Emil Flues & Single Barrel Trapgun

HB,
I was wondering if you had any information on the E F Flues single barrel trap gun. I have been doing a little research on Mr Flues and have found plenty of info on the Ithaca Flues guns and several of his works prior to contracting with Ithaca, but his single barrel trap seems to be a mystery. Thanks

 

10Guns,

Sorry for my delay in answering your post. I don't know how I over-looked it.

I don't have much on Mr. Flues, except what can be found with a quick Google search. Well, I can say that I've never heard of Emil Flues ever being reported to be a trapshooter, but I have an article in my files when he won the Bay County badge in 1901.

EMIL FLUES
07 AUG 1861, Blumfield Twp., Saginaw Co., MI – 10 NOV 1949, Blumfield Twp., MI
Bay City Michigan
Married Maggie Merritt, of Bloomfield, MI-age 25 (01OCT1888)
Produced Fine Schuetzen Rifles
Buffalo, NY
Brooklyn, NY
Gunsmith
Employed by Ithaca Guns (1906-1915)
Known For Designing Ithaca Flues Barrels (1908-1925)
Patent No. – 546,515 (cocking mechanism & safety)
Won Bay County Championship Badge (1901) 37x50​

Emil Flues was born August 7, 1861 in Blumfield township, Saginaw Co., Michigan, and was the second son of Francis and Maria Flues. The Flues family were farmers. Francis and Maria raised 9 children.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest U.S. gun makers. The name Flues comes from the designer, Emil Flues, who worked for Ithaca from approximately 1904-1915. It has been reported that there were more Flues produced than any other models of double-barreled shotguns in the United States.

A great source of information is Walter Snyder’s “The Ithaca Gun Co. – From the Beginning.”

Information about Ithaca Flues guns can be found in the Double Gun Journal, Volume 13, Issue 3, published in Autumn 2002.

Here's the 1889 City Directory for Bay City, Michigan

​

Mr. Flues' Bay City gun shop was damaged by fire just before New Year's Day, 1897.


And in September, 1901, shooting in high winds, Mr. Flues broke 37 Blue Rock targets out of 50, to win the Bay County badge.


Enjoy Our History !

HB

 

I did a bit more searching on Mr. Flues. I was never able to find his obituary though.

I found out he was interred at Elm Lawn Cemetery, Bay City, Michigan, however no picture of his headstone was available. I made photo request and Rosalie, a kind volunteer, photographed the Flues headstone and posted it online. For those interested.

​

 

HB,
Very interesting. Thanks for the info.

 

About four years ago I remember seeing an Emil Flues SBT listed for sale. As a collector of single barrel trapguns the engraving and craftsmanship of the shotgun was one of the finest i`ve seen...

Trap3

 

Prototype E.F. Flues Maker SN1 courtesy of Daryl Hallquist



Prototype SN 2

 

That kind or workmanship is hard, or impossible to find today. Automation, for the most part, has ruined hand craftsmanship and the satisfaction received from doing quality work. Here's to Mr. Flues.