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Hello
Late Last evening, I was able to Hook up with the 82 Year old Grand Son of where this Gun shipped Being Bowen hardware in Augusta, Georgia. His name is Charles W. Bowen III. He shared with me that his Grandfather was a Gun Maker in The Augusta area. The story he told was that in 1850 his Grandfather and a Partner were making Muzzle Loading rifles when the Civil war broke out under the name of Bowen-Rodgers. Some of these were target guns as well. The Confederate Army commissioned him to standardize a Caliber for the Southern Confederate fighting troops and they Built several Muzzle loading rifles for the southern Army during the War Years. After the War his grandfather opened Bowen Hardware and later this Mans father Joined him and was made Vice president of Bowen Hardware. The Registered Magnum shown was ordered in the store he suspects as a stocking item in 1935 and later sold to an FBI agent. Bowen Brothers hardware's The Business took off so well, that they Purchased a Large Jewlery store next to their current location of 905 Broad Street in Augusta, and now it was 905-909 Broad Street, Being Three Business locations all hooked together and Three stories high with over 35,000 squre feet of sporting goods and Guns.His Father would have been the Person to take delivery of my Gun in 1935 and in 1938 he Passed away. Charles Bowen who I was speaking with, Ran the family owned Business until 1958 when it was dissolved and sold off between him and his Uncle. Sadly, There are no company records left to indicate exactly who, my Gun sold to, nor does he have anything left from the store. I did ask if he ever recalled coming across the Picture Box or any paperwork on my Gun and he said Nothing like that was left over in the store, then he said more than Likely all Box's were thrown Out back then. He has Promised to put all this into a letter and send it to me, for the History Path of my Registered Magnum.He shared with me as well, that he had some Pictures of the family Business and some of his relatives that owned it through the years and I hope he will send me copies of them as well. One funny story he Shared with me was, when his grandfather was still alive, they had a mason Building a ramp entrance into the front of the business. During the Pouring of the Concrete he mason ran short on Re-Bar material so the grandfather disappeared into the store and returned with his arms full of Custom hand made Muzzle loading rifles. He told me his grandfather Broke off the stocks of these brand new rifles and threw them into the wet Concrete explaining that no One had offered to buy them in many years, so they might as well, do some good, Rather than Take up Room in the store..Below is a copy and paste version of an E-Mail afforded to me by the Augusta History Museum which led to me finding The Grand sons phone number with a little help from Google.You can clearly see this Family was gun Lovers all the way back into time and the busines stayed in the family until the late 1950's when it closed it's doors..H.D.

Mr. Vogler,

Thank you for your inquiry concerning the Bowen Brothers Hardware Company in Augusta.

The only business papers I can find are an accounts ledger for December 1917 to end of 1918.

I have not found any photos of Charles W. or the business although we have general photos of Broad Street.

I looked the company up in the Augusta City Directories (not a complete set).

In 1883, 1884, 1886, 1888 & 1889 we have a William D. Bowen, gunmaker at 1028 Broad Street, resident 1226 Broad Street

In 1889 William D. Bowen, gunmaker at 1028 Broad Street, resident 1226 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen, clerk W D Bowen, boards 1226 Broad Street

Guy M Bowen, mess. Southern Express Co, boards 1226 Broad Street

In 1892-3 William D. Bowen, gunsmith, dealer in guns, pistols & sporting goods, 1028 Broad Street, resident 1226 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen, gunsmith 1028 Broad Street, boards 1226 Broad Street

Guy M Bowen, clerk 918 Broad Street, boards 1226 Broad Street

Walter J Bowen, clerk 1028 Broad Street, boards 1226 Broad Street

In 1895-6 William D. Bowen, gunsmith, 1028 Broad Street, resident 1226 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen, mchist., home 1226 Broad Street

Guy M Bowen, clerk, boards 1226 Broad Street

Walter J Bowen, salesman 1028 Broad Street, boards 1226 Broad Street

In 1908 William D. Bowen, gunsmith

Bowen Brothers, hardware, 908 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen (Viola H.), home 1236 Broad Street

Guy M Bowen, 1226 Broad Street

Walter J Bowen, hardware, 1044 Broad Street, home 607 15th Street

In 1912 William D. Bowen, gunsmith, home 1207 Ellis Street

Bowen Brothers, hardware, 908 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen (Viola H.), home Monte Sano Ave

Guy M Bowen (Nannie H.), home 1219 Greene Street

Walter J Bowen (Pearl M.), hardware, 1044 Broad Street, home 1207 Ellis Street

In 1917 Bowen Brothers, hardware, 908 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen, President, (Viola H.), home 2409 Central Ave

Guy M Bowen, Sec-Treas, (Nannie H.), home 1335 Monte Sano Ave

Walter J Bowen (Pearl M.), gunsmith, 1044 Broad Street, home 309 9th Street

In 1935 Bowen Brothers Hardware, (hardware, sporting goods, paint, oil, varnish & radio sets) 905-909 Broad Street

Charles W Bowen, President

Charles W Bowen Jr, manager

Bowen & Hulbert Hardware, 829 Broad Street

Guy M Bowen, VP-Treas

So as you can see from the above, the family were gunsmiths. It would seem William D was the father and the other 3 possibly his sons or other relations who had competing hardware stores.

The Augusta Genealogical Society (1109 Broad St, Augusta GA 30901, 706 722 4073) might have more on the family tree.

Hope that helps.

Guy Robbins

Curator

Augusta Museum of History

706 722 8454 x18

grobbins@augustamuseum.org

jimg11 wrote:

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Hi Hammerdown,
A very ineresting piece of history and just a tiny piece of the story that wonderfull Registered Magnum. Thanks for sharing.

Hello Jim
Thank's. I will leave no stone Unturned on this Piece and hope to find more as I go, but this is a Start..H.D.

nframe357 wrote:

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HD what an awesome find! That RM is gorgeous, and I have to ask are those real Ropers? RM's aresome of the most gorgeous firearms ever made IMO and the 3.5" models look the best, congrats on a great pair of S&W finds.

Hello NFrame357
Thank's for the Kind words. In Answer to your question here Yes, They are Original Ropers. I was luck enough to come across them at a Local Gun show and Gladly swapped a set of Non Diamond S&W factory Book Matched Checkered grips to the Uneducated Vendor for them.. H.D.