The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]

John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Drew Hause on September 26, 2017, 12:54 pm
Edited by board administrator July 14, 2023, 12:08 pm

Sporting Life, June 19, 1909
Syracuse, N. Y., June 11.
The fifty-first annual shoot of the New York State Sports Men’s Association was held on June 7, 8, 9 and 10, under the auspices of the Onondago County Gun Club. In the long history of these events no tournament was ever so successful. The entry list was extremely heavy and the competition, on a high plane.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake grounds adjoined the beautiful Syracuse Yacht Club and stretched up from the lake, toward a fine background, though the lay of the field may have fooled some of the contestants at the beginning.
Many notable shooters were present including a large field of professionals. J. Phillip Sousa was one of the most conspicuous of the notabilities and his witty sayings and ready answers were much enjoyed by all, and shoots the finest grade the Hunter people make in the L. C. Smith.

As of 2010, the Smith A2 with 32" barrels was at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, along with a 20g 26” Smith purchased after his riding accident in 1921.

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Bill Murphy on September 27, 2017, 4:14 pm, in reply to "John Philip Sousa's A2"

Drew, there is some information that Sousa may have shot a Diamond Grade Daly double. I have not been able to find a picture of him holding it. Help.

John Philip Sousa's AATA

Posted by Drew Hause on September 27, 2017, 4:41 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"
Edited by board administrator July 14, 2023, 12:22 pm

February 1916 "Du Pont Magazine"
https://digital.hagley.org/1916_06_02?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=2b01d7a469df8d97c5e7&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=6&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=2#page/16/mode/2up

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Mike Dean on July 14, 2023, 11:24 am, in reply to "John Philip Sousa's A2"

I visited the Marine Corps Museum a few days ago and in one of the display cases I found a set of L. C. Smith shotguns belonging to J. Phillip Sousa. As a very informative thread was already in place I thought I would add a photo of the firearms on display. Thanks again for such an informative library of all things L. C. Smith.

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Drew Hause on July 14, 2023, 12:01 pm, in reply to "John Philip Sousa's A2"

Thank you Mike!

The corrected links
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/31473/rec/1

https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/31474/rec/1

and images

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Drew Hause on July 14, 2023, 12:04 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

Philadelphia Ledger March 1915

Sousa's Daly SBT

Posted by Drew Hause on July 14, 2023, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

This is a boxlock and not his Parker; possibly a Daly

Daly SBT

"My Hobby"

Posted by Drew Hause on July 14, 2023, 12:40 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Ken Descovich on July 14, 2023, 5:40 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

He must have had the forend replaced with a beavertail forend, or he has two.

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Drew Hause on July 14, 2023, 6:00 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

Good eye Ken.

Hunter Arms introduced the Double Barrel Trap gun in 1920, and the 'Trap Package' included a flat "Beaver tail" forend. The Schnabel forend was available in 1922.

I don't have the SN for his A-2 so Dr. Jim can't check the shipping records.

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Stephen Sipprell on July 15, 2023, 12:49 am, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

Drew,
Per Houchins, the John Philips Sousa Special A2 was serial number 211470 (the one shown in the photos posted by Mike Dean above).
Also, per Brophy in the DGJ Vol 1 Issue 4, John Philip Sousa also owned serial number 210073, in “Sousa” Grade.
Perhaps Dr. Stubbendieck could check those serial numbers for you.

Best,
Stephen

image hosting

Re: John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Drew Hause on July 15, 2023, 12:04 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

Thanks Stephen.

Helpful thread on the PGCA
https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18779

John Philip Sousa's A2

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on July 15, 2023, 2:41 pm, in reply to "Re: John Philip Sousa's A2"

I looked up Serial Numbers 211470 and 210073, and I cannot add much to the discussion. I do not know the serial number of the later Field Grade with 26-inch barrels.

Serial Number 211470 was recorded as a 12 gauge A-2 with 30-inch barrels. It was shipped on August 10, 1909. Most shipping destinations were not recorded until late in 1918. Written on the line above the entry is "See John Philips Sousa, Jr. May 19, 1935." That date is about three years after the death of John Philip Sousa, Sr. I imagine that this addition to the entry refers to correspondence received from Sousa, Jr. and filed in a different location. This was said to be Sousa's duck gun.

Serial Number 210073 was recorded as a 12 gauge with 32-inch barrels. No shipping date was recorded. However, other entries on that page are dated in July 1908. "Sousas" (without an apostrophe) was written in the column where grade was usually recorded. You may want to check out Lt. Col William Brophy's article about Serial Number 210073 that was published in the Double Gun Journal (Volume 1, Issue 4, page 12).

I wish that I had more information to share.

Re: "My Hobby"

Posted by Bill Murphy on July 16, 2023, 2:18 am, in reply to ""My Hobby""

Because of the generousity of various collectors, I am the owner of three of John Phillip Sousa's guns, including the mysterious Lindner Daly Diamond Grade single trap that he used by Sousa on the trap line before obtaining the famous Ithaca grade 7 that was the model for the Ithaca Sousa Grade incorporated into the Ithaca catalogs into the Knick period. This gun was described in a Double Gun Journal article. Sousa's F (Premier Grade) Model 10 Remington was described in a Remington Collectors Journal article. When I get my documentation together on Sousa's Lindner Daly Diamond Grade pigeon gun, I will prepare an article on this great gun. These guns will not be donated to the Sousa exhibits in the near future because they are in regular use as they were when JPS was alive.

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