In 1895, Fred Gilbert was an unknown from Spirit Lake, Iowa until winning the Du Pont World's Pigeon Champion and the first "American E. C. Powder Company Trophy Emblematic of the World’s Championship at Inanimate Target Shooting" using a Smith. He was hired by Lefever as a traveling representative, but used the Smith in the 1896 & 1897 GAHs. He went to a Parker after the 1899 GAH
Sporting Life Spirit Lake, Ia., Jan. 8., 1902
"A fine race was witnessed here to-day between Fred Gilbert and John Burmeister, both of this place. It was a friendly match, in which Gilbert tried a new 32-inch Parker gun. He made a fine score, breaking 99 out of 100, losing his tenth target. After the finish of the match he shot at ten more targets and broke them, making a record of 100 straight.
The targets were thrown 55 yards. Gilbert’s load was 3 1/4 drams DuPont smokeless, 1 1/4 oz. No. 7 1/2 Tatham’s chilled shot, in Winchester Leader shells."
He had the High Professional Average at the 1908 and 1909 GAH
