PARKER GH GRADE PRESENTATION GUN

[George Lander]

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

[TARNATION !!!]

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."