Fred Gilbert 589 Straight

[Mills Morrison]

Looking for information on Fred Gilbert’s famous 589 straight. I know it was in 1919 sometime, probably August, and he was using a Parker. Which club? Any other information on the SBT used? Thanks in advance

[Dean Romig]

I’ll bet John Davis and Drew Hause can fill in the blanks on Fred Gilbert.





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[Garry L Gordon]

Mills, I happen to be working on some research of Gilbert's L.C. Smith and have received some great materials from Drew Hause. My guess is that you have read over Drew's materials. The only thing I can find is what is excerpted from Drew's work (posted below). I have the Baldwin book out in my studio and will check it to see if there's more on his remarkable run.


"In 1917, Fred took delivery of a Parker SBT SN 180116.

Gilbert continued to compete thereafter, but at a gradually slower pace, troubled by high blood pressure and arthritis. Remarkably, in 1919 at age 54 he made a straight run of 589 and had the highest average of his career - 97.53 percent on 6,860 targets."

[Mills Morrison]

I have that information but cannot find where he made the famous run. It must have been one of the great old gun clubs.

[Garry L Gordon]

Might it have been over several outings and even in different locations?

[Mills Morrison]

That is an interesting thought and one I had not considered.

[Garry L Gordon]

I'm headed to Spirit Lake next month to look over some of Gilbert's trophies, etc. and his Smith. I've had indirect contact with a couple of his descendants, but they so far have little information. If I come across anything that sheds light on his historic run, I'll be sure to let you know.

[Mills Morrison]

Thank you! That would be great

[Drew Hause]

Mills: you've seen this?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k2_50HPC18lm2BZmH5SlgYSptcngORnmLTZ5iiW-cpc/edit

Small image, and yes, I believe the run was made at several clubs. Unfortunately, little in the Sporting Life archives after 1916

https://photos.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-nVWskJv/0/8a1dc32e/S/G%2027%20Parker%20SBT-S.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-nVWskJv/A)

The display at Spirit Lake has several news clippings, and one might reference his run.
Thanks to Garry for his perseverance!

[Mills Morrison]

Thanks Drew! Now, any idea which venues?

[Randy Davis]

It may have been at Mason City, Iowa State shoot June 16-19 600 target thrown during that tournament. High professional Fred Gilbert with a 592...

Randy Davis
Trap3

[Randy Davis]

The 1919 Sportsmen`s Review record book, long runs of 100 or better shows Fred Gilbert shot many straights/long runs. Not sure when they scored the advertised 589 with a Parker SBT... Here are the listed records...

Feb.10-15 Kansas City 131, June 16-19 Mason City, 197 & 129 Aug. 4-5 Spirit Lake 300, Sept. 4-11 Chariton Iowa & Waterloo Iowa, 502 (412 were registered targets) Sept. 28, Manning Iowa, 150...

RD

[Randy Davis]

Ok... after more research from the annual American Trapshooting Association`s Official Registered Trapshooting Tournament records, 591 Straight by Fred Gilbert (professional) happened at 4 consecutive tournaments. Cherokee Iowa, July29, Pocahontas Iowa, July 31, Spirit Lake August 4&5 and Hampton Iowa, August 7, 1919.
(This run includes 571 consecutive registered(tournament)targets and 20 shot in practice. He is credited with 13 long runs of 100 or better. So now we know...

RD
Trap3

[Mills Morrison]

Ok thanks! That is great. Do you have a link to the source?

In working with our research chairman, the SBT’s ordered by Gilbert were all pistol grips and not straight stock like the one in the Parker ad.

Investigation continues . . . .

[Drew Hause]

Mills: we've had a thread regarding the grooved FE, which no one has apparently seen

"The American Shooter" 9-1-1917

https://photos.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-kWQxCpH/0/14c57040/L/Parker%20The%20American%20Shooter%209-1-17-L.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-kWQxCpH/A)

"Breeder & Sportsman" November 1918

https://photos.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-XXNknDx/0/67b9ee00/L/Parker%20SBT%20November%201918%20Breeder%20%26%20S portsman-L.png (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-XXNknDx/A)

[Mills Morrison]

Right. I wonder if it exists or if it ever did?

[Garry L Gordon]

Ok thanks! That is great. Do you have a link to the source?

In working with our research chairman, the SBT’s ordered by Gilbert were all pistol grips and not straight stock like the one in the Parker ad.

Investigation continues . . . .

Mills, don't you love "hunts" like this?! Almost as good as following a dog after birds (a.k.a. quail to Northerners).:)

[Randy Davis]

Ok thanks! That is great. Do you have a link to the source?

