A Marksmans Support

Some time ago Mr. Bruce Fisher, R.D. 2 Clearville, Pa., came to my home and handed me an iron contraption, the likes of which I had never seen. He asked me if I could tell him what it was and how it was used. I was stumped!! He laughed and said I was not the first person who was puzzled by it. He finally told me that it was an arm rest used by an gun maker. It could be used while hunting but generally it could be used to give the marksman an enormous support when he held his old Bedford Rifle to his shoulder.

Mr. Fisher told me that in 1932 he was searching through some old scrap iron in his father's blacksmith shop when this object was discovered. He asked his father, J.M. Fisher, what this gadget was and how it was used. The father explained that it was a gun rest used by this old gunmaker in shooting matches. This rest was worn under the hunting shirt and coat. Four leather thongs were tied around the ribcage holding the frame to the body. An extension, by means of a ring hinge passed under the upper arm. Two 'U' shaped fingers were riveted to the extension. Leather thongs were inserted in each finger and tied over the biceps. When the arm was raised and slightly moved forward, the mechanism locked into a rigid position thus providing a support for the arm holding the barrel of the rifle.

The old gun maker, we understand, had a reputation of being an excellent marksman and won many matches with his skill. Most of the shooting matches or contests were conducted on an 'off-hand' position (this meant that the gunner could not rest his rifle on a stationary object such as a post, tree or bench).

We doubt if competition in these matches was aware that this marksman had this extra piece of equipment which he could wear hidden inside his clothing.

Mr. Fisher had no knowledge as to how long this arm support laid among the pieces of scrap iron or how it came to be there. He said a man by the name of George Leighty operated the blacksmith shop before his father obtained it.

One thing is certain, it is more than a hundred years old. Even in its rust-pitted condition, it is still workable. I have seen many items which the old timers used in shooting contests as well as for hunting but this piece of apparatus is the most unusual I have ever seen. We would certainly like to know where and how this marksman got his idea of making this support.