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Schiff the gunman (Read 3626 times)

waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2825 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Schiff the gunman Aug 4^th, 2021 at 6:29pm	Print Post
	Who was "Schiff the gunman"? Early dealer in antique guns, lots of ML stuff. Somewhere around Woodstock, NH in the 1920s & 1930s.


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mikeyfirelock Participating Member Offline Posts: 48 Location: NW Indiana Joined: Sep 14^th, 2016	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #1 - Aug 4^th, 2021 at 9:39pm	Print Post
	This rang a bell. I dug out my copy of Ned Roberts “The Muzzle loading Caplock Rifle” (4th edition) and in the preface, a couple of pages in, there is a picture of him and a short biography.

	Too many rifles.....not enough money
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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #2 - Aug 4^th, 2021 at 10:33pm	Print Post
	I've got a couple of pictures of him, if I can find them. Long beard, dressed like a bum. He was well known among gun writers of the period. Shop was piled high, shotguns, pistols, muzzleloaders, rifles of all kinds. Local kids bought ammunition from him. Collectors traveled from hither and yon to see what they might unearth. Quite the character. Ah, yes, here they are:

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MrTipUp Frequent Elocutionist Offline Quality is to a product what character is to a man Posts: 1303 Location: Indiana Joined: Feb 19^th, 2020	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #3 - Aug 4^th, 2021 at 11:43pm	Print Post
	And I have a copy of the catalog for the auction of his personal collection and the contents of his shop when he died, sometime in the 1950s, as I remember. He was indeed a distinctive "character"; but as a dealer he was also considered very knowledgeable and his "stuff" worth searching through. Bill Lawrence
	« Last Edit: Aug 4^th, 2021 at 11:51pm by MrTipUp »

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uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #4 - Aug 5^th, 2021 at 12:48am	Print Post
	Now, that's something you should send to Abby at Cornell to copy for reproduction!

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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16002 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #5 - Aug 5^th, 2021 at 10:10am	Print Post
	Looks like he really liked shotguns!

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waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2825 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #6 - Aug 5^th, 2021 at 1:21pm	Print Post
	MrTipUp wrote on Aug 4^th, 2021 at 11:43pm: And I have a copy of the catalog for the auction of his personal collection and the contents of his shop when he died, sometime in the 1950s, as I remember. He was indeed a distinctive "character"; but as a dealer he was also considered very knowledgeable and his "stuff" worth searching through. Bill Lawrence But what was his real name? I've searched via the Ancestry archives and could not find anyone with a last name of Schiff.


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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3539 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #7 - Aug 5^th, 2021 at 1:45pm	Print Post
	bottom of the first photo has 'hikel' on it. may be the photog, but could be the subject, too. just a thought.


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burntwater Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 399 Location: Michigan Joined: Feb 5^th, 2018	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #8 - Aug 5^th, 2021 at 2:14pm	Print Post
	One thing is obvious to me and that is his appearance and persona belie a researcher. That typewriter, stacks of disorderly notes and documents with laboring shelves full of heavy books ( reference sources ) all evidence of a smart inquisitive mind. But also indicative of a probable genius many of which adapt poorly to a structured society run by fools. I think his writings will be the tracks to his story and ID . However many times gifted people like this shun the spotlight and are satisfied by researching and writing for those more high profiled and published. As always just spitballing Rick


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MrTipUp Frequent Elocutionist Offline Quality is to a product what character is to a man Posts: 1303 Location: Indiana Joined: Feb 19^th, 2020	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #9 - Aug 5^th, 2021 at 11:51pm	Print Post
	But what was his real name? I don't think the auction catalog says, but I'll hunt it up and check. Bill Lawrence


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Joe Do... Oldtimer ASSRA Board Member ASSRA Journal Editor Offline Posts: 584 Location: 'burbs of Chicago Joined: May 19^th, 2012	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #10 - Aug 6^th, 2021 at 7:31am	Print Post
	His real name was Carroll B Shiffer


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Joe Do... Oldtimer ASSRA Board Member ASSRA Journal Editor Offline Posts: 584 Location: 'burbs of Chicago Joined: May 19^th, 2012	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #11 - Aug 6^th, 2021 at 7:34am	Print Post
	The original catalog has 46 pages. The first 8 pages are single-shot cartridge rifles.


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Joe Do... Oldtimer ASSRA Board Member ASSRA Journal Editor Offline Posts: 584 Location: 'burbs of Chicago Joined: May 19^th, 2012	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #12 - Aug 6^th, 2021 at 7:40am	Print Post
	OK ... which one of you own the Stevens-Pope Cased Target Rifle ?


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waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2825 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #13 - Aug 6^th, 2021 at 2:12pm	Print Post
	Interesting guy. Carroll Barrows Shiffer. Born in New Hampshire in 1877. His parents moved to Iowa shortly after his birth. His mother died when he was not quite 2. Father remarried, sent the kid to live with Grandma and his aunt & uncle back in New Hampshire. Went to college. Was one of Gifford Pinchot's first Forest Rangers, stationed in the White Mountains, New Hampshire for 10+ years. Easy to see how he got into guns. Never married. Probably a recluse in his later years, probably preferred the company of his dog. Died of a fractured skull at age 74. Medical report said not murder, not suicide. Maybe some of his gun collection fell on his head.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16002 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Schiff the gunman Reply #14 - Aug 6^th, 2021 at 6:05pm	Print Post
	Joe Do... wrote on Aug 6^th, 2021 at 7:31am: His real name was Carroll B Shiffer To me that picture speaks volumes about the man. He had a ton of stuff, but it's all very neat, and looks way more organized than most gun shops, or work areas I've seen at various guys places. Mine included!

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