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
|
Threaded Mode