Site Auction: Lee Harker Canvasback Pair

Chuck J

Well-known member
Yes Folks, you heard right, we have a PAIR of Canvasbacks carved by the late, great Lee Harker to auction off.

Last week I was contacted by Steve Sutton, who has a friend who had (unknown to Steve) acquired a pair of Lee's Cans after the two became aquainted during the "Old Farts Hunt" out in Washington state years ago. Steve's friend is now purging his lifetime accumulation of duck stuff in an effort to move more efficiently to a place to enjoy his other interests in retirement. His friend wanted $300 for the pair, and Steve and I were of agreement that not only would members here be interested in such a rareity, but we felt a site auction would bring more that that sum...so Steve picked up the pair for the asking price and we will be reinbersing Steve for this and any funds beyond that will go to the site to pay expenses.

Description of goods...from the horses mouth:

here's the skinny..... the drake is tan cork with a bottom board....never floated and in fact is not rigged, (as in no wt. or keel or tie off point)....this is a BIG decoy..8" wide by 17" long by a full 8" high top of head...not a mark on it....Lee gave it to the person I got it from as a "THANK YOU" for their help on the Old Fart's Hunt.....

the hen is hollow wood...white cedar according to Scott according to Lee...she has "shot" inside to indicate she's hollow...not from being shot....she's "rigged" per the pictures and self rights.....same dimensions as the drake except for having a half inch less width.....Scott bought her from Lee and Lee said she came out his rig...the two worn spots on her back and the scuff on her neck look like "stack wear", (where another decoy is sitting on top of her), but the tie off strap doesn't look like it was ever in the water...maybe he intended to use it, put it in the pile and never floated it...I think she's a beauty even with the blemishes....

I gave Scott $300.00 for them....hopefully someone on the site will remember Lee and want a pair of his decoys....I'm not sure how many he made but I don't think "many" and I'm pretty sure a "pair" of Cans like this would be pretty rare......

Ready to ship whenever and wherever you tell me to....


harkercan-left.jpg


harkercan-right.jpg


harkerhen-left.jpg


harkerhen-right.jpg


harkerhenbottom.jpg


harkerpair.jpg

Lee at the Washington "Old Farts Hunt" by Dave McCann (Used without permission)
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Auction will run from now through 9PM EDT Wednesday October 30th. Bid by posting a reply to this thread. We can start with my standard minimum starting bid of $50, minimum raise of $5, but we have a reserve of $300. Any questions, PM me or post here as well.

Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to get your hands on a pair of decoys like this and help out the site at the same time.

Happy bidding,

Chuck
 
Lee with a smile on his face, pretty typical Lee.


I'll open with a bid of $350.00


PS. A big "thank you" to Steve Sutton for arranging this.
 
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Those who were around in the early days and saw Lee's decoys and then look at the ones he did before he passed away know Lee improved as much as anyone possibly could. Those are some damn nice Cans.
 
I never met Lee either, but he sent me a little blueyedteal for my birthday one year (and that teal is one of my luckiest little jujus ever...and I know I've lost her a handful of times but she always reappears THANKFULLY) I can't not have her in my rig. Then my family in Kalamazoo met up with him to thank him...small world and he was quite a character.......love the drake....wish I could afford them but someone is going to be getting some great decoys....
 
$450!

Lee was kind enough to resopnd to my very first post way back when and although I never corresponded with him directly, he certianly left an impression in the following years' posts. I would be honored to own a pair of his decoys.

AA-
 
Just a little less than 26 hours to bid on this rare pair of decoys. Bidding closes 9 PM EDT tomorrow.

Chuck
 
Lee and another of the MLB "old timers" befriended me when I made my first visit to West Lake. Both Lee and the other fellow - Chuck Crump - I think .... were down to earth guys and also more than willing to share their knowledge of hunting and decoy carving with me. I hand carried a decoy back to Washington for the Washington Brant Fest contest. Wish In had bought that at the fest auction...an Old Squaw. I briefly visited Lee at his lumber yard on my way back from WL one year. While he was busy we still chatted before I let him get on with the days work and I headed West.

Anyway, I'd love to add these decoys..especially the drake..to my collection of decoys from people I know/knew.

What a great way to acquire decoys and support this site!

$475
 
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Congrats Rick! That's a great pair and I know they will be in great company. I'll send you a PM with payment information.

Thanks for supporting the site

Chuck
 
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