The Guns of J.P. Sousa

Bill Murphy · 08-08-2021, 08:15 PM

I think the serial number of the Parker is in the Parker records and probably in the Alderfer auction catalog. Kevin and I were both at the Alderfer sale where the AAH Parker was sold. Kevin and I were also at the sale where the other two Sousa guns were sold but we had no idea they were Sousa guns. A little later, the same house sold the double barrel Daly Diamond Grade pigeon gun that is also connected to Sousa ownership. I had no idea at the time that the Daly double pigeon gun had Sousa connections. I bought it because it was a great gun. I still own the Daly pigeon gun as well as the other two I wrote articles about.

Bill Murphy · 08-09-2021, 10:53 AM

Al Houde, back to the Purdey. In my file of Parker records there is an order copy for a request by William Wagner to reblack the barrels on an unnumbered Purdey. It is the only example I have seen in tens of thousands of Parker records of them working on a gun that is not a Parker. Since Sousa ordered several Parkers through the William Wagner establishment and was a bit of a VIP at Parker Brothers, I suspect that the Purdey sent to Parker Brothers for barrel blacking was Sousa's gun. Too bad no serial numbers.

Drew Hause · 08-09-2021, 05:25 PM

Philadelphia Ledger March 1915. Looks to be his Smith

Drew Hause · 08-09-2021, 05:26 PM

His AAH

Definitely a boxlock and likely his Prussian Daly double

mobirdhunter · 10-08-2021, 12:05 PM

A great thread -- thanks to those who contributed.

I recently heard a story from a reliable source that Sousa asked Fred Gilbert for shooting lessons. Any of you trap historians know of this? Is it "old hat" or something that's become part of Gilbert family lore?

I have a former colleague, a DMA whose dissertation was on Sousa, that I've been trying to contact recently. We used to discuss the Sousa grade Ithacas. (Believe me, there were not too many discussions of shotguns going on in the academic hallways at that time.)

I'm now looking for the Murphy/Breeden article and other good suggestions from this thread. Thanks again. I enjoy learning from all of you.

Bill Murphy · 10-10-2021, 06:56 AM

I would like to think the gun in Drews post was Sousa's Purdey, but the long receiver makes it look more like his A-2 Smith. Garry, the Double Gun Journal, Summer 2013, had my and Tom Breeden's article about Sousa's Lindner Daly Sextuple, with many pictures. Our article about his Remington 10F is in a Remington Society Journal around the same time, also with many pictures.

mobirdhunter · 10-10-2021, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

I would like to think the gun in Drews post was Sousa's Purdey, but the long receiver makes it look more like his A-2 Smith. Garry, the Double Gun Journal, Summer 2013, had my and Tom Breeden's article about Sousa's Lindner Daly Sextuple, with many pictures. Our article about his Remington 10F is in a Remington Society Journal around the same time, also with many pictures.

Thanks, Bill. I will hunt up the DGJ article today!