November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
"T. BARKER" marked shotgun made in Belgium for the U.S. Hardware Store market circa the 1890s. 26" nickel plated steel barrels with the rib marked "WILLIAM CLARK GABLE FEBRUARY 1, 1901. THANK YOU FROM US WEASKU INN RESORT GRANTS PASS,OREGON". Nickel plated action marked "T. BARKER" with double triggers and exposed hammers. Walnut plain pistol grip stock with added Ithaca marked buttplate. Matching checkered splinter forearm with friction release. Gable was well known as to be an avid bird hunter, favoring ducks and doves in particular, with a few trips for quail. This .410, along with Lot 2314 and 2313, would have been ideal guns for Gable to have at the Weasku to hunt whatever bird struck his fancy. Carole Lombard was well known to have been as enthusiastic a hunter as Gable, and both footage and photos exist of her favoring a Remington shotgun when hunting ducks, but the existence of a second .410 may have been for her when her favored Remingtons would have been inappropriate. Attributed to the Clark Gable collection by the Weasku Inn Resort. Accompanying this gun is a brief biography of Gable and his connection to the Weasku Inn along the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon. CONDITION: Very good as totally refinished. Stock and forearm are very good as cleaned with added coat of linseed oil. Mechanically fine. Good shootable bore with crisp mechanics.