Alexander McComas (1821-1892), Baltimore, MD

Alex McComas 8 gauge, circa 1870s

The Chesapeake Bay is known historically as one of the greatest duck shooting grounds to have existed in this country.  Accounts of these “good old days” are described in classic sporting books such as John Krider’s 1853 “Krider’s Sporting Anecdotes” and George Bird Grinnell’s 1901 “American Duck Shooting”.  Market hunting in this mid-Atlantic region flourished from the 1850s to the early 1900s.  However, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 ultimately put an end to the commercial sale of all wildfowl, forever changing the livelihood of the Chesapeake Bay waterman.  Despite many new laws and regulations, some incredible gunning continued at this waterfowler’s paradise through the mid-1930s.

Alex McComas 8 gauge, circa 1870s

Tools of the waterfowling trade, single and/or double barrel shotguns were in great demand by local market hunters and wealthy sportsmen that pursued the great concentrations of waterfowl on the Chesapeake, especially the Canvasback duck.  Larger ducking guns such as 4, 6 and 8 gauge muzzle loaders and breech loaders were used to bring down high flying ducks and geese when gunning from point blinds or shooting directly into tightly grouped flocks on the water.  Smaller 10 and 12 gauge double guns were used primarily when shooting over wooden decoy rigs for example, gunning from shore blinds or in open water from a sinkbox.  English shotguns from a wide variety of makers were imported to meet the needs of east coast waterfowl hunters however, a small number of American gun makers also provided for these needs for example, John Krider of Philadelphia, Patrick Mullin of New York, David Kirkwood of Boston, and from Baltimore, Maryland, Charles Sneider and Alexander McComas.

Alex McComas 8 gauge, circa 1870s

Well known all over the southern states and along the east coast, Alexander McComas was an early gun maker and importer of a variety of firearms, sporting ammunition and other related goods.  Alexander McComas was born on February 27, 1821 to Preston McComas and Hannah Gough at Southhampton Farm, Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland.  The United States Federal Census of 1850 lists McComas living with his wife Mary and son Edward at their home on East Fayette Street, Baltimore.  Additionally, two young apprentice gunsmiths John Clenney age 20 and Oscar Johnston age 14 also lived at the McComas residence.  McComas began his trade in arms manufacturing at the early age of 13, bound to gunsmith Charles C.C. O’Brien.  McComas stayed with O’Brien for six years before finishing up his remaining 3 years bound to an unknown gunsmith.  McComas established his gun shop business on July 1843 at 51 South Calvert Street, Baltimore and later moved the shop to 22 South Calvert Street (1884 - 1889). Early on McComas made muzzle-loading shotguns and later breech-loading shotguns of all gauges, the largest being a 4 gauge. 

Alexander McComas 8 gauge breech-loading double barrel shotgun, showing mark on center rib.

John Holly (1818-1892), Havre de Grace, MD

Early Canvasbcak circa 1840-1850

John "Daddy" Holly lived in Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland. Although it is unknown the exact date that Holly arrived in Havre de Grace, the classic 1853 book Sporting Anecdotes by John Krider lists John Holly as one of the most highly respected duck hunters from Havre de Grace. On the day Krider went to Havre de Grace to hunt ducks, he reported that Holly had one of his better shooting days near Devil's Island and killed 119 Canvasbacks - those were the days! Daddy Holly was a market gunner and apparently gunned out of a sinkbox on the Susquehanna Flats from the time it was first introduced some time during the 1830s by New York market hunters. Daddy Holly is

Mid Canvasback circa 1870

 credited for being the originator of the Havre de Grace or Harford County style of decoys around the mid-1830s, whereas John B. Graham is considered to be the originator of the style of decoys that emerged from the Cecil County side of the Susquehanna Flats. It is suggested that he made decoys not only for his own use during this time, but also sold decoys to fellow gunners.  Historians agree that he was making decoys by the early 1850s and continued to produce decoys up until his death. Because of the old age of Daddy Holly decoys, the majority of them originally had iron ballast weights, while some had original poured lead ballast weights. Decoys found with lead weights will sometimes reveal that the two holes for the original iron weight have been filled with putty. Some of his decoys displayed finely carved detail on the bill, face, and tail areas, while other decoys were more basic. Like John Graham, Daddy Holly produced different styles of decoys through the years.

