522 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Deo. 15, 1894 
AMATEUR REVOLVER CHAMPIONSHIP. 
: /- — . -•■ — «s» Roundsman W. E. Petty, of the Twenty- 
first Precinct, New York city, having 
Wm won by default his match with Bernard 
Walther Den. 3, is now in possession of 
the Winans trophy for the Amateur Re- 
volver Championship of the United 
States. Mr. Petty held the trophy for 
two years against all comers, and de- 
feated such marksmen as George E. 
Jantzer, B. Walther, A. G. Heintz and 
Dr. Samuel J. Fort. He is undoubtedly 
one of the best living revolver shots 
and some of his scores have never been 
surpassed. 
WALTER WINANS. 
Thus ends the history of the first and 
only amateur revolver championship in 
this country. Mr. Petty has fairly won 
his title to the trophy, and deserves 
his success. He has done the best average shooting of any com- 
petitor, and has the best score to his credit for a string of 18 
shots. Hp has shot under unfavorable conditions in several of 
the competitions, at one time suffering from weak eyes resulting 
from an attack of measles, and at another from a sprained shoul- 
der received in the performance of his duty. His scores in competi- 
tion naturally have not equaled those shot at other times under more 
favorable circumstances. It is not to be inferred, however, that he is 
not a good match shooter. The fact is that competitive shooting is 
one of Mr. Petty's strongest points. The greater the odds against him 
the more creditable is his shoot ng, relative of course to the odds. His 
shooting may have fallen off 50 per cent, just previous to a match 
owing to causes not within hia control, but it has been proved folly on 
more than one occasion to imagine on that account that when the 
match comes off he will not shoot at the top notch. Mr. Petty is 
never ready to believe himself a victim of circumstances, and an acci- 
dent that would lay up another man seems to give him just the tonic 
needed to put up a good stiff article in the line of marksmanship. 
It is, therefore, both with pleasure andra gratified sense of the jus- 
tice of the award that Forest and Stream has finally turned over the 
Trophy to Mr. Petty to be his in perpetuity. It has become the prop- 
erty of.a man who thoroughly deserved it; and, we have no hesitation 
in saying it, the man of all others in this country best deserving to 
receive it. There may be better revolver shots, but if there are, they 
are too retiring by nature to warrant any claim to the championship. 
They have not put themselves in evidence, and we do not believe any 
such exist. Champion Petty has always been more than willing to 
DR. LOUIS BELL. 
First Winner of the Trophy. 
meet a challenger, and if there is anyone who imagines himself a bet- 
ter shot and has not had a try at him, he has only himself to blame. 
The Winans Trophy- 
is a silvered bronze statuette of a mounted Texas cowboy, one-eighth 
life size. He has been "painting the town red," and gotten into a dis- 
pute with some one and is pointing his frontier Colt at him (repre- 
sented by the spectator), while he calls out, "Bail up!" 
By the angle at which he points the Colt is shown that the man 
he is "bailing up" is on foot, his hold of the revolver is that adopted 
by the late Chevalier Ira Paine and taught by him to Mr. Walter 
Winans. 
The cowboy is sitting with the typical cowboy seat, straight legs and 
one hand resting on the pommel of his Moseman's frontier saddle in 
the favorite cowboy style. The old broncho pony he is riding is also a 
typical cowboy pony, narrow, big-headed, sleepy -looking, and yet look- 
ing in hard condition. 
The armlets above the cowboy's elbows and the ornamental bridle 
show that he has lived among Indians. 
The base of ebony has its ornaments made of parts of frontier .44- 
cal. revolver cartridges, the bullets lying in the fluting, and the heads 
of the cartridges forming a border near the bottom; the top beading of 
rope pattern represents the lariat. 
The trophy is the gift of its designer, Walter Winans, an American 
residing in England who has swept everything before him in revolver 
competitions in that country, since Wimbledon was opened to others 
than English army officers in 1889. It was natural for such an enthu- 
siastic and successful revolver shot to wish to see his favorite pastime 
popularized among his countrymen, and it was no surprise to Forest 
and Stream therefore, when Mr. Winans opened correspondence with 
regard to an American championship. While American revolvers 
lead the world for accuracy and efficiency, it is a fact up to three 
years ago no recognized championship had ever been held here, and 
that there was no recognized system as to distances, etc. 
Forest and Stream believing that the time was ripe for such a com- 
champion petty's style. 
petition, indorsed Mr. Winans's proposition and assumed the practical 
work of management with all Che labor and expense entailed. It 
added a purse of $100, to be divided among the first four shooters in 
the preliminary competitions, and Messrs. Smith & Wesson also gave 
a magnificent revolver to go to the winner. 
Particulars of the matches were sent broadcast to all pistol and 
revolver clubs, and advertised through the columns of Forest and 
Stream, and wherever there was any interest shown arrangements 
were at once made for conducting competitions. 
