Stock market crashed in October, 1929. A pre-paid wedding present that was delivered late (Jan 17, 1930) seemed possible to me rather than a random, expensive gun purchase after massive bank closures and a new marriage. But it's just a guess.

Ran into a 1950 reference which called him a firearms and outdoor equipment "specialist" at Montgomery Ward prior to his work at Drybak, and found another patent of his. This time for a gun sight from Monkey Wards (2058968). That patent lists him as the inventor, and has him living in Evanston, Ill. in September, 1934.

Seems he went from patenting stuff for Montgomery Wards to patenting stuff for Drybak, to selling for Savage. Now maybe his patents at Montgomery Wards were a "sideline" of inventions that he worked on at night and weekends that he sold to Montgomery Wards, and his full time job was helping manage outdoor sporting goods purchases and sales? But can't find any proof of that except for much later comments.

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