doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Tobins' Again Researcher?

Researcher,

Okay, now I'm stoked! I actually own two Tobins. The one I got from
my dad, and another that is engraved with two sets of barrels. The
engraved gun came from a fellow from Woodstock, who's name fails
me. He used to have all kinds of parts, but I hear he sold out of
everything years ago. The engraved gun has the name Alvin Hunter on the sideplates, along with lots of scroll. Have you heard of
the name? I was told that he was a friend of Crandall. There's
also a signature on the bottom of the receiver. It says Ken P.
Hunt. Have you heard of this engraver? Whoever he is, he does
nice work. I don't know if this gun was built with two sets of
barrels originally, or if they were added later. By the way, I
live in Owen Sound, only about two hours from Woodstock. Any help
you can come up with, would be great. Ron

Okay Ron now we need to see some pics of your guns. You shouldnt be talking about engraved guns like that without pics. If you need help posting them you can email them to me and Ill put them up for you. Ross

ross@berck.org

Alvin Hunter was a student, of sorts, on Tobin guns. Of course, G B Crandall took over the Tobin gunmaking in Woodstock after Frank Tobin went on to other things. Could the engraver be the famous Ken Hunt ? I don't know his middle initial.


Frank Tobin's personal gun.

More Tobin info and photos here.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/sharptail/Tobin.html

Cheers,

Bob

When I went to Woodstock researching things Tobin in the fall of 1994, I saw several big caches of Tobin parts. Apparently when Crandall retired circa 1951, everything from his shop was hauled to the dump. Several locals scavanged the parts, but few ever completed a gun from what the salvaged. From the local historical museum I got copies of several things on Tobins, and the names of several local collectors that I met with. The old factory building was still there, and a portion of it housed a discount shoe store in 1994. They all said Alvin Hunter knew a great deal about Tobin, but that he was a recluse and would only open the door for a couple of people. I tried his phone number several times but he never answered. I believe he had a manuscript on Tobin of which he was very guarded, thinking someone would steal his research. I doubt what I got paid for my four Tobin articles would make me a nickle an hour for the time I spent!!

There is a gun show held at the Woodstock Fairgrounds, roughly every second month. I often see Tobin parts on tables at that show.