Fred Gilbert's Parkers

[Drew Hause]

We've had previous threads, and articles in Parker Pages, regarding Fred Gilbert but many of the links are now inoperative and images lost when Picture Trail ceased operation.

“The Wizard of Spirit Lake” started with a Smith. After winning the First Grand DuPont Live Bird Championship, he was appointed representative of the DuPont Company, with the entire United States as his territory. He briefly traveled for Lefever, shooting one of the company’s doubles, before switching back to a L.C. Smith. Orders for Live Bird guns poured into Hunter Arms with the “Fred Gilbert Specifications”: drop at comb of 1 3/8 inches; at the heel, 2 inches; length from trigger to heel, 14 1/4 inches; trigger to toe 14 1/2 inches; and trigger to center of butt 14 inches; with a full pistol grip and 30-inch full choke barrels.

After the 1899 GAH he switched to a Parker
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/43586

Order Book No. 41 records BH SN 83855 placed into stock in Jan., 1896 consigned to Fred Gilbert. The stock book lists a D5 hammerless, 0 extras, Straight Stock, 12 gauge, 30" barrels, Damascus barrels.

November 23, 1901, The Sportsmen’s Review, in an article written by “Gaucho” (Captain A.W. duBray, Parker Brothers shooting professional & traveling salesman from 1884 to 1926) entitled, “A Few Remarks on Some Celebrated Guns,” du Bray lists some prominent shooters and Gilbert was reported to be using a Parker with 30” barrels; 1 3/8” DAC; 2” DAH; 14 1/4” LOP with a Pistol Grip (which appears to be his Smith; his BH had a straight stock).

Toward the end of 1901, Gilbert received his new Parker DH SN 103649; no dolls head, no ejectors, 32” barrels, ordered by Russell Klein, Gilbert’s brother-in-law
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/41367

I stumbled upon this article in in Okoboji Magazine which included 2 of the best images I've seen of Fred and his Parker
https://www.nwestiowa.com/okoboji_magazine/big-shot/article_68739bf0-d8a1-11e9-ae32-4f717c974ed7.html

The first is undated image but likely the 32" barrel DH

https://photos.smugmug.com/Shooters/Trapshooting/i-d6nbswc/0/af5599f4/XL/Fred%20Gilbert-XL.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Shooters/Trapshooting/i-d6nbswc/A)

1903 with some of his trophies; wearing a hand guard and a recoil pad.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Shooters/Trapshooting/i-nf8JNrm/0/51cea35d/X2/Gilbert%20trophies%201903-X2.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Shooters/Trapshooting/i-nf8JNrm/A)

Gilbert at the 1904 GAH and he's gained some weight

https://photos.smugmug.com/Shooters/Trapshooting/i-JktbqRV/0/872d0e2d/L/G%2016%20Fred%20Gilbert-L.jpg (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Shooters/Trapshooting/i-JktbqRV/A)

[Garry L Gordon]

Great information. I have a 1904 Parker calendar featuring "Dood" and other prominent Parker shooters, and have often wondered about the man. We drive by Spirit Lake on our way to Minnesota often. I think I'll stop at the Park after reading this.

Thanks for (re-)posting this. Does someone still have the gun?

[Drew Hause]

Garry: the next time you are by Spirit Lake could you please check out the library? It has been reported that Fred's Smith and some of his trophies are on display there. I contacted the library and the Dickinson County Museum and they did not reply.

[Garry L Gordon]

I will most certainly plan to visit the library! Sounds like it could be a great excuse for a road trip.

[Drew Hause]

Thank you Garry. And if there is indeed a display, please take pics!

[Garry L Gordon]

Will do! I’ve already started working on Elaine about a new summer road trip.:)

[Mills Morrison]

I have one of Gilbert's SBT's.

Any others known to be out there?

[Drew Hause]

Yours does not have the grooved FE Mills?

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)

[Mills Morrison]

It does not and it has a pistol grip. It is not the same gun as pictured above. I have seen that ad mentioning Gilbert and the same gun and ad, but without reference to Gilbert.

[Drew Hause]

Yep, 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)

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]

That is what I meant. Big question is whether the gun pictured in the ad is the one Gilbert used in his famous run

[John Davis]

It would be most interesting to know if there ever was a Parker SBT with that "grooved" forearm. I've yet to see one and am doubtful. I'm more inclined to believe that it is an artist's poor rendition.

[Jeff Christie]

I shot trap yesterday in Spirit Lake- with a SC. There’s also a Johnny Jahn and Bob Allen park as well in Spirit. Three SCs and several other Parker’s have been known to frequent the range but not as often as the SCs. Heritage.

[Mills Morrison]

It would be most interesting to know if there ever was a Parker SBT with that "grooved" forearm. I've yet to see one and am doubtful. I'm more inclined to believe that it is an artist's poor rendition.


We have discussed that fore end before and no one has seen one. Not to mention a bunch of SBT's have been on the market the last few years and none have had that style fore end. Still anything can happen in Parker world, as we know

[Bill Murphy]

Fred Gilbert's #103649 went back to Parker Brothers for repair, order book #59, page 190, 1902. This came from my notes on the Ilion trip in 1998.