Back in 2017 we had an adventure on the way to the Colorado Gun Collectors show. Normally a long 19 hr. drive; it snowed on the way, and they closed I-80 just as we came up on Rawlings, Wy. An 8 hr. detour took us north to Casper, Wy., and found our way around. But too late for Thursday setup! 
Next morning we set up quickly, and then began a quick look around the show to see what bargains might be left. Over the next 1 1/2 days I found two nice Ballard rifles, and a couple nice Rolling Blocks to buy. I was feeling pretty happy with my purchases, but pretty empty wallet too! Mid day Saturday a friend showed up, and asked if I wanted to walk the show with him? I was broke, so happy to walk along, and left my table to my buddy to watch. We strolled 2 aisles and in the middle of the 2nd aisle I spotted a Ballard schuetzen rifle! No idea how I walked past it at least 4 or 5 times before, but there it was. I grabbed the hang tag and saw, "HM Pope Ballard" and the other side read 3 different calibers? ".32-40, .28 Pope, .22WCF" I was confused.
I got the seller's attention, and asked why it had 3 calibers marked, and he pointed to two barrels on his table, and said, "It's a 3 barrel set." !!!
So I ask to look it over, and I see a strange takedown knurled collar on the gun in the rack. The other two barrels have odd shanks with threaded collars too! Now I'm very interested, and also very broke. But I had sold a old Whitney revolver for a friend, and had his $2300 in my pocket to borrow if needed. And a little traveling money, if the two kitties could buy it? I ask the price, and the seller tells me a price I can do, and adds that he likes antique guns if I have any to trade? I tell him I'll be right back, and hand the Pope to my buddy Mike, and tell him to keep a tight grip on it.
Back to my table to grab a Ballard Pacific in .45-70 I have for sale. A bit overpriced, but I'm willing to come down if the seller thinks it's too high. I hand him my Pacific, and he takes a casual glance and says we've got a deal! Then he looks at my price tag and tells me he can't give me anything to boot! But he says he's got some things I might want with the Pope Ballard, and pulls out a fitted case from under his table! Then he reaches down again, and pulls out a cigar box also! 

cont.

I'm busy for a couple hours looking through the books when I get to the appendix and see a 3 page patent application, with drawings. The drawings and patent are for my gun's takedown system! It was applied for by HM Pope, in 1888. 


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Now I recalled seeing one more of these once when Terry Buffum had one he sold at Amoskeag, and I foolishly passed it up also. So there's at least one more with the Pope takedown system on it somewhere, but it's a single barreled Ballard.

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Here's the working part of the Pope takedown system:

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The receiver adapter, and barrel adapter use different thread count, so as the collar is tightened it pulls the barrel into position, locking the tapered shank. Then as the collar is unscrewed it breaks the tapered shank loose, and withdraws it from the receiver. Pure genius in it's design!

I went back to the seller to ask if he could tell me who he got the set from? He said it was an estate, and everything was given to the man's church, and his pastor had sold the set to him. We exchanged cards with the promise if he saw him again he'd ask about any brass, tools, or other provenance; and would email or call me if he found anything.
A couple weeks after the show I got a email from the seller. He said he'd contacted the pastor, and he had two binders of load dats for the 3 barrels, plus some brass for the .28 Pope Special based on .25-35 brass, plus some .22WCF brass. We agreed on a price, and a week later I got the information, along with a name for the owner.
The owner for the previous 4 decades plus was Walter Stier. A Cal Poly Engineering employee, and in with his records was a list of a fair number of other very interesting guns! All had sold at the estate sale, prior to this gun being purchased.
Among the brass, and data was this box of bullets:

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cont.

My oath, what a great story. The stars truly aligned for you.

Regards,
Powderman

Yes, I've had more than one friend tell me this set was just destined to be mine, or it would have been sold many times before I saw it.

waterman wrote on Dec 10^th, 2020 at 12:32pm:


Yes, and thanks for the info. But it is Pridy, with one "d" not two. Leonard George Pridy.

Thanks. Just buying a neat gun is only part of the story. When all the stars align, and it falls in your lap, you know it was meant to be.

Forward to John Merz - this would be a prime Journal feature with photos, etc.

I agree with RayH. This story needs to be in the Journal. Plus some of the other rifles that have "stories" behind them. Dale.