PARKER GH GRADE PRESENTATION GUN
 

I just received a very nice GH Grade w/ 30 inch Damascus barrels. Inlayed in the stock is a heart shaped plaque engraved: " Presented to Willis Baldwin by E.C. Rauch, C.W. Hill, J.P. Bronson, B.W. Hurd, T.M. Hurd, E.C. Grosvenor & G. Creelman Sept. 1st. 1904" (which was the year "The Book" says that it was made). Do any of these names ring a bell. I have ordered a letter. It's on a #1 frame & has a White Line pad.

Best Regards, George

Please do post some pictures, sounds
like a nice one. :)

I recognize all the names but Creelman.

Dean: Please tell me who they are and what you know about them.

Best Regards, George

George, I don't know anything about them but simply remember reading those names individually in old periodicals or possibly some of the links to old periodicals Drew has posted. In fact, I can't even swear that the same initials preceded the surnames.

Dean

I believe "E.C. Grosvenor" was one of the men behind the "National Geographic " magazine and was a very accomplished in other areas as well. Google the names and see what pops up.

Robert: I googled Willis Baldwin & someone by that name designed & built Formula One type race cars back in the 1940's. Don't know if it's the right one or not.

Best regards, George

Well the PGCA letter came on Saturday and it reads: "Parker shotgun, serial number 123215, was ordered by The Boehine (sic) & Rauch Company in Monroe, MI on July 28, `1904 and shipped on August 11, 1904. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 65 it was a GH hammerless, 12 gauge. It featured Damascus Steel barrels with a length of 30 inches. It's stock configuration was a capped pistol grip. The chokes were patterned RH mod and LH full. The order specified a heart shaped silver shield on RH side engraved [I]Presented to Willis Baldwin by E.C. Rauch, C.W. Hill, J.P. Bronson, B.W. Hurd, T.M. Hurd, E.C. Grosvenor, G. Creelman Sept 1, 1904" [I] According to Parker Bros. Book No. 44, it's specifications were: Length of Pull: 14 1/8", Drop at Heel: 2 3/4", Weight: 6 pounds 11 ounces. The price was $80.00"

Everything on the letter checks with the gun. When I googled "Boehne & Rauch Monroe, MI it came back that they a tobacco company and possible dealt in sporting goods as well. If anyone here has more information on this company or any of the individuals mentioned I would appreciate hearing about it. The company was also mentioned as a $100,000 subscriber for War Bonds (WWI I imagine).

If this gun could talk I wonder what It would say?

Best Regards, George

George: That gun might speak of duck hunting in marshes around Monroe.

Here's a link I found that mentions Bronson, Rauch, Boehm, Baldwin. It is a rambling family tree type discussion but mentions many of your names and talks of duck hunting and marsh shanties and feudin' as well as some of the business dealings.
Cheers,
Jack

Here's one quote to keep you interested in the rather long read

"John Phillip Bronson (Jack's father) had run away at the age of 15 to join the Union force in the Civil War. He was accompanied by another boy of the same age. Both swore they were 18 and shortly found themselves in the midst of battle. Both boys lost a leg, JP within 6 months of his enlistment. Henceforth he used crutches, never having a wooden leg made because all his friends who had them claimed they were painful."

Jack, ol boy, I believe that you have nailed it! Most of the names on the plaque appear in that article. I can't thank you enough for finding this. IT MADE MY DAY!

Best Regards, George

Sometimes in the pheasant fields I make a lucky shot. Ditto on Google. Glad it was what you were looking for. With some luck, you might be able to touch base with some descendants. Who knows, there could be pictures :)
Cheers,
Jack