Western Carolina University WCU University of North Carolina Asheville UNCA

Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all
University of North Carolina Asheville (6) View all
WCU - Horace Kephart

Pascal DeAngelis to Albert Britt, June 13, 1919

  • wcu_kephart-1771.jpg
Copyright Download
  • In a letter to Albert Britt on June 13, 1919, Pascal DeAngelis announces the release of the newest .22 caliber rim-fire rifle. He informs Britt this project involved seven years of work and consultation with rifle experts, such as Captain T. K. Lee, Captain C. L. Gilman, Lieutenant Colonel Townsend Whelen. Mr. DeAngelis recommends Horace Kephart view and describe this rifle for a review in “Outing” since he is one of the most well-known gun experts. He asks Britt for Kephart’s address to send him the rifle.
  • (Copy.) SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION. UTICA, NEW YORK. U.S.A. June 13, 1919. Mr. Albert Britt, Editor, Outing Publishing Company, 1*1-145 West 36th Street, New York City. Dear Sir: Replying to your courteous letter of the 4th inst., we are about to announce the appearance of the most seriously designed .22 caliber rim-fire repeating rifle that has ever been manufactured. The rifle is the result of seven years experimental work in the factory, guided and checked by suggestions and criticisms from the ablest and most highly respected firearms,authorities of the country. We have had the close co-operation and assistance of Captain T. K. Lee, formerly of the Corps of Rifle Demonstrators, Ordnance Department, USA, who has been international small-bore champion for many years, and is unquestionably the finest smallbore shooter in the world. Captain C. L. Gilman, USA- former Secretary of the Western League of the N.R.A., Lieut. Col. Townsend Whelen, USA, author of the book "American Rifles'* and the highest military firearms authority in the country, Lieut. Col. D. C. McDougall, USMC, Major J. J. Dooley, USMC, Major H. L. Smith, USMC, Major W. D. Smith, USMC, and others too numerous to mention. We should be delighted to submit one of these rifles to the writer's old friend, Mr. Horace Kephart, for critical review to be published in OUTING. Mr. Kephart is one of the highest firearms authorities in the world, and easily ranks with the men mentioned above. We feel that it is a decided honor both to the Savage Arms Corporation to have the rifle criticised and reviewed by Mr. Kephart, and to Outing to have a man of Mr. Kephart's distinction as a contributor. We should very much prefer, however, not to have this rifle or any other arm of our manufacture criticised editorially by a man of markedly less ability, experience and reputation, whose favorable criticism would carry no weight with the well informed shooting public, and whose unfavorable criticism would be of no value in producing any suggestions or changes, or any modifications which would not be desirable. In other words, we would be delighted to have anything we make submitted to Mr. Kephart, knowing that his criticism would be fair and impartial, based on the widest experience and knowledge of his subject, and entitled to the greatest respect. We should not have the temerity to suggest any change or modification in any criticism that Mr. Kephart should write, no matter how unfavorable it might be to our own product. If our arms have weak points, we have no right to have fair criticism "soft pedaled," but we would dislike to submit a firearm for editorial criticism to anyone whose standing or ability does not entitle him to recognition as an authority. If you will be good enough to give us Mr. Kephart's address, we would be glad to ship the rifle to him for critical review. Very truly yours, <■****> T**^%±3&L«**r PDeA;MFMj Savage Arms Corporation. "*** w^yi££y^

Related items

Part of Collection

Horace Kephart

Background and Early Career Horace Kephart was born in 1862 in Pennsylvania, but spent much of his youth in Iowa. He went on to achieve success in two careers. Trained as a...

View collection Read introduction
panzoom image
wcu_kephart-1771.jpg