The terms of the competition permitted any revolver whose mail- 
mum length of bore, including cylinder, did not exceed lOin. Any 
trigger pull was permitted and any sights, provided both were for- 
ward of the grip of the pistol hand. The use of any fixed ammunition 
was permitted. The distance was 20yds., and the scores were the 
best three strings of six shots each, selected from five 6-shot strings, 
and reckoned by string measurement. The five strings were fired 
successively, cleaning being permitted only between each string. 
The targets, which were provided by Forest and Stream, were 
ready measurement disks, a separate one of which was given for each 
shot. Shots were measured by means of a mechanical vernier scale 
from the center of disk to center of shot hole. 
Matches were held under the direct management of this paper in 
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, etc., and as a 
result of the preliminary competition Dr. Louis Bell, of the Electrical 
W. E. PETTY. 
Winner of the Winans Trophy. 
World, New York, won the trophy from forty competitors, represent- 
ing the picked revolver shooters of the country His winning score 
was 17.52 string measurement for 18 shots. H. S. Burley, of Chicago, 
was second;. Geo. E. Jantzer, of New York, third, and Sumner Paine, 
of Boston, fourth. 
The result was announced early in 1892. On Aug. 3 that year, Dr. 
Bell met his first challenger in the person of Geo. E. Jantzer, who 
after a close contest won the trophy. Mr. Jantzer held the trophy 
from that date till Dec. 3, having in the meanwhile 'defeated his first 
challenger, Henry Oehl, president of the New York Pistol and Re- 
volver Club. On Dec. 3, however, he succumbed to his second chal- 
lenger, Wm. E. Petty, in the best match of the series. Mr. Petty's 
score, which is reproduced, is still the record for this kind of shooting 
in competition. At 60ft. it will be seen that his average for eighteen 
shots was only 85-1 OOin. from a dead center. 
Mr. Petty met his first challenger, Bernard Walther, on the night of 
Feb. 4, 1893, and defeated him by a close score. Since then he has de- 
feated A. G. Heintz of Newark and Dr. Samuel J. Fort of Ellicott 
City, Md. 
Mr. Petty has been a lover of revolver shooting since boyhood, and 
many remarkably good stories of his early shooting have been told. 
8 
* * 
3 IS~ 
72. 
ih 
6- 
W. E. PETTY S BEST ON RECORD TARGET— EXACT SIZE. 
Fourth String. 
.56 
.65 
1.03 
1.19 
.66 
.48 
4.90 5.84 4.57 
Record strings, 4.90, 5.84, 4.57. Total, 15.31in. 
He is a uniformly consistent performer and never disappoints his 
friends. Besides winning the Winans trophy he holds revolver records 
for six and ten shots at 20yds., the former by a score of 60 out of 60 
and the latter by 99 out of a possible 100 on the standard American 
target. This latter he has duplicated. 
In person Mr. Petty is a finely-formed man standing 5ft. lOin. and 
weighing 2251bs. He is a blond with sandy hair and mustache and 
the characteristic blue eye of the born marksman. He is popular 
among all who know him for his gentlemanly characteristics, and is 
one of the best-natured men under average conditions that ever was. 
He has a quick temper, however, and his great strength has more 
than once been used to impress upon some dastardly scoundrel who 
had roused him the error of his ways. Born in New York thirty -eight 
years ago, he has been on the police force of this city ten years. Two 
of his uncles were police captains. He comes of an old Long Island 
family who have served their country in all her wars, and he wears 
with pride the badge of the Sons of the American Revolution, of which 
society he is a member. 
Schlicht Rifle Club. 
West New York, N. J., Dec. 3.— The past week has been a busy one 
for the members of the Schlicht Club. On Wednesday night the club 
held a shoot at headquarters, in which the members vied with tach 
other as to who should have the first choice in a lot of fine turkeys, 
geese, ducks and chickens. The conditions called for three shots per 
entry on the German ring target, the highest score to take first choice, 
etc. Geo. Lautenberger outshot all his competitors and carried off 
the big gobbler: G. Lautenberger 73, F. Krobatsch 73, G. Dorr 73, A. 
Meyer 73, C. Meyer 73, W. Schlicht 72, J. Diehl 72, C. Schlicht 71, H. 
Aufderheide 71. G. Tribout 70. 
On Friday night the club brought the bullseye shoot to a close. This 
shoot was for a series of prizes ranging from §10 down to 50 cents, for 
the best center shot, also five premiums for the most bullssyes ranging 
from ^5 to §1. Chas. Meyer got the first premium for most bulls (49) 
and Jacob Diehl the first prize for the best center shot. The scores: 
Jacob Diehl 5 degrees, George Schlicht 6}4, Charles Meyer 13, Conrad 
Schlicht 18, George Reichert 19, Capt. Reichert 19, Capt. Dedrick 22J4 
Aug. Meyer 22}^, George Dorr 29, William Schlicht 33, Gus. Tribout 4o, 
Fred. Lambrix 49. 
For the most bullseyes: Charley Meyer 49, J. cob Diehl 46, George 
Schlicht 44, George Reichert 21. George Dorr 18. 
