stubbicatt
Member
January 23, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the date of the passing of Mr. George C. Schoyen, renowned Denver gunmaker. Not many remember the contributions of Mr. Schoyen to the activity of free rifle shooting, but most remember the MIT engineer cum barrel maker, and world class marksman, Harry Pope.
George Schoyen was regarded by many as the best rifle smith of that era.
Born in Norway in 1845, Schoyen crossed the Atlantic ocean for America in the late 1860s, just after the Civil War. He initially settled in Chicago, only to be burned out by the great Chicago fire in 1871. This was a few years prior to the seminal battle between the soldiers of G.A. Custer's 7th Cavalry and the nation of the Sioux at the Greasy Grass, or Little Big Horn. From Chicago, he migrated across the great plains to Denver, Colorado, where he found employment with a landmark gun shop, Goves Denver Armory, located on Blake Street, on the banks of Cherry Creek. One may take license with imagination concerning Mr. Schoyen's crossing of the prairie from Chicago in those days.
Very soon after beginning this job, Schoyen's reputation grew, and his little shop at the back of Goves was swimming with work. Eventually George partnered up with D.W. Butt, and bought out Gove's interest in the gun shop in 1884. George partnered up with others, including a great marksman, Pedersen, at various times during his career. This time frame was the beginning of the golden age of riflery. Those days saw the dawn of the breach loading target rifles, such as the Ballard, the Maynard, the Stevens, and the iconic Winchester 1885 Single Shot rifle.
It is hard to imagine the golden age of riflery from the perspective of 100 years later on. The larger Schutzen Fests of those days drew competitors from across the entire country, and sometimes from abroad, to compete for prizes and bragging rights. Schutzenfests came to North America with the late 19th century wave of German and other Nordic immigrants to the United States. In Davenport, Iowa, for example, the entire town would break out to spectate at these meets, which often ran several days. Beer and food, music and great celebration accompanied these shooting tournaments. It isn't much of a stretch, if it be a stretch at all, to say that the sport of free rifle shooting was a national sport on par with baseball. The match results were reported in newspapers nation wide.
The Denver Rifle Club, and Colorado Rifle Club (CRC is still in existence to this day), provided a few competitors of national renown. Dr. Hudson, Charles Rowland, Pedersen, King, and others, campaigned nationwide with Schoyen barreled rifles. Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill Cody had their arms worked on by George, and Mr. Schoyen's grandson remembers loading shotshell cartridges for Annie Oakley for use in her performances.
To have a perspective, or frame of reference, for the amazing accuracy of these old black powder era rifles, in April 1903, C.W. Rowland of Boulder, Colorado, performed a feat which stood as a record for many years, that of 10 consecutive shots at 200 yards into a group of 7/8 inch. This done with a Schoyen barrel, plain based, breach seated, cast bullets and a 32-40 cartridge.
Dr. Hudson was a competitor who was hard to best. In the 200 yard matches of the golden era of riflery, one did not use a bipod. One did not shoot from prone, using a sling. One shot from his back legs, like a man! In late 1909, Hudson shot a worlds record of 922 of a possible 1000 points in competition, and later in February, 1910, Dr. Hudson shot a record matching score of 99 of a possible 100 at 200 yards with a Schoyen barreled Remington rifle. This all done from standing.
The single shot competition is still shot on the same target today as was used 100 years ago, a 25 ring target, offhand, at 200 yards. If one wants to compare his mettle to that of these greats of yesteryear, he still has the chance to do so. Schutzen shooting is a fading sport. Those who still shoot it are pretty much up there in years, and some say the sport is dying, a national tragedy in my mind.
George Schoyen was a beloved family man. He was a craftsman of the highest order. He was very good shot in his own right. So as the sun sets tomorrow, Saturday, January 23, 2016, maybe as you see the light slowly fade in the west, think of these men who blazed great trails for those of us alive today. Think of George Schoyen, and maybe lift a glass to his memory.
