I know about half it's history -- My New Model No.3 went to dealer in France in 1896, got engraved on the barrel 'FINI PAR GASTINNE RENETTE', became obscure until 1950 when I bought it for $18 in a used furniture shop in France. Took it to Africa (Belgian Congo) where it resumed a bit of history. Out along the Congo river I fired at a leopard but missed @ about 100 yards. Driving at night another 'leopard' I did shoot. Yellowish spotted critter the size of a big dog turned out to be a 'civet'.
Awakened one night by sounds in kitchen (following extract from my memoir) --- Beneath the bed in a airline bag was the pistol which I found readily enough. By that time the intruder had tried the door from the kitchen into the bedroom. This was an old house and the lock was so worn that the door knob had to be turned to one extreme and then the other to release the catch. I assume he decided it was locked because it did not open.
In the dark I made my way to the kitchen door across the large
bedroom. I remember pausing and listening at the door, deciding
I would shoot if he made a move toward me. I carefully opened
the door, raising and cocking the pistol at the same time. I
could see his form outlined against the kitchen window. At that
moment he turned and climbed over a table and went head first
through the screen and out the window. I raised the pistol and
I remember thinking it would be hard to explain an entry wound in
the derriere and an exit wound under the chin, also it was a human
life form that had done no real harm..
I raised the pistol higher and fired about two feet above him. In
the flash of the gun I got a mental picture, which I still hold,
of him framed mid-air against the surrounding darkness. It is
surprising how the mind works. In times of stress, time slows down
for me. Everything seems to go into slow motion, a condition known
as tachypsychia (if I spelled it right) that many people have
reported. I remember, before I fired, making a mental note of
where the bullet would go. Our house was situated a few hundred
yards from the Congo river, which was miles wide at that point and
I was sure it would fall in the river.
The next morning we called the police but made no mention of the
gun play. They came out and looked around and took our
statement. They didn't notice the bullet hole in the screen.
The officer made the comment that burglars had never harmed
anyone but were trying to steal food or clothing. I measured
the distance from the window sill to the ground which was 7' 1",
and he had dived out head first.
More recent history is occasional trips out to the woods on my 50
acres here in Oklahoma.
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