Widgon Duck Club

[Researcher]

Unfortunately the Google supply of digital Western Field magazines ends just before Edwin Hedderly became editor and wrote his long series on smallbore Duck guns.

[Drew Hause]

Previously posted by Dave Noreen

The use of small bore long-barrel doubles at the California duck clubs was promoted by Edwin Hedderly, of Western Field magazine. Edwin ran a lengthy series beginning in September 1910 on the smallbore shotgun and he received some fabulous guns from Parker Brothers in exchange for ads in Western Field. April 4, 1911, he ordered a 32-inch 28-gauge full pistol grip DHE with a Silvers rubber butt, Lyman sights, full comb, no safety, 1 1/2 x 2 x 15 1/2 and 3" pitch, engrave "Wildfowl Mfg Expressly for E.L. Hedderly." On April 26, 1912, he ordered a 20-gauge 32-inch A1-Special, with even more detailed specifications. Then on May 14, 1912, he ordered a 32-inch 16-gauge A1-Special to pretty much match the 20-gauge.

Good reading c. 1914
“The Case of the Small Bore Shotgun” by Edward C. Crossman
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports...utLXIII04u.pdf

[MarketHunter]

For some reason I'm thinking that Tom Weynand is a member of the forum? If I'm right, he's got copies of all the articles.

Destry

[Bill Murphy]

It would be nice if he were to publish these articles, if he has permission. Kevin McCormack has put together a collection of information on Hedderly's articles and indicated an intent to publish. I found a picture of Hedderly holding his long barrel 16 gauge Parker, but no one, to this date, has indicated an interest to publish his work on long barrel small gauge guns.

[Researcher]

Good reading c. 1914
“The Case of the Small Bore Shotgun” by Edward C. Crossman
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports...utLXIII04u.pdf

Wow!! Mr. Crossman was already trying to kill off the 16-gauge!! Obviously, he didn't like Parker Bros. 0-frame 28-gauges either!! He said only two American companies were making 28-gauges. I assume he was thinking Parker Bros. and Ithaca Gun Co., but Crescent Fire Arms Co. had their No. 28 and Harrington & Richardson also offered a 28-gauge double in 1914.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Bobby Cash

California Fact

After receiving and using their 20 gauge DHE's, the members contemplated
ordering long barreled .410's. It seems due to the abundance of game,
it just wasn't enough of a challenge bagging birds with a 20 gauge.

Three or four years ago I was talking with a noted gun historian and authority (who's name I am not at liberty to divulge) who told me of knowledge that had recently come to him regarding a pair of Grade 7 or 8 Parker .410's with 32" barrels that went to California to either a pair of brothers or best friends. The other half of this information was that at least one, if not both, would soon come to market.... that was three or four years ago and, though I don't travel in such circles that are in the know or have the ability to make such a purchase, no news of the availability of such fabled guns has reached my ears.

[John Davis]

Well, it's not California but:

December 13, 1902, The Sportsmen’s Review, “Capt. A. W. DuBray (‘Gaucho’), whose entertaining sketch descriptive of trap shooting, field and duck shooting in the Canadian Northwest, appears in this week’s issue, adds this comment: ‘It may interest some of my readers to know that barring part of one day only while duck shooting in Canada, and simply because I had no ammunition for it at hand, I used my old full choke 20-gauge 30-inch barrel Parker gun and Winchester factory loaded Leader shells. The most skeptical regarding the use of so narrow a gauge were instantly converted, and many have resolved on giving both gun and ammunition a thorough trial next season, when I am sure, if they follow my lead, they will never regret making the change, it being apparent to all that both are unsurpassed of their kind.”

[MarketHunter]

Murphy you've got a much information on this sort of thing as anybody. Why don't you publish?

Destry

[Bill Murphy]

Destry, I really don't have anything on Hedderly except one article that pictures him with the famous 16 gauge. I can't remember whether it was a DHE or an A-1 Special. When we copied the records in 1998, we discovered the Hedderly orders, one of the most interesting set of orders in 30,000 pages. Another great duck gun discovery was the Seward Webb trio of big graded hammer guns. I wish I had enough information on Hedderly to publish, but I think McCormack and Noreen would be better choices.

[Researcher]

I gave Kevin what I had, and I don't seem to even have copies of what I gave him!! If Parker Pages needs material, those Hedderly articles could fill several issues!