Frank Dougherty (Barrel) - Duck Call
Updated August 19, 2026
| Lot number | 125 |
| Estimate | 400.00 - 600.00 USD |
| Auction | 2026 Wildfowl Call Auction Event |
| Date | August 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | American Sporting Auctions |
| Location | Cookeville, Tennessee |
Frank Dougherty (1872-1942) Kansas City, MO 5.5" long An original smooth barrel by the maker with a later added P.S. Olt insert. The call was purchased by Henry Ciro directly from Frank Dougherty. In Franks early life, when there were little or no restrictions on waterfowl, he was a market hunter who made his living selling wild ducks he harvested. His obituary stated that on at least one occasion he floated the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans, LA bagging hundreds of ducks. Dougherty's output was relatively limited as his calls we entirely hand made up to 1940, at which point he began using a lathe to turn parts. It is said that completed calls sold for $1. The call has never been offered for public sale before. Henry Ciro (1911-1995) and his hunting companion, Sam Armato (1919-2006) regularly hunted Bean Lake together where they would also meet call makers like Frank Dougherty. Upon Ciro's passing, he gifted this call, and others to Armato, and upon Armato's passing he gifted them to his friend Alex Picone. Condition: Original Dougherty barrel is in very good condition with a couple faint surface spots from age Provenance: Alex Picone Collection from the below Sam Armato Collection from the below Henry Ciro - purchased directly from E.S. Stofer and personalized by William Rensing
