Speaking of the "Gold Hearts Gun"

[Bill Murphy]

Russell Cleary was generous enough to post the pictures of the "Gold Hearts Gun" for me to show off Dean Hanson's case making skills. I threw Dean a pile of gun parts including a 34" barrel set and a monstrous beavertail and he made me a case from a beautiful antique shell. Now, I don't think a geco could find room to rest in there. I don't know what Dean thinks, but I think it is probably his masterpiece. Sorry I didn't have pictures of the outside of the case, which is beautiful. The extra picture is of my eight bore Greener Royal and a hand made oak box housing 25 of the 30 eight gauge brass cases that I picked up at Hamburg Cabela's Bargain Cave. Allen Campbell made the wonderful box. I think he can be reached at 360-608-4642. Although this unengraved Greener doesn't look like it would be called a Royal Grade, Graham Greener thinks so after examining the records from 1885.

[Bill Murphy]

Bringing this thread to the top so you can see Matt Hanson's (not Dean Hanson's) casemaking skills and my favorite pigeon gun. Also included are pictures of Allen Campbell's outrageous box for 25 eight gauge shells. And you think I never post any pictures. Thanks to Russell Cleary for the pictures in this thread.
The article about the Annie Oakley 1902 Grand American gun is only in its planning stages, but I have all my research material somewhat in order. Stay tuned. The 30" Damascus barrels with the gold balls at the breech are the barrels that Annie used in the 1902 Grand American at Live Birds. The 34" Parker Special Steel barrels were added at Parker Brothers at a later date along with the beavertail forend.

[mobirdhunter]

An incredibly interesting gun! Thanks, Bill, for bringing it back to our attention.

I also note that the research letter refers to the grip as a "ball grip." In light of the discussion on another thread regarding grip nomenclature, maybe the thinking should be reconsidered. Obviously, some hammer-less guns have ball grips.