Spiller's Parker

[OH Osthaus]

the new issue of Covey Rise has an article about Burt Spiller"Parker - now owned by RST's Morris Baker.

a nice tribute if you skip the line that says the VH was introduced as a hammer gun in 1869.

[Dean Romig]

Rick - would you kindly scan the article and mail it to me?

I don't receive Covey Rise.

Austin Hogan and I were both at Cobb's Auction when Burt's Parker was auctioned for Bill Tapply just before he died. I chatted with Bill about this and about that while we waited for the gun to be brought up, but we had shared a number of emails for several years before his death.
"Burt's Gun" was first published in Bill's book Those Hours Spent Outdoors in 1988 but I thought I had read it in Gray's Sporting Journal even before that. When I asked Bill where it was first published and when (because I wanted to quote from the story in an article for Parker Pages) Bill told me he didn't remember which was first but he gave me explicit permission to use any part of the story in any manner I chose, as long as I gave due credit to the author.

In any case, I brought $7500 to the auction with which to purchase Burt's gun. After all, it was so heavily used it was really worth only about $2700 - $3300, in my opinion and I figured the provenance would add another couple of thousand..... Boy, was I wrong. I never even got to bid on it. The bids went screaming past my meager $7500 and the gun finally hammered at $10,500.

A couple of years later at Pintail Point Morris whispered "Hey Dean - come over to my Blazer, I want to show you something." He handed me a ratty ol' gun slip and said, "Have a look at this...." I took the slip, opened the end of it and reached in and pulled out Burt's Gun. I was stunned - as he knew I'd be. He handed me a couple of boxes of really light loads he had cooked up for just this gun and told me to go shoot a round on the SC course.
That day with that gun I shot my highest score ever at SC... even to this day. It's like Burt's hand was on my shoulder. What a delight that was! I thank Morris every time I see him - he is a wonderful friend to the PGCA.

Austin wrote an article on the auction and the gun and published it in very next issue of Parker Pages.

[Mills]

Dean, call them and subscribe. The last issue was good as well

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Mills, I may just do that.


I've been thinking about that day at Cobb's Auctions...

Of the four guys I knew and talked to that day at the auction house... all four of them have passed from this life. Some of the nicest guys I've known... all gone.

What a strange feeling that gives me. Kinda makes you wonder...

[Allan McLane]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

... Kinda makes you wonder...

Uh, stay away from auctions?

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Thanks Mills, I may just do that.


I've been thinking about that day at Cobb's Auctions...

Of the four guys I knew and talked to that day at the auction house... all four of them have passed from this life. Some of the nicest guys I've known... all gone.

What a strange feeling that gives me. Kinda makes you wonder...

Jeez Dean-o
I have recently been to the Julia's and Amoskeag auctions with you.
I think I will make sure my insurance policies are in place.......

[Dean Romig]

Doing that George, in itself, is good insurance.

[Mills]

Dean, you need to get this one. Got mine today. They were at Brays Island and I subscribed there. Nice folks. The photography in this article is great