Horace (H.E.) Ince

[dogbest]

Does anyone have any information on the above named rifle maker?

Searching the internet tonight I found an ad in the Cairo, Illinois newspaper dated April 5, 1884 advertising the fact
that he sold guns, safes and made keys!

I also found a letter his wife had written saying her husband is a gun maker and that Cairo will be a nice place if they can get rid of the booze! LOL.  That never happened.

Thanks for your help.

Dan

[Avlrc]

Volume II,  Johnson's Illinois book, he has Horace  listed as a gunsmith in Cairo 1880 census, age 26 born in Ohio.   He had his brother  Frank Ince  age 22, living with him & Frank was a tinsmith.  On the following page some pictures of two  halfstocks , one triple stamped H. E. Ince, on the barrel.  One has a pistol grip like some of the old  shotguns had.  One has a simple commode seat patchbox.

[dogbest]

Avlrc,

Thanks for the interesting information!!  I will look for a copy of that book.

Evidently muzzleloading weapons were made much later than I thought they were.
I thought muzzleloaders would have been replaced by cartridge arms by the 1880's but
evidently I've been wrong.

Thanks again.

Dan

[mr. no gold]

Michael Briggs has a photo of an unfinished gun that was still on the maker's (Detmar) bench when he passed away in 1909. It is a nice half stocked NC gun and looks the same as any later
NC gun of some 50 years earlier. Check out Michaels books, they are full of informant that you. don't ordinarily see.
Dick

[dogbest]

Dick,

Thanks. Interesting for sure.

Dan

[Curt J]

I own the two Horace E. Ince rifles that are pictured in Gunmakers Of Illinois, 1683-1900 He was indeed a late maker but his rifles are not that uncommon. There was a gunmaker in Olney, Illinois named Henry Goedeke, who opened his shop in 1873 and continued in business until his death in 1928. I had the opportunity to visit with one of his sons, then in his 90's, when I was working on my book.  He said his father was still making muzzle loading rifles for local people who preferred them until about 1905. I have two of Goedeke's rifles and have seen a number of others.

[dogbest]

Curt,
Thanks for the information.

How many books have you written and are they available direct from you?

Thanks.
Dan

[Curt J]

Gunmakers Of Illinois, 1683-1900 is a two volume set, priced at $50 per volume plus shipping. I do have them for sale.

[dogbest]

Thank you!