HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE. Above a -| rri •
is a rare picture of Adolph Topperwein, notv 8^ ACl 1 O13p0rW0111^
(1934), America’s greatest aerial marksman, as he JT Jl
appeared in 1906 at the San Antonio Fairgrounds,
after setting his great record of 72,491 out of
72,500 targets in 12 days of shooting. The great
Western-Winchester shooter, who retired in 1931,
is shown sitting atop what was left of 30,000
blocks. After shooting 30,000, Ad’s assistants sort
ed out 22,300 of the larger pieces and Ad con
tinued on to his world record.
The Texas
Triggerman
This is the story of Ad Topperwein, the Texas
Triggerman, who holds records that probably never
will be broken. Frequently referred to as "Amer
ica’s greatest aerial marksman,” his feats during 76
years of shooting are far beyond the average man’s
horizon.
Adolph P. Topperwein joined Winchester Re
peating Arms Company in 1901 as an exhibition
shooter and later continued to shoot for Olin after
it acquired Winchester in 1931.
In 1951 at the age of 82 he retired to his home,
Piedras Tintas (Painted Rocks), near San An
tonio, still interested in the shooting game, active
physically, but not participating in exhibition. (To-
Position meant nothing to "Top” who could shoot
even when standing on his head. At the right is
his late wife who was wearing the ammunition
pouch given to her by her great friend William
F. (''Buffalo Bill”) Cody.
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