Ad Topperwein Drawings

[Mike Conti]

Just had these two items framed / preserved / protected.

They are original drawings by Champion shooter/showman Ad Topperwein. As many of you know Topperwein was a cartoonist / artist as well as phenomenal trick shot artist.

These were too cool to let go by so I bought them and had them framed.

They were drawn in 1925 by Topperwein on thin pieces of shaved wood. From the tack holes in them they were displayed at least for a while back in the day, probably stuck up on a wall. Remarkably, they were then stored in a large envelope for many years until the owner decided to let them go.

Just thought I'd share them here for interests' sake, and wondered if anyone else had anything similar?

 

[Mike Conti]

Few more images

Sorry about the reflection in the glass.

Drawings are really something in person. Topperwein was a great artist, these are real Americana.

I'm a happy hombre!

 

[ACP230]

I thought they would have been drawn with a rifle and a lot of .22
bullets.

 

[rwsmith]

Learned something new......

I'm not sure I ever heard of him so I looked him up..

 

[rog8732]

I am aware of his artistry with "drawing" with bullets, but did not know of his skills with artist tools.
He did "draw" some Indian heads with bullets also.

He, (Adolf) is the famous Winchester marksman, and with his wife, nicknamed "Plinky" set many records.
He is sometimes thought of as the guy who set such a record of hits on wooden blocks with the Remington nylon 66 .22 rifles, but that person was Tom Frye.

Mike, that is a nice "touch", framing those !

 

[Aticus]

I doubt there are many people who know who Ad Topperwein was but I would treasure those.

 

[Mike Conti]

Thanks for the comments.

Sometimes, because I've lived in my personal "gun bubble" for so long, I forget that not everyone shares the same interests/knowledge. That's one of the reasons I enjoy these forums, because I'm constantly picking up new bits of information about a range of things relating to guns and gear outside my own experience.

Ad Topperwein (or Teopperwein--original spelling) is someone I've long been aware of, and he had an interesting and productive life.

Without re-posting all the info available on the internet (a search will turn up plenty), Topperwein was an artist, shooter and showman who found a way to combine the things he loved into a unique occupation/career.

As a result, he produced some lasting "gun artwork" if you will (using bullets to draw words and images), as well as some more traditional artwork using pencil, ink and charcoal.

Along the way he also met the love of his life, set some trick shooting records and managed to entertain and amuse himself and generations of firearms enthusiasts.

Not a bad way at all to spend a life!