Capt. A.W. Money had 2 Pigeon guns stolen.
He was 2nd in the 1894 GAH and used his Greener in the 1897, 1898 & 1899 GAHs; a Parker in 1900 & 1901. He purchased a CH Parker SN 87238 in 1897 which he returned for his discount purchase price of $75 in Dec. 1898. He also used a L.C. Smith in 1897 and purchased a Smith A2 in 1901.
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL3723022.pdf
Reward offered for Parker stolen July 20, 1901; SN 90,635, 8#, 30” barrels.

http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL3824014.pdf
Captain Money, of the "E. C." and "Schultze" Powder Company, New York, is mourning the loss of his Parker pigeon gun, which was stolen February 15 (1902) at Paterson, N. J. The gun was taken from the case and shells substituted, giving it the required weight, so he did not discover his loss until some hours later. This is the second Parker gun Captain Money has lost in this manner.

I can see everyone that owns an old CH scrambling to check the serial number.
What would you do if it was the one? :eek:

If everyone who owns a neat old Parker would order a letter, there would be much less mystery and drama when we learn these facts about our guns.

And a lot more work for me:eek:

David, I thought the same thing and checked the letter database. No record of a letter being done on 90635.

Bring it down to the local police station and turn it in as stolen property so they could cut it in half.

Phew! I have 90,739 - an 8#, 30" DH... Man, that was close!

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Dean,
The gun theft subject appears to be a popular topic in periodical writing these days... It was just last week I heard about another strange criminal related hunter/gun article currently being written that centers around a pair of unscrupulous characters from the Kansas and Missouri area... Sounds like the story will be another fictional tale with lots of interesting details, and may be a real (who-dun-it) page turner...

CSL
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Thanks for all the great photos and info. I haved learned a ton from you already!

I wonder if the Russians had competitive and organized live bird/Pigeon shooting events similar to those in the U.S. during the late 1870's through the early 1900's?... And if so, what kind of shotguns, gauge, and barrel lengths they were shooting in the land of Czar/Tsar Nicholas II during that time period?...

CSL
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Are you kidding? Nothing like our pigeon shoots in the 1870's, '80's and '90's existed in Russia unless you were on the Czar/Tzar's 'A' List, or knew someone who was who was willing to bring you as a guest! Accordingly, when the great unwashed got tired of not being able to even muster a decent handicap, they took over the country! So far as guns, gauges, barrel lengths, chokes and actions went, it was 'best Bests', 12, 32", tight and tighter, and either SxS or O/U (no Cosmis or A-5 Special for Pigeons, please!).

I now own Money's 87238 and she's a great gun with some neat history. Sits right next to the Kimble guns. John

John, Was that the gun I shot at the Southern a couple of years ago? That is a great gun!

That's the one.

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Kidding? --- Nope!

Your commentary was very interesting though - It's almost like you were actually there in Russia during the 1870's, '80's and '90's!

As for "Cosmis", Sounds like a killer CheeseSteak Deli at the corner of 8th & Dickinson in Philadelphia!

http://www.cosmideli.com/welcome.html


CSL
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A bump to the top for an interesting thread.

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Capt. Money owned several interesting guns throughout his shooting career. Below are a couple images from a rare old photo of a club shoot showing a relaxed A.W. Money posing with several of his contemporaries. Those familiar with some of the early 1900's shooting legends will probably recognize the faces of Marshall, Elliot, Gilbert, and Heikes, also in the photo...

Best, CSL
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http://www.webpak.net/~cslien/1MoneyShootA.jpg
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http://www.webpak.net/~cslien/1MoneyShootB.jpg
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That image may have been taken at one of the "E.C." Cup events
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5617011.pdf
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5617012.pdf

The first "E. C." Inanimate Target Championship Cup was held May 5-8, 1896, at the Guttenburg racetrack, above Weehawken, N. J. The match consisted of 100 targets, unknown angles, from known traps; 100 targets, unknown traps and known angles (commonly called expert rules - At expert rules, one man up in the centre of five traps, pulled unknown, according to an indicator); and 50 pair of doubles.
Fred Gilbert won with a score of 266. Fulford and Elliott were next with 261, while Heikes came in third with 258
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL2708020.pdf

By golly they did have some Pigeon shoots in Russia during the early 1900's, not exactly the same live-bird events as those held here in America, but the Russians were certainly shoot'n a few Pigeons in 1915... I ran across this article a few nights ago while doing some Parker research... Written by P.B. Deane, an American in Russia on war related business, who also found time to visit and shoot at the Petrograd "Imperial Gun Club" in June of 1915... The following 2 images below show how Deane's story appeared in the June 1916 issue of the American Shooter Magazine...

Best, CSL
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http://www.webpak.net/~cslien/1RussianShootA.jpg
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http://www.webpak.net/~cslien/1RussianShootB.jpg
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Really good stuff Christopher. Thank you for sharing.