RIFLE, REPEATING

Description: S/N 294972 PAT. DATE: AUG. 1, 1893. MARLIN LEVER ACTION REPEATING RIFLE. CALIBRE 38-55 BARREL STAMPED "SPECIAL SMOKELESS STEEL". TOP OF RECEIVER STAMPED "MARLIN SAFETY". RECEIVER ORNATELY ENGRAVED WITH SCROLL WORK & ANTLERED DEER. BLUED FOLDING APETURE SIGHT SET ON TANG. FIRING PIN STRIKER. HEAD MISSING. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.

History: RIFLE BOUGHT ABOUT 1890 BY BOB REED, UNCLE OF THE WIFE OF DUNCAN GOW. (DR. GOW WAS UNCLE OF DONOR) THE GOWS & REEDS MOVED FROM ONTARIO TO CALGARY IN 1904. RIFLE HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE THEN. DONOR ACQUIRED IN (?). JOHN A. GOW ACQUIRED THE RIFLE ON HIS UNCLE'S DEATH IN 1938. JOHN A. GOW WAS BORN IN ONTARIO, MOVED TO CLARESHOLM IN 1906, THEN TO GRANUM FOR A YEAR, THEN TO CALGARY, THEN TO OKOTOKS AND THEN TO BARONS IN 1909 BEFORE THE RAILROAD ARRIVED AND BEFORE THE TOWN WAS SURVEYED. HE WAS MARRIED IN MEDICINE HAT IN 1911. JOHN GOW WAS IN THE LUMBER BUSINESS IN THESE EARLY DAYS. HE WAS WITH WESTERN CANADA LUMBER CO., AND WAS LATER A LIVESTOCK BUYER IN BARONS. HE WAS THE SECRETARY-TREASURER OF THE LITTLE BOW M.D. FROM 1916-1942.