Single Trigger Question

[Foster Myers III]

I know that the blue book lists added values for certain things like a straight stock, barrels of a certain length, ejectors etc. But what about Parkers that have a single trigger? I think I remember reading somewhere that was an option, even for the Trojans but I am curious if that adds any addition value (or not).
Thanks as always
Foster

[CraigThompson]

I think it a relative thing . In the eye of the beholder perhaps (IE the seller) in the eye of the buyer that could be a different thing . I’ve got one with a factory single trigger and don’t dislike it for that fact but I’d rather it had double triggers and had left the factory that way . I suspect the consensus answer will be actual factory single triggers are more rare but again the value one puts on that option is certainly a personal thing in my opinion .

[Foster Myers III]

Makes sense, and thank you for the input. I've never handled a single on a Parker, only Lefever. How does the barrel selection work if you do not mind me asking?

[Bruce Hering]

If its a single non selective trigger it will likely shoot the right barrel first (unless of course its been messed with).

If its selective you will see a selector slide next to the trigger..... (Parker installed, I think).

Someone will chime in soon with more info.

[Foster Myers III]

Thanks for taking the time to answer. A curious thing, the gun I am buying is a V grade, but from what I saw on some other posts, this was only an option on D grades and above. Looks like I may have some more questions to ask the seller Monday AM

[Mike Franzen]

Make sure you post some pics if you get it.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks for taking the time to answer. A curious thing, the gun I am buying is a V grade, but from what I saw on some other posts, this was only an option on D grades and above. Looks like I may have some more questions to ask the seller Monday AM


A factory single trigger was available on all grades of hammerless Parkers.





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[Foster Myers III]

Thanks For the clarification Dean. What are your thoughts on added value? Not looking to turn around and sell it, only curious.

[Mike Franzen]

Craig made the point above that it’s a relative thing. I know a guy who won’t buy a Parker with a single. For target guns I prefer them. So does it in crease or decrease the value? Depends on who’s buying.

[Dean Romig]

Like both Craig and Mike have said, it’s a matter of personal preference. Some like them and some don’t. Some might pay a premium while others wouldn’t even buy such a gun.

I own only one Parker with a single trigger but would be just as happy if it had double triggers because I have no problem shooting a double trigger gun. Some people have trouble with double triggers.



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[Ken Hill]

Single triggers are nice until they don't work. On a SxS, you need two triggers unless the barrels are choked the same. It took the industry a while to get STs perfected.

Ken

[Dave Noreen]

Up to thru the 1923 catalog the Parker Bros. Single Selective Trigger was only offered on the Quality DH and above.

95923

95924

The next catalog I have is 1927 and by then the Single Selective Trigger was offered on everything but the Trojan Grade. A very few Remington era Trojan Grades were made with the Single Selective Trigger.

Parker Bros. put the trigger in the right trigger slot and the selector in the left trigger slot.

95925

95926

A.H. Fox Gun Co. with their Fox-Kautzky Single Selective Trigger did it the other way round with the trigger in the left slot and the selector in the right.

95927

[Dean Romig]

The internal mechanisms for all Parker hammerless guns being the same within a given year or specific era, I wonder why it wasn’t available as an option for the grades 2, 1, 0 and the Trojan.





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[Foster Myers III]

Thank you to everyone for your valuable insight. I wonder if it was sent back to the factory later on as the serial # is linked to 1903.

[John Reed]

My Parker SST just recently started doubling on me in the middle of a tournament. I'm seriously considering having it switched over to double triggers for reliability.

[Mike Koneski]

I have two Parkers with a single selective trigger and both work exceptionally well. First one is my two barrel set 20g Trojan (straight stock, checkered butt) and the second is my VHE Live Bird gun. Both have the same location for the selector which is a lever in front of the single trigger. You move it left to select the left barrel first or right to select the right barrel first. The Trojan has a toggle type mechanism and the VHE has a lever. I had two professional double gunsmiths look at them and both said they are of the Miller style. Neither have "Miller" stamped on the trigger though and both letter as single trigger guns.
First two pics are the Trojan toggle, second two are the VHE lever.

[Dean Romig]

The Trojan letters as a single trigger gun?





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[Foster Myers III]

Mike, forgive my ignorance but do you have to select to the other barrel after the first shot or is it set to go to the other barrel after the first trigger pull?

