Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Charles W. Sawyer to Horace Kephart, June 12, 1918

  • wcu_kephart-1727.jpg
  • In a letter to Horace Kephart on June 12, 1918, Charles W. Sawyer sends two volumes of his book “Firearms in American History” and pitches ideas for a new book on rifles. Mr. Sawyer also invites Kephart to visit him in the summertime and discusses his newest target rifle.
  • June 12,1918. My Jj««r ^-r Kephart, 1 have just had sent you,order of the Baker & Taylor Co, NY, £ vole oi Fii'earms in Am. Hist. And was once more reminded cf you thereby. Several times T have taken my pen in hand" to write you a hello, but you are such an elusive chap, skipping all over the country to >rlean a bit from many a library, that I never before knew .iugt where to sena a letter. Kow I've nailed your address to the typewriter stand, frooa Morning,Mister; Hwyer? Still tannin' on rifles? Me an' you is sure enough bugs. What is there m the rifle talk line that you and others like us are just aching to see in a-book? I am consideyin' the output of such a book soon; if I can't iind a better title I may call it "Our Kif jjles ,Past and .Present". But I think that is a rather heavy title; lull as cad as what the preceding books suffer under. I purpose starting with the year IciGC una running to August 3:913. Part 1, Sporting lax lea: Jr»(*rt 2, "Military lilies; Part 3, Histories of American i.iile Makerd Mow in Business* a small amount of exterior ballistics reduced to plain English and arithmetic; two or three stories to set the local color and the popular sentimeat in ilint, cap,.una metallic ctge days. A list or directory of Am* rifle makers ( mighty incomplete lor I have only about 300 names.) a little guff on machine guns. What else? Coining; North this summer? Come see me or I'll get your scalp. No, I didn't mean .just that; i mean let me see- you; and you e&nlsee some nice eld arms. Ever hear of Abe Mlliams, rifle maker in cap lock days? Where was he? Or Little George lainhart? who and where? Search me. But I have recently acquired the finest specimen cf heavy target rifle, with these 2 names on it; that ever was. About 37 pounds; about 68 caliore; ancient telescope that for field,light,and eefinition—£5 power, ttoo puts a burden up to a modern one. Two gold hearts let into the rosewood butt; romantic; must solve that mystery* Got any nico old guns or pistols that you don't want as :nuch as I do? Cordially, C V Sawyer 41 Humphreys st Boston