ANNIE OAKLEY'S PARKER COMING TO AUCTION

[Bill Murphy]

I have no information on the Colorado Annie Oakley gun, but the picture puts it as a DH in high condition.

[Drew Hause]

Just found this 9-15-94 article in the New York Times confirming the dimensions of Annie's Lancasters, by Ralph Greenwood
6#, 28" barrels, LOP 13 1/2", DAC 1 1/8", DAH 1 7/8"

[Bill Murphy]

Drew, you brought up a good point. Annie's dimensions are well known and documented, both in Lancaster's records and Parker Brothers records. When the authors of The Parker Story identified the Butler-Oakley guns, they separated them into two groups defined by the very different stock dimensions. The Annie Oakley dimensions are so different from other dimensions specified for Parker guns that her specific dimensions are unheard of in guns other than hers. Her drop at comb and heel dimensions are straighter than even those ordered today. Her length of pull dimensions varied somewhat over the years, but the drop dimensions stayed pretty much the same, very straight.

[Bill Murphy]

By the way, another supposed Annie Oakley gun or two are coming up in the Julia auction. One of these, lettered to Frank Butler, with an Annie Oakley engraving pattern, should sell for more than the one sold out West a while ago. That "Out West" gun sold in the $140s, but was not Annie's gun, but Frank's, according to the stock dimensions. Oh well, the details are quickly forgotten when the provenance of a selling price are added to the gun's history. Watch the Julia auction. By the way, I don't remember, if I ever knew, how much the Grade 3 hammer gun went for. Does anyone know? As I recall, it was pretty heavily provenanced.