sent you both that VCR of the movie with George C. Scott, but also a VCR copy of the Spencer Tracy- Hemingway's Nobel wining "The Old Man and The Sea"--

If you want insight into Hemingway- read that novel pages 96-97 beginning with the line- "Then he thought that was as--- and ending with "There had been no sorrow at all"!!

I have always wondered who in real life Thomas Hudson's best friend in the novel, Roger the writer was. John Dos Passos?

I believe one of George C. Scott's wives played the part of the local hooker who invited the character Thomas Hudson up to her place for some "Afternoon Delight"--

The central character was depicted as a painter in the novel, in the movie he was a sculptor who worked in metal. As a welder by trade, they even got the period goggles and the 3-tubed Smiths combo torch unit correct.

Yes, David Hemmings played "Eddie"- and killing a shark in a rolling sea with a BAR would be no mean feat indeed!!

Francis: And Thank You Again For The Tapes. Was it not Claire Bloom who played his former wife? And who was the boat captain who was injured? Wasn't he a former trapeeze artist?

Best Regards, George

Gilbert Roland- Actor- Trapeze-ist too??
 

Gilbert Roland was the Boat Captain in "Mr. Bobby's Bar"- his line- "Let's have the best one of the day, Thomas" set the tone for that aspect of the movie-Claire Bloom was. at that time, married to George C. Scott, and was the "hooker" as cast- thanks for the memory jog.

In the book, Thomas Hudson shoots at the hammerhead shark with a .256- a Mannlicher-Schoenauer BA with the classic butterknife handle- and Eddie nails the shark in the belly with Thompson 1921 SMG--

Never have shot a shark, but would prefer my NM 1903 accurized Springfield with AP loads-sharks have tough hides so I have heard.

Also have enjoyed very much the "Sunrise on the Santee" duck hunting book you sent me in return for the VCR tapes- any hunting or fishing stopry set in either of the Carolinas is "Aces" with me- Havilah Babcock didn't have to take a back seat to any of the "Yankee" writers of his era either- just read his "Two Strangers" which I rank equally with Corey Ford's "The Road To Tinkhamtown"--

Since this thread has wandered way off course and Francis brought up "Tinkhamtown" I'll tell you of a most remarkable dream I had last night of all nights. I went to bed about 1:00 this morning and woke up at 3:00 having dreamed that I found Ringo in the snow. I lifted his head and pulled the ice off his face; he looked at me, then closed his eyes. I caught something out of the corner of my eye; turned to look and saw his doppleganger drifting off in the woods.

Chartered Courses- etc--
 

I'll take the "rap" for the drift on this thread. I would have chatted one-on-one with the fine Gent'man from Nawth Carolina vis a vis the PMS system- but mine is always FUBARED- I have apparently used up all the tokens, have freshened up Bowser until he'd pass a white glove inspection=- still no dice.

Trying to PMS Fred about those Trojan 12 gauge parts- so maybe he'll read this instead and let me where where to ship'em!!

Yup- every dog should have a Doppelganger- well, maybe except a Alsatian name of Blondi- in that case, one, plus her nefarious owner, was way more than enough.:nono::duck:

Francis, No PMs, sure you got the right Fred? Also, no need for Trojan parts at this time.

Ooops- must be a "Senor Moment"--
 

Sorry Fred. I meant to say- Jack Cronkite up in AK--he had asked me about a Trojan receiver (which I can't sell on the PGCA site) but the stripped parts, which I can. I had in mind sending him the parts and let him see if they fit first- but mis-placed his address.

I'm sure we'll get it sorted out. Just my SWAG, but probably not as many Parker gunsmiths up in the 50th. Just heard my old USMC friend who lives in Fairbanks and used to write for GSJ has cancer- always wanted to get up to AK and fly fish-most likely won't, but what scenery!!:bigbye:

Austin, I just finished reading your article in Double Gun & Single Shot Journal on the way provenance affects the value of a gun. Very insightful and informative. I appreciate your comparison of the Super Fox bored by Burt Becker with the boring and choking of some Parker pigeon guns. We have been taught of the lengths to which the Parker barrel men went in designing and cutting the chokes in these guns but Becker was a genius in his work. Nine inches back from the muzzles is where Austin found the first indication of deviation from the .740" nominal bore when he inspected "Bo Whoop" at Julia's. Stunning!

Josh, I read your article too on the LeFever twenty. A great story about a great little gun with loads of provenance too. What a beautiful little gun that one is. I hope it's yours someday.

