Need help on research into shooter "I.N. Wagner" and mystery gunsmith "Barnes"

[ddeanjohnson]

I wouldn't be surprised if he stole the thing, or found it in an abandoned house sitting on a piece of newspaper with an ad for Barnes Miracle Elixir, and started fantasizing about his custom gun and winning national championships. Objectively that would be just as likely as there being a talented gunsmith named Barnes, of such prominence that Maj. Hatcher was familiar with him, that there is no record of anywhere.

Well, I don't yet know that there is "no record . . . anywhere" of a talented gunsmith named Barnes, circa 1922. So far, my only investigations into that question have been this thread, and some googling -- hardly exhaustive research. I do intend to make some other inquiries as time allows.

I've spent a little more time looking into the Wagner claims of a winning some national competition, but I surely don't feel that I have covered the ground sufficiently to issue a verdict of prevarication or any other verdict. There was a great deal of competitive target shooting going on in the USA back in that era, and if somebody has assembled a compendium on the bright lights (other than the members of the Olympic teams), I haven't found it yet. Recently I signed up for a couple of subscription document-archive services so that I could pursue some of these little research projects, but I haven't had time yet to master those tools.

As to the ammo reloading issue, it's an advanced experimenter that might try 14 different loads for his pet piece. Not something a casual reloader would do, especially on a shoestring, not something a re-manufacturer would do if they expected to make any profit, and completely implausible to do so for 160 different calibers.

I have limited interest in the reloading aspect, but if any reader personally utilized Mr. Wagner's handloading service ("Wagner's Gunroom"), late 1940s to sometime in the 1960s, I hope he will post here. There is a substantial likelihood of garbled information in a newspaper piece based on an interview on a technical subject, conducted by a reporter probably young and unversed in the subject, especially when the interviewee is a 90-year-old man with failing memory.

 

[2152hq]

The name 'Barnhart' is very well known in early Ohio gunsmithing. Perhaps a son, nephew or other relative of one of these older Ohio Gunsmiths that were building muzzle loaders from the early 1800's (and some before). Many worked well into the 1890's and early 20th century and worked on breechloaders.
I'm sure the trade was passed on at times.

As far as the slight difference in the name,,shortening the name slightly changing the spelling or otherwise scrambling the name was so very common. Still seems to be!
Before S/S#'s & data bases, you could be pretty much anyone you wanted to be in name.

Just my thoughts..

 

[WAGNER]

IN Wagner

My name is Steve Wagner and I am I.N . Wagner's grandson. I did not take the time to read all of your questions and posts. I know the name Elliot from the past but from many moons ago in various conversations at the first gunshop I remember. I don't recall a Barnes name.
Almost all of his shooting was before I was born. Probably most of his awards were won at Camp Perry in Ohio. After you found what IN stood for you more than likely noticed he was first alternate in pistol at the 1936 Olympics.
While I was still living in Ohio grandpa was mostly loading for hunters. At one time I had a couple of his pistols but after moving to Florida and entering the military I lost track of them.
My dad and uncle sold everything in the last gunshop in the late 1980's. I have no records but I do know the name of the one gentleman from Ashland you mentioned named Bruce Bud.

 

[ddeanjohnson]

Thank you!

My name is Steve Wagner and I am I.N . Wagner's grandson. . . After you found what IN stood for you more than likely noticed he was first alternate in pistol at the 1936 Olympics.

Mr. Wagner: I thank you very much for taking the trouble to register for this forum and for your very helpful post. Actually, this is the first I had heard about I.N. Wagner being an alternative member of the 1936 Olympic pistol team. I would love to find a book or other documentation that mentions I.N. Wagner's role as an alternate at the 1936 Olympics. I have some reference materials pertaining to the 1936 Olympic pistol competition, but unfortunately the books I possess only mention the regular team members.

I may follow up with some additional questions when I have more time.