Just picked up a pretty nifty 3 barreled Pope Ballard set in Denver. The owner's name on the case is "L G Pridy" and he was a member of the Denver Rifle Club US top scoring team that year. Arms and the Man lists him, and the team's winning score as 9936. His scores show in the 198.3 to 200 point ranges.
Wondering if anyone can add any info on L G Pridy, or the 1919 Denver, Co. rifle team?

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Great set, Did you talk to John Dutcher at the show about him ? if anyone would know he would be the one.

Tom_Trevor assra life no.71 wrote on May 22^nd, 2017 at 4:22pm:


Yes Tom I did. John is a real detective and said he'd heard someone bought this set, and when I told him it was me he asked to come and look at it. He said he didn't recognize the name, but added he doesn't know every Denver City Gun Club name. He is going to send me whatever info he can find in his records, but said it may be little or none.
It appears from numerous "Arms and the Man" articles I found that Pridy was quite possibly the best shooter on the DCGC team. His scores were always listed at the top. I love provenance and a good hunt, so hope to find more!

scharfe wrote on May 22^nd, 2017 at 6:48pm:


No, all three barrels have the same knurled/threaded locking collar, and the receiver and barrels have a matching fine thread. The receiver has an adapter to avoid altering the Ballard receiver threads. The inside is similar to a Morris taper like a lathe or drill press uses, with a "key" to index each barrel upright. The fit is amazing, and even with the knurled collar loose, the barrel has no movement in the action. The collar is equipped with a hole, and a spanner wrench accompanies the set to tighten or loosen the collar.
This gun, with all three barrels is listed in Warren Greatbatch's book, "HM POPE HARTFORD 1887-1901" page 200. Notes say "it is not clear from the description how this arrangement worked?" I can tell you it works very well, and took a master tool an die maker to engineer it!

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Nice set, can't wait to see a side view assembled to see what the forearms look like. Here is a Denver Medal (1893) won by a John Dean.

Very nice rifle.  It possess some questions. Looking at the bottom photo I would say the top barrel with the butt stock was a 22 gallery set.  The next barrel down is the center fire that goes with the re-depriming tool and lube pump.  The bottom barrel looks like the offhand 22 barrel.
Now my questions. Is there a single trigger plate for gallery shooting?  Is the c.f. barrel false-muzzled and did you get the mold?
Det

Leonard George Pridy (1883-1940) was a barber in a hotel in Denver.  In 1918, he was employed by William R. Dashler.

He married Evelina J Hedenskog in Denver in 1910. They do not appear to have had any children.  For many years, they lived at 725 25th Street in Denver.

Pridy died of TB in 1940. 

It must have taken a lot of haircuts to pay for that set.  As a barber in a downtown hotel, perhaps he had additional sources of income.

Vall, Very, very nice set. Fascinating method to change barrels. Superb machining.
Self locking tapers like that usually have to be bumped pretty firmly to remove. Wonder how it is done.
Chuck