I am setting up a display of American drillings (double barrels shotgun with third rifle barrel) for the Baltimore Arms Show. I have: D.M. Lefever (sidecocker), Lefever Arms Co., Wm. Baker, L.C. Smith, D. Kirkwood, Hollenbeck Gun Co., Three Barrel Gun Co., and Royal Gun Co.

Are there others that are not just a one off? I have heard rumors of Remington and Ithaca models but cannot find them.

great idea, would love to see it. Have not heard of any more than you mention. Wish you would write an article and publish about your display. Wonder what serial no. Hollenbecks you have. Numbered sequentially as you probably know. I have 2 Hollenbeck Drillings now, no. 35 passed down in my family (see thread Hollenbeck Drilling and German insert) and no. 236 just purchased from Cherry's, they have several more on consignment. Good luck

Dr. Bob,
Post some pics of your display. Great idea. Would love to see it!

I have seen drillings made after market on Parker Bros. and Ithaca doubles, but don't have a picture on this lap top.

During the Whitmore lifter action era, E. Remington & Sons made a very few double rifles and side-by-side rifle/shotgun combination guns but I don't know of a drilling.

There are quite a few muzzle loading drillings made in America, but it looks like you are doing breechloaders. Good idea for a display.

Not a drilling but I had the privilege of holding a Ellis & Lefever side hammer ML over/under in about 16 gauge by .40 caliber rifle. It was an extremely light weight gun, would have been very easy to carry all day. Was at a gun show so of course had no opportunity to shoot it.

Daryl, thanks for that. I am working on the poster for the display and will be sure to make it "Breechloading"

Miller, I have one of the Lefever and Ellis "Cape Guns" you describe. I need to get that in the LACA newsletter. It would be great to do a story about shooting it.

Drew, Fred Adolph missed inclusion on my list because the guns were made in Germany/Prussia and finished by Fred Adolph in Genoa, NY.

Genoa was notable in my youth for being in Cayuga County while Ithaca and Cornell University are in Tompkins County. At the time the closing time for bars in Tompkins County was 1 AM, while Cayuga County was 3 AM. Drinking age was 18. Genoa was 18 miles from Ithaca. Need I say more?

Here is the display as requested. This may sound like "Sour grapes" and it is. Remember, this is the Baltimore Antique ARMS Show. This display lost out to a display of a bunch of beat up tin cups allegedly from the Civil War. The judging is rigged. They can fill my slot next year with "Dildos from the War of 1812" for all I care.

The cups were so beat up because they were used as sidearms in battle.

Bob, thank you for the report

So the Gun Show was "down in his cups"
he he he

http://www.word-detective.com/2010/09/cups-to-be-in-ones/

Mike

Dr. Bob:

That was a very nicely done and quite informative display. I enjoyed it.

FWIW, the only display that came close to yours was the Parker hammer gun display in the entry hall.

Rem

Dr. Bob,

Yeah, it's a very different collector group.
The "militaria" guys are history buffs, not really gun make/design/beauty buffs. They get all wet over a poorly assembled, mediocre design "tin cup" (your apt phrase) which maybe, possibly, could have been used somewhere near where a battle was fought during the War of Northern Aggression...and it isn't really about the quality/design etc of the gun itself. Its more of a time/place association of a gun as an ARTIFACT...not a piece of mechanical art.

It's just an entirely different asthetic.

We had a couple over for dinner a couple years back, and i was told ahead of time that the guy "really knows his old guns...u guys will talk for hours." Turned out he knew quite a bit about different "pattern" military guns used (or...possibly used) in certain war battles.

As for doubleguns, he offered that he had "heard of Parker."

Again, it's just a whole different asthetic. Some very nice and informative guys, but, really a different kind of crowd.

NDG

Great job Dr. Bob! Looks like you had one “hell of a display”!

I really mean "Tin Cups" literally. Real beat up tin cups like you would find in a dump. Nothing to do with Arms except that those who used them may have been armed.
My point is they call it an Arms Show but award junk. It would be like a car show giving awards for skateboards.
It takes a lot of work, not the least collecting the guns displayed, travel, motel bills, table fees, etc. to enter. I expect to compete fairly. Losing to a display like the one with the pistols given to George Washington by Lafayette is one thing. Losing to non-arms junk is another.

Bob, yes it must be frustrating to lose to a tin cup display. Several weapons group eligible judges don’t participate in the judging for the same reason you mention. Just a back scratching , sort of like the “self congratulatory entertainment industry award shows.” Sort of popularity contests.

I, for one, would appreciate closeups of your guns. Many must be incredibly rare.

LOL !!!

I thought you were making an analogy!!!

That makes it even funnier!! Er...sadder, I guess.

All the same, if anyone would like tin cups of dubious provenance in exchange for an early graded Lefever, please PM me.

NDG

Bob,
So, was the tin cup display actually the winner and the LACA display was second? Or were we just behind the Tin cups in placing?

The Tin Cups Display won one of the educational awards. If you don't win you don't know where you stand.

Dr Bob that was an absolute wonderful display. Thanks for sharing. Wish I was there to handle them

Dr. Bob,
From just the post and discussion here you have educated a bunch of us. Really appreciate the efforts that it takes to put this together and to take the time to share with us all. Let’s take those Tim cups, fill em up with a good beverage and toast you for the excellent work!!!

Dr. Bob,

Marvelous collection of American drillings; I can't imagine anyone's preference for tin cups unless they were attributable to some historical figure.

My question is whether you shoot any of your drillings, and if so, how accurate are the rifles? I formed the impression that the drillings were relatively expensive compared to most doubles of the era, and, as a result, a lot of work went into them to ensure accuracy of the rifles. By the way, I gained the impression from some examining some records from the Hollenbeck/Royal/Three Barrel drillings, which show prices of approximately $100 and up for the drillings.

If you have any close-up photos of your drillings, I would love to see them.

Thanks.

Colin M

_______________________________________________________________

A little hard work never hurt anyone--but why risk it?