Provenance- What do you have in your safe?

[Double Lab]

Well here I am recouping after my quad/acl repair, not being able to walk for at least 2 weeks. Missed the Southern but shooting for Ernie's. Finally got access to my computer and keyboard so I decided to start something that really sets Parker above all the rest. That is our records and the neat info we all hope for.

I acquired Parker 234255 in 1992 from a dealer in PA. Tom Gibbons was his name and I'm sure someone here has had dealings with him. I was looking for a 32" gun and it was advertised on the pre internet Gun List rag. I had it for about 15 yrs. before I ordered a PGCA letter for it. The letter was ho-hum. Standard trap configuration, 32", ball grip, double triggers, vent rib, VHE, shipped on 1/29/30.

Now the interesting stuff. About a year later I saw G&H's website listing guns that went through their inventory. The gun was ordered on 1/02/30 and received into inventory on 4/01/31. I saw the s/n in their database and emailed Bob Beach that evening.

The very next morning I received a phone call from a very excited Mr. Beach.
There is a ton of info on this gun and it's owner so I'll just give some of the info here and hope to write a PP article with the rest.


Seems the gun was ordered through A&F by a Mr. David K.E. Bruce. Born 2/12/98 - died 12/5/1977. His father was William Cabell Bruce, U.S. Senator fom Maryland. David married Ailsa Mellon, richest woman in America at that time. He started his career as a newspaper correspondent for the Baltimoe Sun in 1920 and worked along side a Mr. H.L. Menken. He was quite the diplomat ; Ambassador to NATO, China, UK, Germany, France and Under
secretary of State.

These a just a few of his accomplishments. But the one I find most interesting is his involvement in the development of the OSS (1941-1945). He headed the agency in Britain, landing on Normandy on the second day.

I've got much more on Mr. Bruce but thought this might give rise to others who have neat histories of their guns previous owners.

My next entry will be on W.R.Crosby and his 20ga. ordered w/o safety, 30", straight grip, compliments of PB.

[C.O.B.]

I'm working on giving my guns some provenance for the next caretaker. This gun was used by C.O.B. to hunt Grouse in the Upper peninsula of Michigan during the heyday of Grouse hunting in the early 21st century.

[Pa SxS]

I was going to say something along the lines that C.O.B. said. Someday someone will noticed that his gun was once owned by the famous Chuck Bishop, Research Chairman for the Parker Gun Collectors Association. He'll show it to his friends and handle it with awe knowing it was once owned by someone famous in his own mind

[Double Lab]

Good try Rich. Not quite in the same league but then again you are a legend in your own mind. Now I see where C.O.B. originated from. I guess I'll have to let you shoot that 32'' DHE20 for a while so it can gain some UP history.

[6pt-Sika]

Lets see I have a 20 gauge Philly Sterlingworth 28" M&F that belonged to Robert Montgomery a 1920's 1930's actor and father of Bewitched's Elizabeth Montgomery .

I have a W&C Scott back action hammerless 10 gauge circa 1881 that belonged to one of the DuPonts of DuPont powder fame .

Also have a pair of W&C Scott's a 12 gauge hammerless sidelock and a 20 gauge hammerless back action lock that belonged to one of the lastPeter's of the Peters Cartridge Company . This fellow was also a relatively close neighbor .

Not much by most folks assessment but the best I can do on short notice LOL's !

[Cold Spring]

Daryl, it's good to hear you're recovering. I missed you at the Southern. Hope to see you at Hausmann's. Your Bruce gun sounds pretty neat!

Well it's not a Parker but I have a 32-inch straight grip CE Fox with 1/weight barrels, documented that Ansley once brought her in for a small repair. I'm thinking of bringing her to the NE SxS and a good friend like you can handle and rub off some of AH's DNA. Ha.

[Mike Murphy]

The closest I come is a Browning Continental set (20ga. / 30-06) that belonged to the late Robert Urich of "Spencer for Hire" and movie fame. He was a member of one of the gun clubs I belonged to. I also have a Rigby Hammer gun circa 1888. Goodness knows who previously had owned it over those many years.

[Chris T.]

Hi Daryl, What grade is the 20 ga.? I have a nice one in the same configuration also, I believe you looked it over at Ernie's last summer. Hope to see you there again this year!

[Double Lab]

It's a VH Chris It's interesting that a pro shooter ordered it without ejectors. He also specified the amount of pitch he wanted, something I don't think I've ever seen on a factory letter before. Maybe Chuck has seen pitch mentioned in some of the letters he has done. Hope to see you all at Ernies.

[StubTwist]

I have an 1896 LC Smith Pigeon ordered by WG Sergeant from Joplin, MO. It is a straight grip with ejectors and 30" barrels.

Researching the old Sporting Life magazines, WG Sergeant was an amateur trap shooter who was a pretty good shot winning events and prizes in the amateur trap shooting tournaments in the area. The Joplin Tournament on May 9, 1896 Fred Gilbert won first prize of the three day event with general average of 92.7 breaking 445 targets out of 480. WG Sergeant came in fifth place with a general average of 88.9%.

He was secretary of the Missouri and Kansas Gun Club, and was influential in the development of the game of trap. Initially, trap shooters using new disks participated in teams of six, one man behind each of five trap houses and an “extra” that rotated out after position number five. In, 1885, W.G. Sergeant of Joplin, Missouri, changed the game to incorporate three traps known to be called the Sergeant system. Two years later, five shooters were shooting from five stations behind one trap. So the game remains....

This is the gun I use in my trap league.