RIP rifleman.
--Info gleaned from the writings of Ned Roberts and John Dutcher.
George Schoyen was regarded by many as the best rifle smith of that era.
Born in Norway in 1845, Schoyen crossed the Atlantic ocean for America in the late 1860s, just after the Civil War. He initially settled in Chicago, only to be burned out by the great Chicago fire in 1871. This was a few years prior to the seminal battle between the soldiers of G.A. Custer's 7th Cavalry and the nation of the Sioux at the Greasy Grass, or Little Big Horn. From Chicago, he migrated across the great plains to Denver, Colorado, where he found employment with a landmark gun shop, Goves Denver Armory, located on Blake Street, on the banks of Cherry Creek. One may take license with imagination concerning Mr. Schoyen's crossing of the prairie from Chicago in those days.
Very soon after beginning this job, Schoyen's reputation grew, and his little shop at the back of Goves was swimming with work. Eventually George partnered up with D.W. Butt, and bought out Gove's interest in the gun shop in 1884. George partnered up with others, including a great marksman, Pedersen, at various times during his career. This time frame was the beginning of the golden age of riflery. Those days saw the dawn of the breach loading target rifles, such as the Ballard, the Maynard, the Stevens, and the iconic Winchester 1885 Single Shot rifle.
It is hard to imagine the golden age of riflery from the perspective of 100 years later on. The larger Schutzen Fests of those days drew competitors from across the entire country, and sometimes from abroad, to compete for prizes and bragging rights. Schutzenfests came to North America with the late 19th century wave of German and other Nordic immigrants to the United States. In Davenport, Iowa, for example, the entire town would break out to spectate at these meets, which often ran several days. Beer and food, music and great celebration accompanied these shooting tournaments. It isn't much of a stretch, if it be a stretch at all, to say that the sport of free rifle shooting was a national sport on par with baseball. The match results were reported in newspapers nation wide.
The Denver Rifle Club, and Colorado Rifle Club (CRC is still in existence to this day), provided a few competitors of national renown. Dr. Hudson, Charles Rowland, Pedersen, King, and others, campaigned nationwide with Schoyen barreled rifles. Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill Cody had their arms worked on by George, and Mr. Schoyen's grandson remembers loading shotshell cartridges for Annie Oakley for use in her performances.
To have a perspective, or frame of reference, for the amazing accuracy of these old black powder era rifles, in April 1903, C.W. Rowland of Boulder, Colorado, performed a feat which stood as a record for many years, that of 10 consecutive shots at 200 yards into a group of 7/8 inch. This done with a Schoyen barrel, plain based, breach seated, cast bullets and a 32-40 cartridge.
Dr. Hudson was a competitor who was hard to best. In the 200 yard matches of the golden era of riflery, one did not use a bipod. One did not shoot from prone, using a sling. One shot from his back legs, like a man! In late 1909, Hudson shot a worlds record of 922 of a possible 1000 points in competition, and later in February, 1910, Dr. Hudson shot a record matching score of 99 of a possible 100 at 200 yards with a Schoyen barreled Remington rifle. This all done from standing.
The single shot competition is still shot on the same target today as was used 100 years ago, a 25 ring target, offhand, at 200 yards. If one wants to compare his mettle to that of these greats of yesteryear, he still has the chance to do so. Schutzen shooting is a fading sport. Those who still shoot it are pretty much up there in years, and some say the sport is dying, a national tragedy in my mind.
George Schoyen was a beloved family man. He was a craftsman of the highest order. He was very good shot in his own right. So as the sun sets tomorrow, Saturday, January 23, 2016, maybe as you see the light slowly fade in the west, think of these men who blazed great trails for those of us alive today. Think of George Schoyen, and maybe lift a glass to his memory.
RIP rifleman.
--Info gleaned from the writings of Ned Roberts and John Dutcher.
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