solid ribs?

[Dale Zywina]

I am in the middle of a search for a full choked singleshot partridge gun for up here in the thick NW Ontario woods where I live and hunt, I have seen a few Parker traps for sale, but all have a vetilated rib, wich I am not fond of, as evergreen needles and debri just clog these vents, so my question is are there any factory Parker Single barrel traps with solid raised ribs? I did not think it would be so difficult to find a quality singleshotshotgun to purchase, the only candidate I found of US make was a Fox Trap, but it to had a ventilated rib. Oh well the search continues for the elusive boxlock high quality partridge gun, cheers from Canada, Dale Z!

[Bill Murphy]

The weight of an American single trap gun would keep me from using it as a partidge gun. There are Euopean single barrels that are more suited to hunting partridge, and most have safeties. There are no Parker single traps without a vent rib. Where will I find that Fox trap gun you did not choose?

[Dale Zywina]

I hunt with a heavy old single for the last 25 years, a trap Parker is a breaze to carry, and my Parker DHE has no saftey and I love that is has none, really drilled into me was safety ,especially muzzle control! And to find a top quality boxlock english gun is near impossible, seems they are over priced or sold in matter of minutes! The Fox Trap 12ga was for sale on gunbroker $5500, good deal but can have a new gun built for the same price, but with minumal ingraving out of Germany right now. One gun is to heavy for one fellow, and perfect for the next guy, cheers from Canada!

[Bill Murphy]

Uh huh.

[Francis Morin]

I hunt with a heavy old single for the last 25 years, a trap Parker is a breaze to carry, and my Parker DHE has no saftey and I love that is has none, really drilled into me was safety ,especially muzzle control! And to find a top quality boxlock english gun is near impossible, seems they are over priced or sold in matter of minutes! The Fox Trap 12ga was for sale on gunbroker $5500, good deal but can have a new gun built for the same price, but with minumal ingraving out of Germany right now. One gun is to heavy for one fellow, and perfect for the next guy, cheers from Canada! I won't ask why you wish such a shotgun, that is your call. I haven't hunted grouse/woodcock in 35 years- when I did here in MI I used either a 20 ga. M12 or a 20 gauge LeFever DS double. But I did have a "altered" Parker SC single trap- given to me by a neighbor who was a class A shooter with it- rechoked, release trigger, and a Morgan adjustable pad. I'm not a trap or clays man, but to use such a set up, even with the conventional trigger and std. pad for grouse- well, as they say- we all have our tastes in firearms- so I did a 'recee-recon" for you- if you have the cheque book capacity to order a fine gun from Germany, or consider even a scarce AH Fox single trap- then perhaps the "asking" price of this gun I found in Guns International might be your "cup of tea"- perhaps not. English made single barrel 12 bore waterfowler-sidelock 32" full choked barrel with SOLID RAISED RIB-- ITEM NUMBER IS #100141529-- PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK THIS OUT-
The only other though I had was perhaps a Savage hammerless single shot, and have a gunsmith install a solid rib for you--Best regards--:bigbye::bigbye:

[Dale Zywina]

tHAT ENGLISH 12GA 32" IS A PIECE OF s**t ,i COULD NEVER LOWER MY STANDARD THAT FAR AFTER OWNING A DHE! BUT THANKS FOR THE HELP, i THINK i WILL JUST FIND A LOW GRADE sINGLE tRAP AND HAVE A SOLID RIB INSTALLED, THANKS FOR THE HELP, dALE z IN cANADA!

[Bill Murphy]

Inexpensive Ithaca Flues model traps are quite common.

[Dale Zywina]

Bill I have considered the Flues as there are a few hanging around, but somehow I don't like the look of it, I would not take it out with me, would grab my DHE or ball & shot gun instead. I am looking for the perfect single, cheers Dale Z!

[Dean Romig]

Have you considered a scoped .22?

[Bill Murphy]

I have also looked for the "perfect single" sporting gun. However, if someone showed me a Woodward sidelock single trap with a cut barrel for about $500, I would find a way to shape it down to about 6 1/2 pounds and make it my "perfect single".

