Anyone can tell a good gun story, but backing it up is an entirely different "ball-game" - Pun intended... Over the past few years I've read many claims of guns and photos of said guns attributed to the "Sultan of Swat", but to date all photos I've examined have fallen far short of the center field fence... Holding a double barrel shotgun in a "raccoon skin coat" is by No means 100% confirmation of anything. I want to see a well defined Parker hinge pin, a dolls head, forend hardware, or "G" grade engraving in a photo before I accept the fact that "maybe" it "might" be George H. Ruth's Parker... A couple years ago someone was selling an L.C. Smith Specialty grade said to have belonged to Babe Ruth backed-up by a photo they claimed showed Ruth holding the same long barreled Smith after a hunt, however the story quickly lost credibility when the photo was closely examined by those in the know.
When someone claims they are selling a gun of significant historical provenance along with a photo of a famous person holding the same gun, I would strongly encourage buyers to examine every possible detail of the photo, and if not sure, ask for help before you write the check based on a hopeful guess and a sellers well rehearsed promise... I'm still waiting to see a Russian staff officer, or any Russian in a photo with the Czar's Parker...
Best, CSL
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