I have the same trophy. Mine is a live pigeon shooting trophy dated 1892 and presented by the Colorado Springs, Colorado Sportsmans Club. It was made by the American Britannia silver company. I also have their original catalog showing the cost of this trophy in 1890 was the equivalent of $3,600.00. Quite a prize for the time period. It is 26" tall and as you can see it dwarfs normal size trophies.
An article in the November 28, 1885 American Field mentioned a silver cup donated to the New York State Tournament in June 1885, very similar to the one shown, but with a single setter on point.
The trophy cup was awarded to the State Championship of the Ohio Trapshooters' League starting in 1888, and other State Champions thereafter.
What a massive trophy! That's great info. Apparently, Iowa was once a notable trap-shooting destination. Thanks SxS 40 and Drew.https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=like&type=post&target=635615
Yes, several of the turn-of-the-century top guns were from Iowa. Fred Gilbert, his BIL Russell Klein and John Burmister operated the Okoboji trap club in Spirit Lake. Both Klein and Burmister were also accomplished shooters. Charles Budd and Burmister operated a trap club in Arnolds Park, Iowa on West Okoboji Lake. Charles Grimm was also from Spirit Lake, and at the 1899 Grand American Handicap at Live Birds Grimm was second to Tom Marshall
Just imagine dust, heat and sweaty old men with gun fire in the background and you got it.
Not to mention overpriced guns, gear, and art you've already seen 100 times before at other events... JR
One dealer has reportedly said he will not be returning because he sold nothing. I know one dealer who sold two guns and yet another who sold nothing. Unlike the Spring Southern, there were no lower and mid-priced guns for sale. Lots of guns five figures and up, however. Not a buying crowd at those prices. There were quite a few tea towels and gee-gaws for the ladies.
On fashion there is in interesting dichotomy between Europe and America. -- In Uk (and in France and presumably Europe) you were required to be properly dressed in the 19th century; pinks for the fox hunt; tweeds and puttey wrapped boots in UK; Loden hat required in the Continent. If you were not so attired, you were pretty much poachers. -- In golf it was the same thing. I played a tournament at Marco Simone in Rome (where the Ryder Cup will be played). The young Italian women golfers were very concerned about their dress....men also. -- In India in 1989 I was chastised by General Palit, not only because I was using a pump, but because I was wearing jeans. At the time UK commentary sneeringly referred to Americans with their new all weather synthetic coats (not proper waxed cotton) using O/U shotguns. (Oh the horrors of the colonial rubes trying to keep up with their betters).
In the US we hunted for survival and meat. We went out with maybe a dog in whatever clothes we had. It was a peoples' thing. Two continents; two traditions,
Still there is something said for being appropriately-dressed. If you sit in an Italian cafe and a beautiful girl walks in dressed to the 9's you have to compliment her - otherwise she is disrespected. And if you go on a game shoot not decently attired, you disrespect the tradition and the very thing you are hunting.
Sorry - I wandered into cultural wars on hunting; when I grew up we were not allowed to wear shorts when we went downtown to that thriving metropolis of Gainesville, Florida, pop, 29,000. The Tour de France photos from that time show spectators wearing ties.
So it is worth a thought on being dressed appropriately in the environment in which you are hunting/shooting. And that validates the style portion of these posts.
I'm 65 now and don't bother with it much any more but for most of my life, when it came to how I dressed, I always felt (and still do) that it was impossible to be overdressed for the occasion.....quite easy to be under dressed. Maybe that comes from starting wearing a jacket and tie every day at school when I was 11. Always felt at ease in a jacket and tie. One thing is for sure.....women never complained.
Last edited by canvasback; 09/16/2306:05 PM.
The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia
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