The man who owned the handgun shown here was described as a brilliant businessman. He got his start early, dropping out of high school at the age of 15 to begin working at various odd jobs.
Following a stint in the Army Air Forces, where he served in World War II, he returned to California and his job at MGM. He was laid off from that job, but soon after formed his own company, Hollywood Publicity Associates. While promoting one of the firm’s upcoming events, he saw an opportunity to launch a magazine—and in January 1948, his true career began.
After several decades of success in publishing, he was declared one of America’s wealthiest men in 1994 by Forbes magazine. But he had many outside interests as well—namely, hunting and the outdoors. He frequently went on safari in Africa and India, and often hunted with his wife. The gun shown here helped him obtain the hunting trophy that he proudly displayed in his Los Angeles office.
Click here to learn more about this gun and its famous owner. It’s just one of the many fascinating treasures on display at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia.
