Philadelphia......
 

Gentlemen,

I'm preparing to leave for my trip east to shoot against that fellow from Peoria. I'm overnighting this evening with Jeffery Milliken, representative of the Browning Arms Company, to view his display of their new autoloading shotgun.

I will then proceed in the small hours to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to join Mr. Kaas and Mr. Kimble for a try at the fowl on the Chester River. In the afternoon it's on to Philadelphia and Mister Kaas' gun club for an evening repast and much needed slumber. Our pigeon match begins bright and early on Saturday morning.

Mr. Kimble has edged me out by one bird on each of our two most recent meetings. Be assured that I will be out for blood this time and intend to take the purse and trophy. I've spend most of the fall and winter duck shooting in Ontario so am warm to my gun and well prepared to do some serious business at the traps.

I will be seeing Mr. Kimble off at the train station early on Sunday morning then I'm off to Leesport, Penna to visit the famous gunsmith R. Bickle who'll be doing some small repairs on a couple of my guns that have seen hard service this past season.

I've just recieved a last minute wire from Mr. Thomas Flanigan, eastern salesman for the Parker Gun, saying that he's left a new D grade hammerless pigeon gun in the hands of Mr. Milliken to pass along to me. The company wishes me to try the gun in my match against Mr. Kimble and give a full report of it's performance. I'm much pleased and surprised at this opportunity and will do my level best to make a good showing.

I wish, in advance, to thank Mr. Kaas and all others who have made this small tour possible. I'm sure reports of the match will proceed me home, watch this space.


Regards,
Capt. A.H. Bogardus aka Destry L. Hoffard

Destry, please give my most sincere warm regards to both Tom and Jeff, We never hear from them on the forum anymore and miss their informative and jovial posts. And, of course, my best to John, Don and Russ as well. Your visit to the east should prove lucrative and rewarding. Keep your head down and the gun moving.

Will the good Captain be visiting Wing Pointe that Sunday also?

Captain, I have seen the new Grade D pigeon gun in action when Mr. Flanigan demonstrated it at a pigeon shoot of our South Ridge Flyers Club some time ago. It has your favorite uncommon length of barrel and should suit you just fine. Good luck with the North Shore waterfowl and especially good luck in your competition with the aging Mr. Kimble. Your friend, W.S. Perry.

Mr. Perry - just how long are those barrels?

Gentlemen,

I've arrived at the Milliken house, receiving a warm welcome as always. You are correct Mr. Perry, the gun is all a pigeon gun should be, 34 inch barrels, high stock, sans safety, a positive killer. Again my thanks to Mr. Flanigan for providing it. He wasn't able to be with us this evening but is here in spirit as his name has often been on our lips.

Mr. Bishop,
Gunsmith Bickel has suggested visiting Wing Pointe on Sunday just as you mention. I'm always keen for any chance at pigeon shooting. So, should things work in my favor, I'll be on the grounds sometime in the afternoon.

I've heard from Kaas and Kimble via wire, they're awaiting my arrival in the small hours at the old Sprinkle Mansion north of Chestertown. The weather is a bit fair for my taste, hopefully the fowl will cooperate with us come morning.


Regards,
Bogardus

Captain, I'm not sure you have visited the Wing Pointe club. Unless a flyer shoot is scheduled for that day, you will probably be treated to a taste of the recent development, the clay bird. They have a course that winds through the woods with many contraptions along the way that propel these clay birds. I was hosted by Mr. Bickel and Colonel Gross some time ago and was impressed not only by the shooting facilities, but by the on grounds saloon where the food and drink is quite good and well served. A young redheaded shooter from Virginia accompanied us on the course. He claimed to know you from an earlier hunt on the Upper Shore of Maryland. He was a bit of an embarrassment because he not only declined to order proper distilled spirits at lunch, I think he shot a Belgian shotgun at the clay birds even though he claimed to have some knowledge of our Parkers. Your friend, W.S. Perry

Captain, "fair weather" is a bit of an understatement. I'm sure, as you awoke, the Montgomery County sun was blinding. The ten o'clock sun has expanded the mercury to a reading of 80 degrees F. By the way, Mr. Bickel seems to favor a somewhat odd Parker for his clay bird shooting. It is a very nice top lever hammer gun, but equipped with the new black barrels that have just recently been offered on the hammerless gun. I think he may have constructed the combination himself although the gun shows every sign of factory work. I certainly wouldn't think that Parker Brothers would install the inferior and potentially unsafe black barrels on one of their hallmark hammer guns. It is hoped that Mr. Bickel has not discarded the Damascus barrels that originally adorned the gun. What will these local gunsmiths think of next.

For one who spends his day in front of a forge hammering and shaping horseshoes he seems to have come up with with some very unusual tubes . . . one wonders where he may have obtained such inferrior black iron...

Bogardus in the House
 

The good Captain is working his way toward the confrontation with Kimble. He was in good form and seemed to be full of confidence as he pulled an all nighter before driving 600 miles on Thursday.

We restocked his ample frame with pork tenderloin, string beans and corn bread and drink pail of malt beverage. Many stories were told of buxom redheads and the public libraries of Lapeer Michigan.

After putting a man sized dent in my sofa for an hour and a half of sleep he was off again to go rest up in a duck blind with a view of brackish water.

The Captain is in good form and will arrive with style.

Now, it is with heavy heart that I drop back off into relative obscurity.......for now. As my time allows I'll be back to follow the fun.

But for now I can just pass on my regards to all, but especially to RogerCodger and John Hickerson who I know were worried that I found the edge of the earth and stepped off.

Jeff Mulliken and Luke the Wonder Dog

ps: Luke is savoring his retirement, but it's hard....every good day counts
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