George Shumway

[CumberlandRiver]

I recently purchase an auction lot of 5 books and this one was in it. Appears to have been signed by the author George Shumway. Great little book and kind of neat that Mr. Shumway signed it for the previous owner.

Do any of you guys know Mr. Shumway?

 

[Notchy Bob]

I never met him, but I believe he passed away a few years ago. He started a monthly column in Muzzle Blasts magazine back in the sixties, entitled "Longrifles of Note." These were brief but scholarly and well-illustrated studies of old muzzleloading rifles, and I remember looking forward to reading them. He was most interested in Pennsylvania longrifles, but I recall he considered all sorts of others in his column... Jeagers, fowlers, and even a couple of trade guns. He founded a publishing company, George Shumway Publisher, Inc. which is still in business. Most of the titles are concerned with antique guns, but a few deal with other topics such as beads or genealogy. The book you have there has been updated, and the current 4th edition is still in print.

That's a nice book! I don't have that particular one, but I do have several other titles from Shumway Publishing. I think Mr. Shumway must have set very high standards for himself, and his books reflect that.

Notchy Bob

 

[kipcarter]

I recently purchase an auction lot of 5 books and this one was in it. Appears to have been signed by the author George Shumway. Great little book and kind of neat that Mr. Shumway signed it for the previous owner.

Do any of you guys know Mr. Shumway?View attachment 107177

I knew him well as well as his lovely wife. They were always at Friendship with a booth.

 

[Rudyard]

I knew George quite well I sometimes slept in his booth at F 'ship & We rode to Marietta to stay with a friend on his way home . He was a Marine Biologist but was mostly known for his publications on Long rifles and Jager rifles with a usefull how too booklet on Gunmakeing A real' Student of arms' & a thorough Gentleman .
Rudyard

 

[CumberlandRiver]

Thanks guys. I am happy to have the book. I appreciate the personal details. It sounds like Mr. Shumway was a man who gave back more to this world than he took. A rare gentleman.