Late Canvasback circa 1880

For example, some early decoys by Holly were made with shelf carving for the head that was similar to the Cecil County style. The typical Havre de Grace style lacks shelf carving for the head and exhibits an upswept tail as opposed to the paddle tail of the Cecil County style - although some exceptions exist. Daddy Holly made mostly Canvasbacks, but also Redheads and   Blackheads. Some of Daddy Holly's earliest decoys have brands such as RECKLESS, CARROLLS ISLAND, and WIDGEON.  Despite all being deceased, Daddy Holly and his three sons James, John Jr., and William were selected as the honorary chairman for the 2000 Havre de Grace Decoy Festival. The Holly family are without a doubt the true innovators of the "Havre de Grace style" of decoy making. Decoys produced by the Holly family remain among the most historically and artistically important to Upper Chesapeake Bay decoy collectors.



Krider's Sporting Anecdotes, Illustrative of the Habits of Certain Varieties of American Game by John Krider and Milnor Klapp 1853, Decoys of the Susquehanna Flats and Their Makers by J. Evans McKinney 1990, Decoys of the Mid-Atlantic Region by Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr. 1998, "The Hollys of Havre de Grace: The Innovators of the Harford County Style" by C. John Sullivan, Decoy Magazine Jan/Feb 1992, "Like Father, Like Sons? Identifying the Decoys of the Hollys of Havre de Grace, Part 1" by Chris Nelson and Chad Tragakis, The Canvasback Spring 1999, and "The Holly Family of Havre de Grace: Celebrating Their Legacy into the New Millenium" by Chad Tragakis, The Canvasback Spring 2000.



Old Stuff is History....and Just Wonderful!

The very things that I am most passionate about...I am going to blog about!  I kind of wish I would have started this blog awhile ago....but it is certainly never too late!  So here is my first post and it is more of an introduction of myself and my interests!


First off...I live in Maryland on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay with my wonderful black duck dogs Jessie and Jet.  My business and my home The Canvasback Gallery is situated on a wonderful and scenic body of water...with lots of...yes...waterfowl!


I enjoy the sport of waterfowling...been hunting both waterfowl and upland birds since I was a young boy....it is in my blood.  I even ended up as a waterfowl research biologist for a number of years...you can read about my educational and work background in my profile...so will not bore you here.  I know nothing else but Waterfowl and Waterfowling!  I am proud of my creation....The Canvasback Gallery...as it certainly sums up my life!


I love history...and I very much enjoy waterfowling history...specifically as it pertains to one of the most famous bodies of water in this country...The Chesapeake Bay and more specifically the Susquehanna Flats in the very upper portion of the Chesapeake.  A place that waterfowl once blackened the sky...and a place where watermen were able to make a living on the rich bounty of game for so many years.

John Pusey with Cans and Shotguns.  C. John Sullivan photo

Given that I love history...my goal is to preserve that history through being a collector and through continued study of these old artifacts and dissemination of that information.  I collect wonderful wooden vintage decoys...mostly Canvasback decoys by many of the makers from the Upper Chesapeake Bay...my favorites being those earliest decoys made by John "Daddy" Holly and his son Jim Holly of Havre de Grace.  Also decoys made by John Graham of Charlestown and also those made by Ben Dye of Perry Point and decoys by his son Joe Dye of Havre de Grace.  In addition, I collect old double barrel and single barrel shotguns by a few more obscure early American makers for example; Alexander McComas and Charles Sneider (Clark and Sneider) of Baltimore, Patrick Mullin (P. Mullin) of New York, John Krider of Philadelphia and David Kirkwood (D. Kirkwood) of Boston.  I collect both large gauge (4, 8, and 10 gauge) muzzle-loading and breech-loading shotguns but have recently been collecting smaller gauges (12, 16 and 20 gauge) as well.  So if you have any of these neat old tools of the trade...please contact me!  Yes...I collect everything else that deals with waterfowling of the past....gunpowder tins, shotshell boxes, shotgun tools, old books, hunting licenses, advertising, flat art and whatever else that may have some historic value. 


I have made some great friends over the years...and hope to continue to meet others with similar interests.  Thanks for following my blog...will try to post interesting things regularly.  You can also stay up to date and check out new stuff that I may have for trade or for sale at The Canvasback Gallery website.


Jeff