"Bo Whoop" located?

[DGKaas]

George Lander a SC real estate agent and gun dealer (despite his protestations he is not...) posted on Gunshop.com that he has recently viewed "Bo Wup" as he referred to it. He mentions the gun has been restocked but otherwise remains unaltered including NB and BB names engraved on the barrels. This should be of interest to Nash Buckingham's heirs and were they my client, I'd slap a subpoena on him ASAP, find the keeper and sue him for the return of the stolen property, "one A.H. Fox 12 gauge shotgun with 32" barrels built by Burt Becker, Philadelphia, PA AKA "Bo-Whoop" the property of T. Nash Buckingham, deceased". Then again the whole thing could be bogus...Bo-Whoop's result at auction would make the so-called Czar's Parker hammer price seem like chump change.

[eightbore]

I think Dave N. recently posted what he thought the serial number of this gun should be. I don't think his information was ironclad, but we'll see, I guess. I wonder why Lander didn't notice the serial number since he claimed to have "seen the gun"?

[TOOL MAN]

You're late to the party 8-Bore....already made my offer.
$1499 and 14,000 shells a week. Hell, it worked at Hal DuPont's.

BTW---McIntosh listed Bo-whoop as ser. # 31108 however the work order card states that one was a 30" A-Grade. It does amaze me that these rare birds always seem to peek their beads out, just prior to Julias/Vintager's Shoot. 32 days to Queenstown. Lock & load !!!!!

TOOL

[eightbore]

I don't see anything unusual about the order card stating that it is an A Grade. Becker may have started the gun as an A Grade. Does anyone know whether Bo Whoop #1 was a zero frame gun? I know Nash may have described it as heavy, but it could still be a standard frame. Is the #2 gun a zero frame? We can check on that I guess.

[DGKaas]

The discussion going on over a Gunshop.com is quite amusing especially as it relates to the law governing the return of lost property. Much ado has been given the criminal aspects of the Bo Whoop saga but frankly, there may be none. As the gun was not stolen, notwithstanding any statutes of limitation, the current keeper even knowing it was Bo Whoop could not be charged with receiving stolen property. As we know the story, Bo Whoop was lost on a road near Clarendon, Arkansas over 50 years ago. Efforts were taken at the time to recover it, including advertisements and the offer of a reward. It was neither recovered nor abandoned by its rightful owner, TNB. Hence, any ownership rights now lie with his estate or his heirs. Presumably, the gun was found then sold (multiple times). The finder not having title to the chattel..er ,the gun, could not pass title to a purchaser nor, of course, could subsequent purchasers (nemo dat quod non habet...as those with wigs say...) In the old days, at common law, the current keeper of the property would be at risk of a civil action in replevin being taken against him by TNB's heirs if they could locate him. Today, a likely scenario given the gun's value, might be an action in Federal Court presuming the heirs and the keeper reside in different states. It would be interesting (from a lawyer's point of view ) to see what local law would apply in such a matter. The keeper might not be able to avail himself of any protections of the Bona Fide Purchaser for Value rule for to do so one must be an "innocent" purchaser and anyone who paid big bucks for an old shotgun because they thought it was Bo Whoop would hardly be an "innocent" BFP. TR's F grade 1909 safari Fox gun supposedly sold privately a number of years ago for a mid-6 digit $um. Bo Whoop II went for less but still a very large sum. The original Bo Whoop, if revealed and authenticated, would be worth at least that much. Personally, I would consider it, potentially, America's most valuable shotgun.

[FoxedChisels]

I am wondering...is there anybody alive who ever actualy handled this piece of 'Americana"??That is before the Party who has stated there are'Photos of the 'Gun"....Why was it Restocked?. The value as an Original, Historical, piece of 'Americana' has gone 'Down the Proverb Krapper"..Just my'Unprofessional Opinion"'FoxedChisels'

[fox-admin]

For those interested, McIntosh wrote an article for Sporting Classics about Becker and Buckingham in the Nov/Dec 1985 issue.

[gunsmith]

My son had his picture taken with Bo-Whoop at my old gun shop. I am trying to get the picture. I will never reveal the owner, as it is his business if he wants people to know he has it or not. I will say it is killing geese with lead shot, legally, and is being taken care of. I cleaned the gun, had the honor of disassembling it, and look at the workmanship that Burt Becker did. I do not think it has been restocked, but I am no expert. If it was restocked, it was by a pro.

[cargie32]

Serial # of gun was 31088, shipped Jul 15 1927.

[Brian]

So, where is Bo WHoop now. Did he sink back into the shadows or what?

[waterman]

BO WHOOP NEEDS TO GO BACK TO MR. NASH HEIRS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[George Lander]

I hesitate to even post on this again but here goes. "A.H. Fox HE Grade SN 31088, 12 gauge, 32 inch barrels choked full & full, 14 1/4 inch length of pull, 1 1/2 inch drop at comb, 2 inch drop at heel, weight 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Slender straight grip stock, half oval, Hy Gain recoil pad, XE grade style stock & forend, XE engraving, full round comb, pitch-2 inches, cast-off 1/4 inch, chamber for 3 inch shell for #4 chilled shot, largest ivory front sight, small ivory rear 10 inches from the breech.

The shotgun was shipped from the Fox, Philadelphia, PA. factory on May 27, 1927. The original consignee is listed to be Nash Buckingham.

The Super Fox HE Grade was a long distance shotgun built especially for close patterns at extra long range. This A.H. Fox double was built for and owned by one of the most "storied" of Fox shotgun users: Mr. Nash Buckingham. He was a famous American sporting writer and long range wingshooter from circa 1920's. Buckingham's guns of choice were long range shotguns and your double characterizes this love.

I hope you find this information interesting and helpful. You have a fine example of classic American gunmaking." Signed: Sincerely John T. Callahan.

This from Mr. Callahan's letter to Bo-Whoops present owner dated April 4, 2006. I saw "Bo-Whoop" in the process of being re-stocked to it's original configuration (probably for the second time). I still have a copy of the letter if anyone would like to have a copy.

Best Regards, George Lander
palmettotreasure@aol.com

[Researcher]

The question still remains in my mind whether 31088 is or is not BoWhoop. There is no mention on that card about having Nash's name engraved on the barrel and no mention of no safety, both features of BoWhoop which Nash mentions in his writings. Also, no mention of Burt Becker. My question is, and remains, is 31088 really BoWhoop or a gun Nash ordered for one of his many friends or acquaintences?

[George Lander]

Researcher: The Fox HE that I saw & handled, SN 31088 had roll engraved on the right barrel "Made For Nash Buckingham" & on the left "By Burt Becker". I have never before seen the shop cards, only the letter from Mr. Callahan.

Best Regards & Thank You, George Lander

[bamboozler]

What's up with the differing dates?

A. cargie32 claims it was shipped July 15,1927
B. Callahan factory letter says it was shipped May 27, 1927
C. Researcher posts factory work card that has May 7, 1927 and July 15, 1927 dates rubber stamped onto the card with no mention of what these dates mean--leaves it open to interpretation.