John Dutcher's book on Ballard Rifles also has some good info on Gove. Was a real pioneer gunsmith in the West, and maybe the first shop to open in Denver. His Denver Armory employed some of the finest gunsmiths in the US at the time. One of them was George C. Schoyen, who later bought Gove's shop when Gove retired in 1884.
Gove was an excellent gunsmith, but also one of the finest shooters in the US in his younger years. He was also a very influential person in Denver, and very active in local happenings.
I believe every gun sold from Gove's shop got stamped with his name, so it's tough to say a particular gun was sold from Gove's shop vs. owned by Gove, unless it's got some provenance documenting it personally to Gove. His shop sold thousands of guns, so it's not unusual to see a fair number with his stamp, nor to see factory records showing guns shipped to Gove's shop.
Gove is certainly a huge figure in the early West, and especially in Denver.
Last edited by Vall; 03/27/19 12:23 PM.