A Bo Whoop pilgrimage
 

On our recent trip to the Southeast, I talked Elaine into stopping by Memphis on our way home so that I could visit the Ducks Unlimited Headquarters to view their display on Nash Buckingham. In particular, I wanted to see his famous Super Fox, Bo Whoop (if you don’t know of the famous gun's history, google it, there’s plenty of information). I was not disappointed. The display included three of Nash’s Fox guns, including Bo Whoop and Bo Whoop II, along with a beautiful 20 gauge Fox. I got to see some of the scrapbook pages from his time at Harvard, and his old button-festooned hats. Seeing Bo Whoop has been a bucket list item for me for some time, and as an aficionado of sporting literature, having the chance to view the books and related items from his life was a real treat.

I also visited the DU Heritage Museum at the Bass Pro shop at the Pyramid. I thought of all of my big bore loving colleagues as I viewed the displays of 4 and 8 gauge guns (Charlie and Milton, I have some photos for you if you like) and punt guns. It was a nice end to our 9 state tour that offered us a chance to escape the cold weather of North Missouri.

It’s hard not to be moved a bit while viewing those now relics of the past.

Photos:

1. This diorama shows pages from the shooting log at Beaverdam and the proof of Nash’s autobiography.
2. Nash’s scrapbook from his time at Harvard.
3. His published books, including the much sought after Derrydales
4. One of his signature hats.
5. Bo Whoop…need I say more?
6. His sweet 20 gauge (if only it had had two triggers, Reggie!)

I am a long-time admirer of Nash Buckingham, though I've never hunted bobwhite and only shot ducks in the years before 1970 but I love his writing style and his true dedication to conservation and bag limits.

The only original Derrydales I have of his are "Mark Right" and "De Shootinest Gent'man" - true literary works of art. I had No. 25 of "Game Bag" but foolishly sold it.

But to visit the Ducks Unlimited headquarters would be a real destination trip for me.


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Garry tell us more about the 20!

Besides the fact that it was modified by Burt Becker, there was no other information about the 20...except I'm sure that I saw your initials engraved on the top tang.

Still, it was a sweet looking Fox, even if it did have a single trigger.

I wish that I was the owner of a 20 gauge that had been modified by BB. You could probably shoot crows at 80 yards with it. Good stuff Garry, thank you.

Was that 20 the quail gun he loved?





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The 20-gauge is the Hal Howard gun that Nash referred to in his writings as the "big 20". See The Double Gun Journal, Volume Seven, Issue 4, page 21. Nash ordered it for his friend. The gun is 202651 shipped June 1928. It had a cheekpiece stock, CE-engraving, 30-inch barrels ordered improved modified and full and 28-inch barrels both bored improved cylinder.

Nash's "Burt Becker Quail Gun" is a 12-gauge.

Having spent an afternoon with Bo Whoop during October of the year before it was auctioned at Julia's I can appreciate your infatuation with the great gun, and it's original owner. I have a set of all the reprints of seven of Nash's books and agree with Dean on his unique writing style.

I followed the whole affair from the time Bo Whoop was "discovered/outed" by Jim Kelly, until it was bought at auction by the son of one of Nash's hunting partners, then donated to the DU museum. I was very pleased that it ended up where it did, and had secretly hoped that it would, and would not end up in some collector's dark closet never to be seen again until said owner croaked.

Bo Whoop and me in Savannah one October afternoon ......

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/68955_600x400.jpg

SRH

You are a lucky man.

Dean, my copies are from the reprint series that Doug Mauldin did in the 80's. I signed up for the series before I even knew what a Derrydale was, and kept it up through the whole "book-of-the-month" thing. Glad I did, as I'd never have been able to afford - therefore read - originals. All are true to the originals in content; some less so in binding, etc. It appears these two are some of the ones that were quite true...

https://i.imgur.com/YNtOfkVl.jpg

Garry, what a great experience!