Monday night, Pec. 3, the cjub held its weekly gallery shoot for he 
class medals. The scores: Peter Mau 220, Charley Meyer 233, George 
Schlicht 241, George Dorr 235, Jacob Schlicht 229, Aug. Tribout 215, 
Fred. Lambrix 221, George Reichert 235 H. Aufder Heide 229, Conrad 
Schlicht 217, Andrew Daublin 205, William Schlicht 235, Jacob Diehl 234, 
Aug. Meyer 238. 
Medal winners: George Schlicht, champion medal, 241; Aug. Meyer, 
first class, 238; George Reichert, second class, 238; Charley Meyer, 
third class, 233. 
RIFLE NOTES. 
The Zettler Rifle Club held its annual meeting and election of offi- 
cers on Dec. 4. The old board was re-elected, as follows: B. Walther, 
President; Geo. Krause, Vice-President; Gus Nowak, Secretary; F. C. 
Ross, Corresponding Secretary; C. G. Zettler, Treasurer; B. Zettler, 
Shooting Master. 
At the annual meeting of the New York Rifle Club, held in the Zet- 
tler Bros.' headquarters on Thursday night, the club decided to have 
weekly practice shooting on these ranges. 
The Lady Miller Club, of Hoboken, N. J., is developing some very 
good shots among its members. At the weekly shoot on Dec. 3 one of 
the ladies made within one point of the possible score. Appended will 
be found the scores of the markswomen made on this occasion: Miss 
Mamie Miller 226, Mrs. Meyns 224, Mrs. Wilson 220, Miss Sanders 215, 
Miss Yourmanns 213, Miss Unge! 212, Miss Alice Kloepping 216, Mrs. 
Miller 216, Miss Jessie Wilson 205, Mrs. Stadler 212, and Mrs. Ahrent 
210. In the competition for a special prize donated by Mrs. Meyns the 
winner was Mrs. Stadler, who made the splendid score of 74 out of a 
possible 75 points. 
The Our Own Rifle Club, of Hoboken, and the Greenville Club, of 
Greenville, will shoot a ten men team match on the Greenville Club 
ranges, on Jan. 9. 
A committee from the Portchester Rifle Club, visited New York last 
week with the view of getting the latest improvments in galleries. 
This club has in contemplation the building of a long range (200yds.) 
shooting house in which will be combined bowling alleys and a gallery 
range (75ft.). 
It was our pleasure to spend a half hour with the members of the 
Elite Schuetzen Corps one evening last week; we found the member- 
ship of this latest addition to New York's fraternity of rifle associa- 
tions to be all that its name signifies. 
Mr. Dorrler and G. W. Plaisted will hold a little argument in the 
MR. winans's position. 
From a photograph. 
Greenville Park shooting house, on Saturday of this week in the form 
of a 50-shot match. The latter has been trying to worry Michael with 
the following scores shot in practice last week: 
Dec. 5 221 218 219 210 225—1093 
Dec. 8 226 211 216 217 221—1091 
Michael says practice shooting and match shooting are two features 
in rifle shooting that sometimes plays "Hobb" with one's egotism. 
Our riflemen who have a desire for nitro are waiting patiently for 
the new U. M. C. primer (2^) for nitro powder. The soft copper 
metal in the primer now on the market does not give satisfaction. 
The heavy chamber pressure drives the copper back into the lock of 
the rifle, resulting in excessive corrosion of the metal around the 
firing-pin as well as extreme foulness in and about the breech-block 
and lock action. We have in mind a rifle which has been used for 
some months with nitro, and the result is a corrosion around the 
firing-pin that has reached a size corresponding to the diameter of 
the 2>g primer. It is only a question of time when the depth of the 
corrosion will be sufficient to enable the owner to reverse the order 
of things and seat the primer in the face of the lock instead of in the 
shell. Now the question is: What causes this excessive corrosion? Is 
it the composition of the powder or primer? Or the excessive pres- 
sure with a sand blast action upon the surrounding metal? Do the 
shotgun shooters have the same experience with the nitro in the shot- 
gun? We are of the opinion that they do not from the fact that the 
pressure is not as excessive and the breech action of the shotgun is 
more easily kept clean. 
Invited to Make a Score. 
Westpield, Mass., Dec. 5.— Col. J. A. Lakin, of this place, who re- 
cently won the State gold medal for sharp-shooting at four rings, as 
® 
8 
W. E. PETTY — 99 OUT OF 100. 
required by the regulation of the Mass. V. M , is to be presented soon 
with a numerously signed petition from his many friends in the 
neighborhood to shoot for a special gold medal, with the regulation 
revolver, 4 strings of 5 each, and to make 23 or better in each string, 
out of a possible 25, at 50yds., standing erect without any artificial 
support or rest; the same to be shot under the supervision of Lieut. 
Bull, Inspector of Rifle Practice, 20th Regt. M. Y. M. It requests him 
to name day and place for the exhibition. It is probable that the 
trial will be "held in Springfield, some time near the first of January 
next. Col. Lakin is having built to order a specially made Colts re- 
volver for this event, and the same is looked forward to with much 
interest by all interested, Worohqcq 
