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Remington 10 Gauge graded SxS Shotguns

Model 1878 Whitmore 10 gauge "Heavy Duck" 30" twist steel Grade 3 straight stock weight 9.50
*noted on page 71 "Remington Shotguns" Charles Semmer. $1,850

Model 1882 10 gauge "Heavy Duck" 30" Damascus Grade 4 weight 8.60 embossed (D.N. DARLING) famous naturalist?
$1,850

Model 1889 10 gauge "Heavy Duck" 32" Damascus Grade 3 weight 10.05 $2,500 (very nice)

Model 1894 10 gauge "Heavy Duck" 32" Damascus "B" grade weight 10.13 $2,250

mcneeley5@gmail for info or photos

Ding Darling was a famous political cartoonist (mostly in Iowa but also New York) who was also instrumental in starting the Federal Duck Stamp program and many other things aligned with conservation. He won two Pulitzers as well. He was appointed the director of the US Biological Survey that eventually became the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He was quite the guy back in the first half of the 20th century, and we owe him a lot.

Unlikely it was Ding Darling, his first name was Jay.
There was a D. N. Darling of Douglas Arizona, maybe a better fit. Good luck with the sales.

Hmmm. He went by Ding, and his middle initial was N which seems like a lot of coincidences, but if there is an alternative DN available, that seems more likely. I think he did sign his cartoon J.N. Darling...

Oh well, it would be interesting to have a Ding Darling gun.

Gents, Thanks for the input. I'll have a photos soon showing the embossed lettering.

PHOTOs:

Thanks Jason!
Please direct any questions to Mike
mcneeley5@gmail.com
It took a few years to find these duck shooters!
Thanks, Mike

J. N "Ding" Darling the cartoonist and the naturalist are one and the same person. The famous Sanibel Island wildlife reserve is named for him, along with several others throughout the US. He did design the first duck stamp. He was legendary in the conseraation movement. According to several sources he got the nickname Ding because he often signed his cartoons D'ing as a contraction of his last name.

Given that the engraving is actually roughly carved into the stock and specifically says "D. N." and doesn't mention Ding at all, I think there is zero chance it is the naturalist/cartoonist.

Sometimes these things are hard to judge. I once saw a high grade AYA sidlock 12 gauge double at Jaquas. Very nice gun and the rib was engraved prominently "Johnny Carson Los Angeles California". I was taken aback but had never heard anything relating Carson and shooting. In addition, it for some reason seemed odd to me that he would have something like that engraved with a nickname. The store was non-commital about the inscription, so I didn't pursue it.

D.N. Darling is noted as an Arizona pioneer. He was a builder and owned a brickyard in 1902 Douglas Arizona as the Phelps Dodge smelter was built nearby. He also supplied building materials for the mines and town of Bisbee and Douglas.The old Forest Ranch Road crosses our ranch as it goes between Bisbee and Douglas.

Nice stuff with good prices!