[Dale Zywina]

Bill I think you and I have the same thought, though I haven't comacross anything worthwhile to customise into the deadliest, sexiest single yet? A friend, atleast thaTS WHAT HE CALLS HIMSELF TAUNTS ME WITH A BEAUTIFUL tOLLEY BOXLOCK SINGLE 12! Maybe oneday I will find him in a weak moment! cheers from Canada!

[Bill Murphy]

Dale, I recently found a pre WW1 Francotte single with solid rib and safety which has ended my search for a sporting single of extremely high quality. To add to the victory, the gun is in high condition. I need to put money into the gun to reconstruct the safety button and improve the butt, but it will be worth the work. I had to give up a scarce Parker in the deal, but sometimes we have to do that.

[Dale Zywina]

Bill congrats! When you have a chance some pictures would be great! I am still searching! Dale Z!

[Bill Zachow]

How about my hammered Savage model 220 in 28 gauge. Weighs about 5 pounds and is real easy to carry.

[Dean Romig]

That sounds like the perfect light upland single Bill. Can you show us pictures?

[Bill Murphy]

A 220 is a hammerless gun, but of low quality. Dale, just this week I saw a nice sidelock Webley and Scott single in very good condition on the internet. I didn't pay much attention because I am waiting for a Fox single to appear on my doorstep. I recently got the Francotte back from Dewey Vicknair. It was found to have no safety mechanism inside, so it was reassembled without a safety but with a new Griffin and Howe Silvers repro pad. Bob Beach and I have determined that it is a Model 11, the lowest grade of Francotte available in 1914, its year of manufacture. I had not weighed it before today when I found that it weighs 6 pounds, 14 ounces with its solid rib 32" barrel. It seems to be in about 95% high original condition with nearly all the color and blue. It is unengraved except for the nine visible screws and the top of the extension rib. As I probably said in an earlier post, I have not seen such a Francotte before but the V L & A records show that some Francotte singles were sold in this country, but we're not sure about the Model 11.

[Bill Zachow]

Bill, your right. It is not a 220, bot a 219. I would not consider it "low quality" as everything fits and everything works. Steel barrel and real walnut stocks. A major plus factor is they were made with interchangeable barrels in different gauges and calibers. Mine is a 28; i have seen 12, 16, 20, 28 gauges and a .410 bore. I have also seen .22 hornet, 30/30 and 25/20 rifle barrels. While they may not be the quality of a Parker, they are very serviceable and handy. Don't bad mouth them for what they are.

[Bill Murphy]

The 219 is not a "hammered gun" either. It is hammerless. When was the last time you looked at this gun, Bill? I think the original poster is looking for a quality single with a solid rib.

[Mike McKinney]

The first gun I was ever given was a Savage 220, 20 ga.. It was given to me by my grandaddy who promised it to me when I was 6 or 7 and he let me call it mine when I was about 11. He had not been a hunter or gun person in the time I had known him, only a hard working carpenter and mountain farmer. He was my hero and still is even though he died in 1967. Not nearly the best gun I have, but probably carries the most sentimentality, and I'm sure I have carried it more in my younger years than Granddaddy ever did.

[Bill Zachow]

Bill, once again you are right. I haven't looked at the gun in years and truthfully, would have difficultly in finding it. Since I could not dig it out, I went to my Shooter's Bible reference library. It's a Stevens 94c made by Savage. Barrels on the 220s, 219s, and various models of the 94 were all interchangeable as they used the same basic cast steel frame. Maybe I will dig mine out and have it gussied up like the Czars gun and it could become "The Czars Pickup Truck Gun"."

[Bill Murphy]

Congratulations, Bill, the 94 in 28 gauge is probably a scarce cult gun.

[Rich Anderson]

A single shot trap gun for Grouse hunting:vconfused: I'll bet their not flying when shot at.

[Chuck Heald]

Dale,
I have a LC Smith single Trap gun I would part with.

spurshooter@verizon.net