Circa 1900-05 Live Bird gun

[Drew Hause]

Monte Carlo Le Tir au Pigeons
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24800261



Interesting collection of Live Action Pigeon and Target shooting
http://www.trapshooters.com/threads/...ooting.514889/

And some big money Pigeon Shoots
http://www.trapshooters.com/threads/...shoots.641985/

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by David Dwyer

OK, I have a CHE 30" , factory no safety, full beavertail, high stocked PG, choked .048 & .048, factory pad. Ser #220183. I have always felt this is a LBG. What is it? There are no records.
David

David, does your CHE have the full Trap Comb that was available by special order at that time?
If yes, then we can presume it was likely ordered as a competition gun rather than a combination game/clays gun or a game gun.

Even without the Trap Comb it may still be a dedicated pigeon or clays gun. Does it have a single trigger or a double?





.

[C grade]

No Dean , it does not

[Drew Hause]

Another Live Bird gun



Elliott used a Greener in the 1895 GAH, then shot for Winchester with an 1893 Repeater using "Leader" shells loaded with "E.C." powder, then Hazard "Blue Ribbon" when he defeated Fred Gilbert to take back the Kansas City "Star" Cup April, 1898. He then retained the cup first beating R. O. Heikes by the score of 94 to 93/100, then C. W. Budd, J.E. Riley, and Fred Gilbert in Kansas City.
In March 1899, he had the High Average at the Sportsmen's Association Championship Tournament held on the roof of the Madison Square Garden breaking 1223 out of 1300 targets and held the following trophies in 1899: DuPont Trophy, St. Louis Republic Cup, & Cast Iron Medal (all at Live Birds) and the "E.C." Target Championship Cup & "Republic" Inanimate Target Cup.
He finished 1900 holding the Cast Iron Medal, Sportsmen's Review Cup, and the St. Louis Republic Cup, then in January 1901 won back the DuPont Trophy.
He later used a Model 97 Pigeon Grade.

[todd allen]

Good job, Drew. I'd bet that you and I have traveled down some of the same roads.

[Researcher]

Wish I owned this box of 3-inch LEADERS --

Fred Gilbert Winchester Leaders.jpg

to go with my "Pigeon Gun" with 3-inch chambers --

454 C-Grade 09 Right overall.jpg

[charlie cleveland]

that box of shells would be a fine addition to your gun...charlie

[Will Gurton]

Sorry I am late to this party.

I came across an interesting notation in a 1898 Hartley & Graham Catalogue.

Notice the bottom of the right page. It states "Straight Grip (Pigeon) stocks to order, no extra charge".

This would lead me to believe that by the turn of the century Pigeon was synonymous for a Straight Gripped Gun.

Will

[Drew Hause]

Interesting ads for second hand guns in 1906; several "Pigeon" listed along with grips and the dimensions, which appear very "modern"
https://books.google.com/books?id=r0...J&pg=PA888&lpg

[Ed Blake]

It seems the straight grip for competition guns was popular back then, maybe because of double triggers. Although, I have never had any difficulty with straight versus pistol grips on my guns. I guess it was as just preference. The straight gripped guns look more lively and fast to me.