3 Ladies & Parkers at the 1902 (Last) GAH at Live Birds

[Drew Hause]

Frank was an exhibition shooter; mostly rifle but also shotgun.

1878. I don't know the make of the gun



He and Annie met when she beat him 24 to 25 (probably glass balls but possibly live birds) said to have been in Cincinnati, Thanksgiving 1875 - but Annie would have only been 15. It is more likely they met in Greenville, Ohio in the Spring of 1881 when Annie was 21.

I've never seen a nom de fusil attributed to Butler, nor have do I recall seeing his name in a list of competitors of any GAHs, nor a report listing him as high gun of any tournament.

As a U.M.C. rep he was listed as "assisting" the 1904 U.M.C. Squad; T. A. Marshall, Captain; R. O. Heikes, C. W. Budd, J. L. Head. T.E. Hubby, W. H. Heer, J. T. Anthony, F. C. Riehl and E. D. Fulford
https://digital.la84.org/digital/col...id/38936/rec/3

The 1905 U.M.C. squad of Marshall, Heer, Heikes, H.H. Stevens and Butler were known as "Butler’s Bird Busters" and toured the eastern U.S.

April 29, 1905 Sporting Life does list his scores at 3 of the exhibition shoots; in Reading, PA - 80 of 100; Boston 104 of 150; and Trenton N.J. 85 of 100
https://digital.la84.org/digital/col...id/36819/rec/4

A pic of the combined 1905 Winchester/DuPont and U.M.C. touring squads
Left to right: Rolla Heikes, Jack Fanning, H.H. Stevens, Fred Gilbert, Tom Marshall, W.R. Crosby, W.H. Heer, Frank Butler - who is holding a gun.



So IMHO I think Frank primarily managed/promoted Annie rather than competed. As well documented he ordered lots of guns "for Annie", many/most of which were sold.
He did apparently keep this one
https://www.icollector.com/Parker-Sh...tler_i12883320

[Drew Hause]

The March 1900 Forest & Stream advertised a Parker Bros. calendar showing “eminent shooters”
https://books.google.com/books?id=UkohAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA218
“The calendar for 1900 issued by Parker Brothers, Meriden, Conn., is adorned with a number of new portraits of eminent shooters, with condensed records of their marvelous doings in 1899 with the Parker gun. Grouped around an excellent portrait of Charles Parker are those of Messrs'. S.A. Tucker, Capt. A.W. du Bray, John Parker, W.F. Parker, C.W. Budd, E.C Griffith, W.A. Hammond, Fred Gilbert, O. R. Dickey, F.D. Alkire, G.R. Hunnewell, J.R. Malone, Harold Money, C.F. Ridge, C.E. Robbins, H.W. Brown, A.B. Cartledge, C.M. Powers, J.F. Jordan, F. H. Snow, H.D. Kirkover, E.E. Neal, J.H. Mackie, H.G. Wheeler, A.H. Frank, C.M. Hostetter, A.H. Fox, F.E. Sinnock, Sim Glover and Col. J. T. Anthony.”

Butler is not on the list.

[Drew Hause]

Annie February 22, 1919 at Pinehurst. Impossible to ID the gun

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks, Drew. As claimed, the gun in the auction was Frank's gun, stock dimensions way different from Annie's. A great find for the buyer.

[Drew Hause]

Winchester Model 1895 Rifle that was converted to a .410 shotgun ordered by Butler in 1898
https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...l-1895-shotgun

Remington Model 12B Gallery Special
https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...-special-rifle

Here Winchester 1892 smoothbore .44 WCF was exhibited at the 2017 SHOT Show
https://www.americanrifleman.org/con...el-1892-rifle/