William Foster Painting

[J. Scott Hanes]

WHF's grandson, Jon, was the first person I met in the Remington offices in 1979. He was then and still is a good friend. Very much the gentleman. Jon had 'ownership' of the "Little Gun" for some time and brought it to one of the "Old Pat's Society" hunts in Maine. It was like a religious experience getting to handle and shoulder that one!!

Also in the Remington, NC offices was a dog painting by WHF that I passed almost every day. Every bit as alive as the painting photo above. A wonderful artist.

JSH

[Drew Hause]

Bob's painting was used for the cover of the October 1938 "Outdoor Life"

The young man may have been Foster's son, illustrated here in 1926.
Foster Sr. shot a 27" barrel 20 gauge DHE Parker SN 225905.

[Dean Romig]

That was one of them Drew. His 28 gauge DHE mounts and swings like a dream.





.

[bob lyons]

JSH
Great story very jealous would have loved to see and handle the little Gun.
Bob

[Rick Roemer]

This is a great thread. I love writers and those that can take you there on a cold winter’s day when you are reading by the fire. It’s timeless.

The Little Gun is currently being taken care of by RST shells owner Morris Baker (I believe). He brought it to Haussman’s a couple years ago and was more than willing to let others enjoy it. I really thought he was a super nice guy- one of us.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Rick Roemer

The Little Gun is currently being taken care of by RST shells owner Morris Baker (I believe). He brought it to Haussman’s a couple years ago and was more than willing to let others enjoy it. I really thought he was a super nice guy- one of us.

First I've heard of Morris having permanent possession of the "Little Gun."





.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Rick Roemer

The Little Gun is currently being taken care of by RST shells owner Morris Baker (I believe). He brought it to Haussman’s a couple years ago and was more than willing to let others enjoy it. I really thought he was a super nice guy- one of us.

I know Morris owns the 20 gauge VH that was Burt Spiller’s which was auctioned at The Cobb’s Auctions in Peterboro, NH probably 13 or 14 years ago. I don’t know who dubbed it the “Little Gun” but it was a recent thing, certainly since the auction.

The original “The Little Gun” was the 16 gauge Grade-2 hammer gun written about in Foster’s “New England Grouse Shooting” and the story of it begins on page 1 of his book.
This isn’t to say the Baker/Spiller VH 20 isn’t a sweetheart with lots of history as well. It was actually made famous by Bill Tapply in his story “Burt’s Gun.”

[Rick Roemer]

Not sure about permanent but he had it there in 2019.

[birddogdoc]

Originally Posted by bob lyons

I thought I would share a photo of a original William Harnden Foster painting showing a Parker shotgun. He accomplished a lot in this life, the book New England Grouse Shooting was one of them and a good read.

Bob...

Do you own this painting?

[Bill Murphy]

First I've heard of the "Little Gun" in the possession of my friend Morris. Maybe a confusion of particular guns.