The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-11
COMPLIMENT PAID
4 PENSACOLA FIRM
SPORTING GOODS JOURNAL
oas ~
SAYS THAT A REAL SALES
MAN WAS FOUND AT WILSON
BIGGS COMPANY.

periodical devoted exclusively to
this line of business. recently con-
tanned an article ON "Why More
Firearms Are Not Solo," IN which a
compliment is paid the Wilson iggs
Company of Pensacola. The article
written by "The Investigator" said
in part:
Honor bright, wanted gun!
The desire for it was not exactly a
burning desire, but it was real, and
was possessed of the means to pay
for at least fairly good one.
Craftsmanship long has been a hob
by and when realized my frame of
mind, it occurred that the opportu-
nifty was ripe to put sporting goods
craftsmanship to the test. brushed up
enough to learn that there was on
the market such an article as a sin
gle trigger double gun. / didn't know
that I wanted one or that it was the
sort of gun /, greenhorn, ought to
have, but the suggestion appealed to
| me and my first inquiry was for a
gun of that sort. It matters little
where / made the inquiry, but let it
be said that it was a New York store
large enough to maintain staff of
about a half-dozen.. statesmen. And,
believe me, at the very outset, re-
ceived shock.
Single trigger double gum" ex-
claimed the salesman at the gun
counter, who, as he repeated my in
quiry, smiled supercilious, or, may
be, it was plying smile. "There
amt no such thing" was the sub
stance of his reply.
"That's queer" I ventured to re
mark. I'm quite sure that / have
read several articles concerning such
guns"
When next the desire to be sold a
gun possessed me, happened to be
in sporting goods store in one of
the largest cities of Connecticut.
had dropped in to purchase fish
ing tackle, but seeing rack full of
guns, made inquiry regarding them.
My questions were answered, and
while answering them the proprietor
was drawing away and toward his Of
fee in the rear.
From Connecticut let the scene, or
lesson, shift to North Carolina, spe-
officially, to Asheville, in that state.
There time hung heavily On my
hands and naturally the thought Of
guns required.
The only sporting goods sign that
saw in that modern little city, was
displayed over store that had been
closed for some time, owing to fire
which had visited it. It was the only
transporting goods establishment in
the place, as | was afterward told.
By chance, however, my eye caught
sight of gum in the window of an
up-to-date appearing bicycle estab-
lishment, which also displayed type
writer's.
"Sell guns 2" l asked the man who,
apparently, was one of the owners.
Advised to Visit Pawn Shops.
mo, that gun in the window is one
which we took in part payment for
typewriter" 'Where can you find
guns for sale? Well, the sporting
goods store burned out, but I believe
you can find them at some of the
pawn shops; don't know anyone
else Tho sells them"
Somehow dealing with pawn shops
does not appeal to me, and I visited
none of the Asheville establishments.
Later, passed ON to New Orleans,
the metropolis of the South, and
there I stumbled into one, well-ap-
pearing salesroom in which guns and
cutlery are mixed.
Oh, yes! the salesman knew that
there was such thing as single
trigger double gun, but the firm did
not carry it in stock; such guns are
very high priced. How high? He did
not think one could be purchased for
less than $120.
"Too high for my pocketbook," I
ventured But did the salesman seek
to show me anything at a lower fig
ure? Not muchI Instead, he walked
with me to the door, relating how it
was possible to pay $1,000 or more,
for gun, depending on the amount
of engraving, gold plating, etc.
To give credit where credit is due,
let it be said that this exceptional
store was that of Wilson-Briggs Co.
Of course they had knowledge of sin
gle trigger double guns, and, although
they did not stock them, they thought
that the price ruled about $15 higher
than the standard article. However,
they did have other guns in stock and
the salesman promptly went to the
rack and took one down and demon
strated it for my benefit, laying par
ticular stress on the automatic
ejector. It was not nigh-priced
article hyrt he him Sa1f had 11Snd nra