Chokes and boring and other "points" of interest
 

I'll have to get that issue- Not a subscriber, usually buy my copies of DGJ off the rack at GM- but they stopped carrying it I surmise. Have been re-reading Sherman Bell's stuff on Proof loads in "cheapo" Twist barreled shotguns from another era-

Austin- the 12 and 10 1900's vintage paper hulls sans powder, shot, and live primers are en route to you- be interested in the study you and Dave S. are working on- hope you can use what I sent-

Deano- did you get the copies from the 1934 American Sportsman issue I sent to you at the Stutz Volvo address in Andover? I now have a mint 1940 issue of that magazines annual- 1940, didn't Mr. Foster pass away in 1941?? What a loss.:bigbye:

Thanks Francis, I received the copies and read Foster's account of the quail hunt and his saddle sores from riding that spirited horse. What a great time to wild quail they had back then. Thank you again, Dean

In addition to Austin's wonderful article in Spring 2010 DGJ entitled "Philosophies of Collecting - Wood & Iron or Provenance" which I thoroughly enjoyed was another extensive article preceeding it in the same issue by our friend Diggory Hadoke entitled "The Effects of Provenance" with a number of famous British Guns explored.

Best Regards, George

Diggory has the advantage of stumbling on guns owned by kings. We, on the other hand, treasure guns owned by common bird hunters and mediocre trapshooters.

Hey Bill, You talkin' about my guns? (me being a common trapshooter and mediocre bird hunter) I didn't know that they were valuable. I'll have to get Dig over here & write an article)

Just Kiddin'.......George

I'll give it a "Shot" Deano!!
 

[quote=Dean Romig;14872]Okay, veering a bit - What author of several coveted books and dozens upon dozens of stories, steeped in the lore of his chosen sport, a few even singing the praises of his custom bored and choked Parker shotgun by pet name (with his own name stamped or engraved into it) can we think of that might even compare to Buckingham and "Bo-Whoop"?

Wiliiam Harden Foster!!:bigbye:

I'd love to meet Diggory Hadoke
 

Would that ever make a great Southern or Vintagers event addition. I'd love to hear him discourse on some of the fine shoots he's attended "across the pond" from us Colonials!!

George, in a manner of speaking, do you mean to say you have "Lowell Thomas graded guns??"-- Surely you have heard about the Mama sweet potatoe with a darlin' daughter of marryin' age-- said daughter wanted to marry Mr. Thomas, but her Mama forbade it- 'cause he's just a common tater--:rotf::duck:

Alas. . . I don't think so Francis. Foster was a great writer, skeet shooter, hunter of winged game (not limited to the "king of gamebirds" but quail, ducks, geese, pheasants and several others) accomplished artist, editor, publisher, co-designer of a sneakboat.... and so on - but he never owned or shot a Parker, that we know of, that he immortalized (other than "The Little Gun") to compare with "Bo-Whoop".

Don't get me wrong - Uncle Ev's "Little Gun" I am quite certain would probably hammer at Julia's at as much as 10X it's pedestrian value... if ever it came to auction (which I sincerely doubt it will).

How did this great thread get killed off? It's usually Francis Morin that kills a Parker thread, but he was well behaved this time. Who knows what happened to Francis? I kind of miss him.

Obituary
 

https://www.hurstfh.com/obituaries/F...?obId=28891787

When one’s own family says their loved one had “a unique sense of humor” - it’s always the polite thing to say.

Thank you so much for that obituary. Francis was right up there with Ed Muderlak as a professional curmudgeon on the gun websites, especially ours. I invited him to visit me many times, but he never took me up on it, even though he had relatives just a few miles from me. We sparred for years, but reached a bit of a truce in the final years. He hated the PGCA, but he wasn't alone in that feeling. Rest in peace, Francis.

The Great "Runs At The Mouth" is dead.

Tragic

I wonder what will happen to his great great grandpappy's matched pair of A1 Specials that in later years became an A Grade and a D grade then went down to "I don't know what you're talking about" whenever you asked abou them.

He always claimed to have sold the AA Grade. Didn't you have some visits with him or am I mistaken?

I shot at a tower shoot he attended once. He literally didn't stop talking even as he shot.

I never knew Francis “Drake” Morin but I’m appalled at how much everyone seems to be bashing him.

What was his user name on this forum?

I don’t see how anyone who supports the second amendment and shares an enthusiasm for double barreled shotguns could be such an awful person?

What I'm wondering is HOW did a thread from about 14 (FOURTEEN) years ago get resurrected?

Closed....

John D.