Chris, you are right. Although the order for #158,664 was December 31, 1914, it was ordered by Dupont, to be sent to A.P. Curtis. No mention was made that it be sent by Curtis to Atlantic City. However, the date of the order was close to the opening of the Steel Pier Shooting School. The date of the article about the Dupont shooters going on the road with try guns was 1917. I think you have that original article. The price of the gun was $60.00, a 25% discount off the normal $80.00 GH price. The order for the VH 20 gauge was 1916. I wish we had order dates and customer information on the Ithacas. The Curtis Lefevers are even more of a mystery.

Drew mentioned the possibility that the gun leaning in the background may have been a Remington. I looks more like a pump gun than another Smith for sure. Is that Sousa holding the gun?

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Bill, Do you have an actual reference to the shooting school opening in 1914???... From what I have found in research, I believe the Dupont shooting school opened in the early part of 1916 with Hank Stevens...

I'll check on the 1917 article you mentioned... I do have an earlier article from March 1915 where Fanning is educating a group of Dupont reps on the function of the Try-Gun, and then sending those men back to their areas of the country with their own Try-Gun for use at various gun clubs and shooting events...

CSL
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Chris, my date reference is not too ironclad. It is a dated reference to the school being in its "third year" or some such. I'll look it up.

Chris, I have additional information on this gun that I found in a repair. I can post it here or in a PM if you desire. I do not see this repair in your research letter.

Mark

Mark, are you referring to the gold inlaid 20 gauge gun or the GH #158,664? Thanks.

I am referring to Chris Davis's DHE 20.

Mark

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That's interesting reading. Now what is the next step in this research? I guess I shouldn't bring that up.

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