[Mike Koneski]

The mechanism automatically changes to the second bbl.

[Mike Koneski]

The Trojan letters as a single trigger gun?





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Yes. The order book info was vague but I did get info from G&H records. The gun was ordered by a lawyer from NJ.

[CraigThompson]

Like both Craig and Mike have said, it’s a matter of personal preference. Some like them and some don’t. Some might pay a premium while others wouldn’t even buy such a gun.

I own only one Parker with a single trigger but would be just as happy if it had double triggers because I have no problem shooting a double trigger gun. Some people have trouble with double triggers.



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My single trigger is a little VHE 20 with open chokes . The rest of my SxS’s are all double trigger . In the past I could go shoot dove sporting or whatever carry a SxS with double triggers and a Superposed with a single trigger and never miss a beat switching back and forth . Since getting the little VHE single trigger I find myself sometimes trying to get my finger behind the trigger looking for a nonexistent second trigger . Now with all that being said I’m kinda in the market for a factory original VHE , GHE or DHE 12 with 32” barrels choked tight , vent rib and wide forend . But I’d be just as happy if I got the same basic configuration but with double triggers .

[Brian Dudley]

Yes. The order book info was vague but I did get info from G&H records. The gun was ordered by a lawyer from NJ.


I was not aware of that gun having documentation of the trigger being factory installed. It is a miller. And it is the cleanest miller trigger install internally that I had ever seen. Which meant it was not done by the miller brothers. I always figured it may have been by Lefever.

[Mike Koneski]

Brian, Dan looked at that Trojan too and said it looked like a Miller. The VHE also was single trigger in the order book. I find both triggers very interesting.

[Dave Noreen]

Those are new ones on me. All the MILLER single selective triggers I know look like this. Early style with the safety as the selector --

95952

95953

and the later style with the rocker switch --

95954

[J. Scott Hanes]

I really don't understand the supposed issue with a Parker single trigger. Many of the trap Parkers have a single trigger {I do not know if the SBT and a SxS are the same} and trap shotguns are going to be shot multiples of times more than hunting models. So why would the Parker Brothers put out an inferior trigger in a gun that was meant for more shooting in a season than most guns in a hunting situation be shot in their owner's lifetime?

[Brian Dudley]

I really don't understand the supposed issue with a Parker single trigger. Many of the trap Parkers have a single trigger {I do not know if the SBT and a SxS are the same} and trap shotguns are going to be shot multiples of times more than hunting models. So why would the Parker Brothers put out an inferior trigger in a gun that was meant for more shooting in a season than most guns in a hunting situation be shot in their owner's lifetime?

The trigger in an SBT is as simple of a deal as you can get. It is one half of the Double trigger setup.

The First Generation parker trigger for double guns was one that was invented by someone else and used under license by parker. It must have proven to be somewhat problematic over a short enough time because eventually James Hayes developed and implemented the Second generation design, which was of his own design. Some of the mechanics involving the selector are very similar to the first type. The inertia block is completely different.

The second generation trigger was very reliable overall as it was never changed. And it is the same design that was used in the Parker Reproductions. It is in no way a simple mechanism. But, really not many of them are. The Miller is about a simple as it gets, which is why they have kind of gotten the reputation of being the most reliable or "best" SST out there (that was used on vintage guns). But, after nearly 100 years anything can become problematic and unreliable.

I personally feel like a single trigger on a double gun is the absolutely dumbest thing going. They can be very complex mechanisms that are very problematic to repair and can be finicky at times to work correctly. Different loads or even different shooters can effect the performance of the trigger.
Most barrel selectors are simply unsafe, and except for use on targets, they likely are never actually used much. There is no better or quicker barrel selector than just moving your finger from one trigger to the other. period.

[Mike Koneski]

Brian, I agree 100% with your comment. I would never order a SST for a SxS. I’m a fan of double triggers. It is a fix for a non-existent problem. Only reason I have these two is because they work, the guns really fit well and I can shoot them well too.

[Foster Myers III]

Thanks to all who took the time to share their knowledge. Shipped out today from California. Delivery is on Monday (my father holds an FFL) I'll have my hands on it next weekend.

[Mark Britton]

IMO Two barrels Two triggers ! Not that I am against a single trigger ( I have both types of guns ) I like what works !