In working with our research chairman, the SBT’s ordered by Gilbert were all pistol grips and not straight stock like the one in the Parker ad.

Investigation continues . . . .

Mills,

Don`t know of a link... quoted word for word from my collection of old Trapshooting publications...

RD

[Mills Morrison]

My SBT was shipped to Gilbert on June 13, 1919, so the July start would be right. Of course, we will never know for sure. 180116 seems to have been a special gun for him. I wonder where it is?

[Mills Morrison]

Another minor point . . . Was it 589 or 591? It seems some sources say 589 and some 591.

[Randy Davis]

Another minor point . . . Was it 589 or 591? It seems some sources say 589 and some 591.

The Parker Ad shows 589. The American Trapshooters Association records
for 1919 lists it at 591...

RD

[Mills Morrison]

There is another fun mystery that will never be solved.

[Randy Davis]

Probably so. I`d go with whats in the ATA records...

RD

[Mills Morrison]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing

[Drew Hause]

Here 'ya go Mills - 591

November 1919 “Du Pont Magazine”
https://digital.hagley.org/1919_11_05?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=4f3f352166efc12d0556&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=1&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=12#page/26/mode/2up

https://photos.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-ZzDM88F/0/9fb258f7/S/Screenshot%20%2873%29-S.png (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/SBTs/i-ZzDM88F/A)

[Mills Morrison]

Very good. That clears that up.

[Randy Davis]

Thanks Drew, Yep... gotta have faith in the record books...

Randy Davis

[Bill Murphy]

What a piece of research. Thanks.

[Mills Morrison]

The amount of knowledge in this group never ceases to amaze

[Mills Morrison]

Now . . . Has the 591 straight ever been beaten? Even to this day?

[Drew Hause]

The 1938 GAH regular 16-yard program totaled 1,000 targets, if a shooter entered everything over a six-day period. On a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the “Preliminary Days” consisted of 100 targets each on Friday and Saturday, and 200 on Sunday, which was called the Vandalia Open Championship, the only event during the week where Industry Representatives could compete with the Amateurs. During championship week were 200 target events on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Fred Tomlin, a Remington Industry Representative, had posted a new official long run record on Monday with 714 straight (started in June or July, and continued at Yorklyn in early August).

Joe Hiestand broke 100 straight on Saturday, 200 straight on Sunday, and 200 straight on Monday. He had a carry-over of 66 straight from Yorklyn, so at the end of Monday’s shooting, he had a run of 566 unfinished. Hiestand went on to break 200 on Tuesday and 200 on Wednesday, leaving the Grand American with a run of 966 unfinished.
Hiestand finished his official run with 1404 targets.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/Ithaca/i-77MZZ7K/0/032200f6/XL/Joe%20Hiestand%201404%20targets-XL.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/Ithaca/i-77MZZ7K/A)

[Mills Morrison]

Dang!

[Drew Hause]

Dan Bonillas ran 1600 16 yd. singles and 275 27 yard handicap targets in 1975

This infro is about 10 years old
Long run, Singles. (men) David Shaeffer, Jr. 2009 - 2166
Long run, Handicap. (men) Daro Handy - 505
Long run, Doubles. (men) Charlie Long - 800

BTW: Robert Paxton holds the Skeet 20 gauge long run record - 2173

[Mills Morrison]

Based on some of the shooters coming along now that I see, even that record will probably be beat before you know it

[Randy Davis]

I believe David Shaeffer Jr. still holds the Singles long run record...
Sean Hawley of Utah holds the long run Doubles with 1130 targets

[Pete Lester]

I think the Bartholow brothers still hold the record. In 2008 they both broke an 1100 straight in the 2008 Grand American singles championship, 200 in the event, 900 in a shoot off. The shoot off was stopped and the ATA declared them co-champions. Matt Bartholow record is 1840 consecutive registered singles targets.

https://www.trapshootingbros.com/about

[Randy Davis]

The ATA Singles Long Run Record is 2166 targets...

Trap3

[John Davis]

The ATA Singles Long Run Record is 2166 targets...

Trap3


That's called FOCUS, extreme FOCUS.

[Dave Noreen]

I think the Bartholow brothers still hold the record. In 2008 they both broke an 1100 straight in the 2008 Grand American singles championship, 200 in the event, 900 in a shoot off. The shoot off was stopped and the ATA declared them co-champions. Matt Bartholow record is 1840 consecutive registered singles targets.

https://www.trapshootingbros.com/about

Sounds like NSSA's Tommy Heffron - Chief Buntrock 12-gauge Championship shoot-off in 1968. Both 250 in the event and another 800 in the shoot-off.