I did an SWHF letter search and I will let the documents speak for themselves.






My blaster 357 Magnum, that I routinely still shoot turns out to be a 1939 prize gun for Camp Perry and was won by Maurice LaLonde of the Detroit Police Shooting Team.

Some google searches have turned up that he was the Shooting Team Captain, and instructor, won camp perry a bunch of times, and obviously won my gun. Although, now I have to find a different set of grips for the gun to match how he had it speced out.

So, can anyone enlighten me on more information about the guy, the team and the 1939 Camp Perry in general?

__________________
SWCA 1646

You should contact Detroit PD and explain what information you are seeking and why. Sometimes, a department historian will respond with interesting information (sometimes not). It is worth a try.

The U.S. Revolver Association may be able to help with information on the 1939 matches at Camp Perry. You can access their website at Home Page

Bill

Start with this:
Berkeley Daily Gazette - Google News Archive Search

and this:
The Miami News - Google News Archive Search

Here's what they actually shot:
http://pics.livejournal.com/larvatus...ytpp6/s640x480

Here's your huckleberry:
http://www.tributes.com/show/Edward-LaLonde-88406842

Regards,
Kevin Williams

__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Done and and email sent to them.

Thanks a bunch for the link.

__________________
SWCA 1646

Kevin, That is impressive, but the wrong year. That is 1938, and I am after 1939.

Could you tell me how you found it so quickly? What was your search criteria?

I found that obit also, but I think that must be a son. It would make him 6 years old when he won the championship which I somewhat doubt.

__________________
SWCA 1646

__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Great gun and an even better story! Please let us know what else you find.

As best I can now tell from searching the news online, Alfred P Hemming won the all around Pistol Championship for 1939 who succeeded Maurice W. LaLonde who won that title in 1938.

Maybe the gun was shipped to LaLonde who was the team captain instead of Hemming who was a patrolman? Also we have a Harry Reeves who won some other championship.

LaLonde appears to have won some other award in 1939 so maybe that is the one I am after.

The key appears to be getting a 1939 Camp Perry program and the results.

__________________
SWCA 1646

Hurry! '39 National Rifle Association Camp Perry Match program - eBay (item 170561058333 end time Nov-07-10 07:18:33 PST)

__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Are you sure LaLonde won the revolver? Perhaps he was just ordering it for the winner. Also, I'm not sure you need the program; you need the issue of American Rifleman that listed the winners. Every year TAR had (has) an issue that reports on the National Matches and lists all the winners. You can usually find old issues on eBay.

__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

How about the October 1939 Camp Perry Issue of American Rifleman?

PM me your address and I'll get it out tomorrow. No cost to you other than your pledge that you will "pay it forward" to the next person who may be in need of help. Deal?

~ Alan

FYI-The 'Sanderson' shown in the Oct 1939 Camp Perry AR is Lew Sanderson who made the stocks so many of us hunt long and hard for now days.
Chuck Odom
1517

__________________
SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

WOW, this is turning into a great thread. The info is coming in fast and furious. Isn't finding out "new history" fantastic?

__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I just missed the 39 camp perry program. Dang it!

I will have to go on a hunt to find another copy.

I have PM-ed you an address for the magazine. Thanks a super bunch and yes I will definately "pay it forward!"

__________________
SWCA 1646

Nice acqusition Peter.
When I went through Detroit's academy in the 70s Maurice LaLondes son worked the range. I'm not sure if they went to a third generation of LaLondes in DPD but just so you know, I am reaching out to some friends from DPD to hopefully hook you up with Maurice LaLondes son or maybe at this point, grandson.
I talked with one of his old partners from the Rouge Range Detail last night and he is doing some searching. I'll let you know where it goes.

On page 104 of Askins-The Art of Handgun Shooting,1939 there is a great photo of Maurice LaLonde Detroit Police " an outstanding handgun man" also a photo of Hemming elsewhere in the book,when the wife fet home I' ll see if I can get it scanned in unless someone else has it.

Appears to be a Colt Officer's Model with Sanderson grips.

__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

Sorry I have been offline so much. I work in the field and when out here, I have very limited time on the internet. I have had a lot of phone time though.

It turns out that LaLonde (shown above) won the Police field Firing Match on Aug 25, 1939. The match was an early PPC type match with 5 shots running at 50 yrds, 5 shots 20 to 50 yrds field shots and 5 single shots disappearing targets.

He scored a 75 which was 2 shots more then Emil J. Cipra. The prize is listed as a S&W revolver which is now my Registered Magnum.

I am still digging into the history, but I think we have closed the loop. LaLonde won the gun and the prize is listed in the program. While it does not say a "Registered Magnum", the paperwork above indicates that is what it was.

Pretty amazing history for a "beater" shooter Registered Magnum I picked up reasonably cheap so I could have a Registered.

I will say that checking my notes, the trigger has lightened up about 9 onzs in the last 70 odd years. The gun is a shooter!


So any one have a 1939 Camp Perry Program they want to sell to me? I will make it worth your while to part with it!

__________________
SWCA 1646

Peter:

Not sure that I would call that RM a Beater. Looks to be in pretty nice shape.

Congrats on a very cool RM.

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan