I Saw the Light

[John Davis]

There was a time when I turned my nose up at Parker SBT's. Or any SBT for that matter. I was down right snobbish. Then I got into trap. And I took notice of these exquisite guns. The lines are perfect. The balance is perfect. And when you find one that fits you, it's perfect. I am very blessed because I've got three that fit me. Perfect!

[charlie cleveland]

it has always amazed me about all makes of trap single barrels...the work the wood on them and the way they handle...charlie....

[Dean Romig]

Dick Shaughnessey saw the light too.


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[Randy G Roberts]

John I have never been a big fan of trap although I do enjoy wobble and doubles trap. Having said that I have always liked those SBT guns, they are beautiful. My best SBT was an Ithaca 7E that had beautiful wood that I eventually sold. I have 2 other SBT's that have not been shot in years. I should consider parting company with them, but....

[Bill Murphy]

If Randy gets his 7E back, I am interested. I have Knicks in Victory grade, 4E, 5E, and Sousa grade. Obviously, I "need" a 7E.

[James L. Martin]

I always shot trap with either a o/u or a model 12, then I got a Ithaca 4E SBT wow what a difference. If you never shot a real SBT give it a shot.

[Randy G Roberts]

If Randy gets his 7E back, I am interested. I have Knicks in Victory grade, 4E, 5E, and Sousa grade. Obviously, I "need" a 7E.

Bill that one will not be coming back. I sold that one to a dealer some time ago for a client of his whom as I understand it fell in love with the gun.

[Randy Davis]

The light is still burning... problem is it gets a little dimmer every day.

Trap3

[Reggie Bishop]

Here is an interesting one--

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/parker-shotguns/parker-a1-12-ga-30-quot-full-trap.cfm?gun_id=101429258

[Mills Morrison]

I came close to getting one last year. Wish I had pulled the trigger and not waited (it didn't last long)

[Dean Romig]

The ad calls it an A1 but the gun calls itself an A.





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[Bill Murphy]

Sweet gun, but the price and the 12 7/8" stock are a bit of a problem. I can't wait to look up Ms. DuPont in ATA average books.

[Jay Oliver]

I really need to get one of these at some point. I started shooting trap last year and got rid of a BT-99(that I bought used) after 2 rounds. I have been shooting a lifter ever since, but would really like dedicated trap gun and a Parker SBT wound be nice.

I have never seen one in person, but I think I would like it...

[John Davis]

Parker Single Barrel Trap guns were made to do one thing and one thing only, shoot clay targets from a trap house. And they do it very well.

[Mike Franzen]

Parker Single Barrel Trap guns were made to do one thing and one thing only, shoot clay targets from a trap house. And they do it very well.

Gentlemen, if you want a SBT you best get one now while they’re still cheap. The success Mr. Davis is having on the trap circuit with his SBT’s is causing people to take notice. We all know the trapshooter’s penchant for anything goes when it comes breaking more targets and if a few of them getting on the Parker SBT bandwagon start having success too then that will start a run on the market. I would say there is no one today who is a better trap shot with a Parker SBT than John Davis. :bowdown:

[John Davis]

At least no one brags about it more. A legend in my own mind.

[Bill Murphy]

John, that's the way it is, now that you're a trap shooter. Excuse me, I meant trapshooter. I'm not sure my friend Tom Breeden is still shooting ATA, but he has shot quite a bit with his single barrel Parkers. His son, Dean, may shoot a Parker in ATA competition also. He also has a grandson coming up who has his eye on Tom's Parker single as well as mine.

[Dean Romig]

At least no one brags about it more. A legend in my own mind.


You have every reason and every right to toot your own horn. My God man, you’ve paid your dues and earned the right!!




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[Bill Murphy]

I don't shoot ATA, so I have nothing to brag about. However, not long ago I won a Chinese Trap event at our club with a Browning Superposed .410 against all comers, all of whom were shooting 12 gauges.

[John Davis]

That's definitely something to brag about.

[Larry Stauch]

Here is an interesting one--

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/parker-shotguns/parker-a1-12-ga-30-quot-full-trap.cfm?gun_id=101429258



Too bad that was made for Mary and not Harry; 12-7/8":eek:

[Phil Yearout]

I only shoot trap for fun and I CERTAINLY don't have anything to brag about, but there's nothing more fun than doing it with a vintage SB trap gun, not to mention the looks and comments you get from other shooters. Orphan Annie solicitated lots of comments, and recently a fella walked up while I was shooting with the 5E Knick that I got from a member here. I've shot with him before; he shoots a B99. He took a look at the Knick and said, "Damn! Why don't you get a nice gun?"

https://i.imgur.com/GDmsxHcm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DZKq9Pim.jpg

[Chuck Bishop]

Here is my first trap gun. It got me started down the path of no return but I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Reggie Bishop]

Chuck is that your skeet gun too?

[Chuck Bishop]

No but I wish it was!

[Randy G Roberts]

Chuck is that your skeet gun too?

Reggie I seem to recall that one belonging to Dean.

[Reggie Bishop]

Probably his 28 gauge that he likes so much, and rightly so!

[PAUL PLUNKETT III]

I have a SBT sickness that goes back decades. I shoot all of them quite often. My 7E Ithaca being my favorite. I have one old beat SC Parker that patterns about as well as one could ask.

[Stan Hoover]

A little hard to see on the IPad, but I believe I'm seeing 2 7E’s and 1 5E?
Stan

[PAUL PLUNKETT III]

Stan good eye! 2 7Es 10 serial #s apart. My Handicap 34" 5E and a 30" 4E. John Ive shot the Pa State shoot with the 34 " SC Parker. I Get lots of questions about the guns at ATA shoots. :)

[Stan Hoover]

Stan good eye! 2 7Es 10 serial #s apart. My Handicap 34" 5E and a 30" 4E. John Ive shot the Pa State shoot with the 34 " SC Parker. I Get lots of questions about the guns at ATA shoots. :)

I missed that 4E, a straight grip at that, straight grip trap guns seem to be on the rarer side? I once owned a Sousa that was a straight grip.

That 5E with a 34” barrel is a cool gun, I would think that is on the rarer side, makes sense to use it as a handicap gun.

Stan

[Larry Stauch]

I'm wondering if one of you guys got this high condition 1917 4E Flues with a 36" barrel at Cabela's recently?

I think the engraving is fantastic.

[charlie cleveland]

wow.....charlie

[Randy Davis]

Wasn`t me... Wish I could say I added to the collection.

Trap3

[Larry Stauch]

This is the only problem I had with that gun. Otherwise it would be in my safe.
Just so you know, Cabela's had the DOM wrong. It is a 1917 or there about; surprise!
I thought I would be dealing on it with them a year from now, but apparently someone decided they liked it, a lot, and took it home.

[Bill Murphy]

I don't collect Flues singles, but I would have bought that one.

[Randy Davis]

Nice 4E...

I`d agree. A bit over priced.

Trap3

[Stan Hoover]

Nice Flues with great condition, I do agree that price was high for Flues 4E. But when will you find one in that condition again with 36” barrel?
They offered a Flues 4E with 36” barrel at Rock Island recently, but it had a bulge in the barrel, have to keep looking I guess.
Stan

[Bill Murphy]

I don't pay any attention to price tags, at a gun store or a gun show. The guy who bought this gun didn't pay the tag price anyway.

[Larry Stauch]

Unfortunately, Cabela's isn't the free wheeling dealing outfit they used to be. After Bass Pro took over there are strict orders not to give deep discounts like they used to. Now you're lucky to get 4-5% off, which would still make that gun high priced in my opinion.

[CraigThompson]

I started shooting trap almost forty years ago with none other than a VHE 12 30” 1 frame that I still have . Got this gun from a departed Parker accumulator named Jerry Amos from the Warrenton VA area and I still have the gun . Very shortly there after I got a used Franchi 2005 combo with a top single barrel . Not to long after that I went the Krieghoff route and put a K-80 unsingle on the K-32 I had at that time and shot the best trap scores of my life . At present my only single trap is an Ithaca Knick something or other . Tried to get a SC at a local auction a year or two ago but lost out . I suppose eventually I’ll have an SC but it just hasn’t happened yet .

[Phil Yearout]

I'm wondering if one of you guys got this high condition 1917 4E Flues with a 36" barrel at Cabela's recently?

I think the engraving is fantastic.

I woulda bid but that 36" barrel wouldn't fit in my gun cabinet :rotf:

[Bill Murphy]

Craig, I set up across from Jerry Amos at the George Mason University gun show for years. I was a charter exhibitor and I was there for the last show. I had been looking at a gun on a table, can't remember what it was, but we couldn't agree on a sale. There was about two feet of snow on the ground and still falling and the guy with the gun couldn't get his car moving. I offered to trade my four wheel drive Blazer for his gun because I had another ride home. He wouldn't go for that deal.

[Larry Stauch]

I know it's not a Parker, but it is a 34" SBT gun at a relatively good price.:corn:



https://www.cabelas.com/product/gun-library/shotguns-gun-library%7C/pc/103792680/c/103581180/l-c-smith-specialty-trap-12-ga-/3595782.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshot guns-gun-library%2F_%2FN-1103060%2FNs-IS_NEW_FLAG%257C1%257C%257CSDATE%257C1%257C%257CPR ODUCT_NAME%257C0%3FWTz_stype%3DGNU%26recordsPerPag e%3D80

[Bill Murphy]

Paul, what say we talk trade on one of your 7Es?

[Phil Yearout]

I know it's not a Parker, but it is a 34" SBT gun at a relatively good price.:corn:



https://www.cabelas.com/product/gun-library/shotguns-gun-library%7C/pc/103792680/c/103581180/l-c-smith-specialty-trap-12-ga-/3595782.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshot guns-gun-library%2F_%2FN-1103060%2FNs-IS_NEW_FLAG%257C1%257C%257CSDATE%257C1%257C%257CPR ODUCT_NAME%257C0%3FWTz_stype%3DGNU%26recordsPerPag e%3D80

Mod choke?

[John Davis]

I'd bet it is actually full.

[Mike Koneski]

John I have never been a big fan of trap although I do enjoy wobble and doubles trap. Having said that I have always liked those SBT guns, they are beautiful. My best SBT was an Ithaca 7E that had beautiful wood that I eventually sold. I have 2 other SBT's that have not been shot in years. I should consider parting company with them, but....

Either of them a Parker?? I need a Parker SBT!!! :shock:

[Mike Koneski]

I have a SBT sickness that goes back decades. I shoot all of them quite often. My 7E Ithaca being my favorite. I have one old beat SC Parker that patterns about as well as one could ask.


An old, beat SBT? Sounds like a project gun. I'll give you $500 and a shoebox full of woodchuck tails.

[Randy G Roberts]

Either of them a Parker?? I need a Parker SBT!!! :shock:

They are not. Both are Ithacas. A grade 4 and a grade 5.

[Chuck Bishop]

Mike, I've put you on my short list but please don't beg.

[GunnerGrilli]

That is a beautiful collection!!!! WOW!!!!

[Bill Murphy]

Paul P., do you have your own squad in PA or would you be agreeable to putting a squad of vintage single barrel shooters together for a shoot or two? We are almost neighbors, I am told. Maybe we can get Chuck to join.

[Mills Morrison]

What do these two people have in common? They get to shoot the same Parker Single Barrel Trap gun. Got research letter today and my SBT was ordered by Fred Gilbert. He sent it back later, but it is still cool.

[Mills Morrison]

Sorry the internet gremlins shrunk Fred . . . .

[John Davis]

Mills, that is great. Could you post a picture of the research letter? And gun?

[John Davis]

I wonder if it's the same gun Gilbert broke 589 straight with in 1919.

[Mills Morrison]

Here's the letter. Gun is supposed to be on the way and will post photos when it is in hand.

Gilbert owned the gun in 1919 but returned it for some reason.

[Dean Romig]

Probably because he didn’t break 590.





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[Mills Morrison]

Ha! Funny thought but also a possibility

[John Davis]

We need to figure out the date of Gilbert's world record straight run. There's a decent chance that this was the gun.

[John Davis]

From the 1920 catalogue

[Mills Morrison]

That would be really cool! Unless he ordered or had another SBT during that time, it would have to be. The fact that he returned it for credit suggests against it though

[John Davis]

I don't think so. He was a professional shooter and was getting lots of guns from Parker on consignment. He wasn't wed to them. It's not beyond reason to surmise he would have set the record with this gun and then sent it back. And after all, it was on consignment/loan and had to go back at some point.

I believe if we can determine Gilbert had this gun when the record was set, then that's a pretty good argument for it being the one. Of course we will never know for sure unless someone identifies it by serial number in a report or account of the shoot. And that's a long shot.

Regardless, having a Parker that was once in Fred Gilbert's hands is very cool.

[Mills Morrison]

Lots of good news today, of which this was a big one. The bad news is the seller was not able to get it shipped, so we wait another day

[Randy Davis]

In my files I have noted Gilbert took delivery of a Parker SBT #180116... I think he was 54 years old in 1919 when he set the long run record. Have not found the date of the long run. I know it was before October of 1919

Trap3

[John Davis]

According to D. H. Eaton, "Trapshooting, The Patriotic Sport", Fred Gilbert set the professional long run world record of 591 (571 registered targets and 20 practice targets) July 29 to August 7, 1919.

[Mills Morrison]

He had this gun during that time

[John Davis]

Harry has some big shoes to fill.

[Mills Morrison]

Talk about "we're not worthy "

[John Davis]

I want to see a picture of Harry shooting Gilbert's gun at Forrest City.

[Dean Romig]

Forest City NC or Forest City ME ?





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[John Davis]

Forest City Gun Club, Savannah, Ga.

[Mills Morrison]

Forest City Gun Club, Savannah, Ga.



That is coming, assuming his 12 year old independence cooperates

[Mills Morrison]

Good Parker Pages article in here somewhere. That is for sure.

[Mills Morrison]

Sneak preview

[Mills Morrison]

Have any other Fred Gilbert SBT's surfaced?

[GunnerGrilli]

Well Gentlemen what a day. I inherited my first SBT a few years back, it is Serial #185102. About a month ago I purchased several more SBT's with the dream of shooting them. That dream happened today at the local Trap Range. I brought a couple just in case a friend of mine was so inclined to join in the fun. This is the first time I have ever shot an SBT.........first time I even shouldered the gun. What a blast. Broke 25 straight the first time out of the case. A very surreal experience...........I just love it. Birds that I should not have normally hit if I where shooting my normal gun just broke!! Amazing!! When I was on, there was nothing better. Talk about "Smashing Clays". Had such a great time and feel so awesome!! Just a great experience and so glad we made it happen. I finally convinced my buddy to shoot the other SBT I brought. We had (2) SBT's on the line..................all the local trap guys where definitely fixated on the (2) out of town guys smashing clays both with SBT's!! That time we came off the line both with 24.............not too shabby. Sure hope to meet and shoot with some of you gentlemen soon.

[John Davis]

Great shooting. Keep carrying those Parkers to the line.

[J. Scott Hanes]

I don't think so. He was a professional shooter and was getting lots of guns from Parker on consignment. He wasn't wed to them. It's not beyond reason to surmise he would have set the record with this gun and then sent it back. And after all, it was on consignment/loan and had to go back at some point.

I believe if we can determine Gilbert had this gun when the record was set, then that's a pretty good argument for it being the one. Of course we will never know for sure unless someone identifies it by serial number in a report or account of the shoot. And that's a long shot.

Regardless, having a Parker that was once in Fred Gilbert's hands is very cool.

Not to throw cold water on the possibility that this Parker was the one Gilbert made the long run with, however, I KNOW trapshooters and if Gilbert did use the SBT in question in the long run, it would not have been returned! He would have purchased it before ever sending it back. For a top professional in that era, a consignment really had no time limit.

Scott Hanes

[Mills Morrison]

The question is whether he owned any other SBTs during that time.

[Randy Davis]

Someone might check serial # 180116? In my years of trapshooting and collecting I remember reading Fred Gilbert shooting this SBT...

Trap3

[Mills Morrison]

I saw an ad Parker put out about Gilbert's straight run and the SBT pictured is a higher grade than mine and also a straight grip. That still is not conclusive though.

[Chuck Bishop]

S/N 180116 was ordered by Fred Gilbert but if I read the order book entry correctly, it looks like he ordered it with the intent to sell. The entry reads "charge his reg a/c (account?) will remit when sold". It's a standard SC with a CPG at $150.00.

Also unusual is that the stock book entry has F. Gilbert. I don't ever recall a name being in a stock book entry.

[J. Scott Hanes]

I looked online (am sure others have, too) and found a couple photos of Gilbert. One had him holding a Parker double. There is a Parker ad touting his record and showing a SBT, but that is no indication of his using any particular gun. The forend in the ad has the forend with the grooves along the side. Photo attached.

Really interesting mystery.

Scott Hanes

[Mills Morrison]

That is the ad I was talking about

[Tom Flanigan]

There was a time when I turned my nose up at Parker SBT's. Or any SBT for that matter. I was down right snobbish. Then I got into trap. And I took notice of these exquisite guns. The lines are perfect. The balance is perfect. And when you find one that fits you, it's perfect. I am very blessed because I've got three that fit me. Perfect!.

Wow, I can't imagine turning up your nose on a Parker SBT. Especially since my favorite SBT, one that fits me perfectly, is the Shelly Gitman SC you sold me. I shoot it three times a week and a lot of folks have asked questions about the gun. It's a head turner.

I also have a near mint true original finish DHE trap gun with all extras. It stays home most of the time in deference to the SC.

I'm glad you saw the light!

[Mike Koneski]

I don’t shoot trap but always wanted a Parker SBT. Just love the design. I’ll use it for some side events at SxS shoots and maybe even smoke a turkey with it in the spring season. Just happy I was able to find one this month.

[John Davis]

Tom, I'm really glad you like the Parker SBT and especially glad that she's getting so much use. These "old" Parkers are such a pleasure to shoot and there's nothing better than proving to the rest of the trap world that they can still get the job done in spades.

[Dean Romig]

Tom, I'm really glad you like the Parker SBT and especially glad that she's getting so much use. These "old" Parkers are such a pleasure to shoot and there's nothing better than proving to the rest of the trap world that they can still get the job done in spades.



Here - Here !!





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