Update From the Grand American

[John Davis]

I've been here at the Grand since last Wednesday and my scores have been all over the place. Some good, some bad. But yesterday Parker SBT, serial no. 187630, came through for me. The old girl took Veteran Runner-up in the Blaser Handicap event with a 97x100 (25/25/24/23), followed by another 25 straight in the shoot off. She also picked up a one yard punch, putting us now at the back fence on the 27 yard line. Not bad for 105 years old, with a face lift.

[John Dunkle]

Outstanding and CONGRATS John!!! Keep those updates coming - and try to keep them on the "good news" side of things ;)

:cheers:

John D.

[Mike Franzen]

The saga continues! Keep making Parker history.

[Daryl Corona]

A future "Parkers in Pulp" inductee in the making.:bowdown::)

[Bill Murphy]

Congratulations, John. I assume the first place finisher in the Blaser Handicap was shooting a Model 97 Winchester Trap.

[John Davis]

Doubtful.

[CraigThompson]

Congratulations Mr.Davis !!!!’

[CraigThompson]

John was that the gun you showed us in Winchester VA ?

[John Davis]

It is the SAA upgrade. 34 inch barrel, extra full choke.

[Stan Hoover]

Very Nice John,

Great shooting, takes more focus than I believe I could muster!!

One of these years I will make it out there to take it all in.

[Garry L Gordon]

I marvel at your ability to handle your Parkers. Continued good shooting!

[Reggie Bishop]

John that is outstanding! Way to represent!

[bob lyons]

John
Hard for me to imagine shooting that well as I’m still trying for a 25.
But I’m thinking that all those trap shooters will be buying up all the Parker trap guns that come to market. Glad I was able to get one before the market goes crazy.
Great job!
Bob

[CraigThompson]

Very Nice John,

Great shooting, takes more focus than I believe I could muster!!

One of these years I will make it out there to take it all in.

You and I both should’ve gone when it was at Vandalia .

[CraigThompson]

John how’s your young college aged friend from GA doing at the Grand so far ?

[CraigThompson]

John
Hard for me to imagine shooting that well as I’m still trying for a 25.

Great job!
Bob

The 25’s will start coming then you’ll want 50’s then 75’s then 100’s it’s a vicious cycle !

[John Davis]

Killing it!

[J. Scott Hanes]

It would take some digging, but you may be the FIRST shooter ever to make it to the 27 yard line shooting a Parker exclusively! The 27 did not come into existence until the late 50’s or 60’s so most of the shooters by then were shooting other guns. It would be a good research project for sure. Some of the greats of the 40’s may have achieved the 27 but not likely many. Surely you must be the first in 60 years. Way to go!

[CraigThompson]

It would take some digging, but you may be the FIRST shooter ever to make it to the 27 yard line shooting a Parker exclusively! The 27 did not come into existence until the late 50’s or 60’s so most of the shooters by then were shooting other guns. It would be a good research project for sure. Some of the greats of the 40’s may have achieved the 27 but not likely many. Surely you must be the first in 60 years. Way to go!

Franzen , sounds like a research job for you :whistle:

[Mike Koneski]

Well done John! Bring home the BLING!

[John Davis]

I’m trying but bling is hard to come by at the Grand.

[Randy G Roberts]

I’m trying but bling is hard to come by at the Grand.

Good Luck John !! On a side note it has been my experience that "Bling" is hard to come by anywhere :rotf:

[Drew Hause]

Merle Stockdale was placed at 27 yards in February 1955. The first 5 to reach the new 27 yd max were; Merle Stockdale (IA), Arnold Riegger (WA), Dan Orlich (NV), Maynard Henry (CA) and Evelyn Primm (CA), all making it to the 27 by April 16, 1955.
https://www.americantrapshooter.com/threads/27-yard-line.3537/

But 27 yard scores did not appear in the Average Book until 1956.

Nice documentation of guns used by GAH winners, but not their yardage
https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/list-of-shotguns-used-by-trap-winners.256401/

I believe the last Parker was Walter Tulbert who won in 1941

[John Davis]

I figured Dr. Hause would have the answer.

[Drew Hause]

I'm just a librarian John.
Well done brother.

[William Woods]

Congratulations Mr. Davis.

[CraigThompson]

Good Luck John !! On a side note it has been my experience that "Bling" is hard to come by anywhere :rotf:

Says the guy who left Rock Mountain loaded down with bling :whistle:

[CraigThompson]

Merle Stockdale was placed at 27 yards in February 1955. The first 5 to reach the new 27 yd max were; Merle Stockdale (IA), Arnold Riegger (WA), Dan Orlich (NV), Maynard Henry (CA) and Evelyn Primm (CA), all making it to the 27 by April 16, 1955.
https://www.americantrapshooter.com/threads/27-yard-line.3537/

But 27 yard scores did not appear in the Average Book until 1956.

Nice documentation of guns used by GAH winners, but not their yardage
https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/list-of-shotguns-used-by-trap-winners.256401/

I believe the last Parker was Walter Tulbert who won in 1941

Was Orlich shooting a Ljutic then ?

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Way to go! John you are a insperation to all of us would be trap shooters! Gary

[Drew Hause]

A Tribute to Al Ljutic, a legend in our sport of trapshooting, from Dan Orlich

Al and I first met in the early 1950's. He was the assistant gun club manager at Harolds Gun Club in Reno, Nv. working with manager and trapshooting great, Phil Miller. Al was young, brash, hard headed, outspoken, AND brilliant! He had no equal in a machine shop; always thinking, experimenting, inventing new things, and never satisfied.....until one day in 1960, he had what he thought was the perfect, single barrel trap gun (aptly named the Ljutic mono gun). All he needed now, as he put it, "was someone to shoot the damn thing." I had done some good shooting in the 50's so he came to me and asked if I would give it a try. In addition to the other "adjectives" I ascribed to him, he was very persuasive, so try I did! After 6 months I told him I would like to continue shooting it, but only on one condition...that he put a "BIG" serial #1 on it. He did, and the rest is history.

He used a pump prior to the Ljutic and it has been reported to have been a Model 31
Prior to shooting Ljutic Bi Gun #1 for doubles he used a Model 32

[Chuck Bishop]

Congratulations John. Quite an accomplishment.

[John Davis]

Flying the colors.

[Daryl Corona]

Way to go John.:bowdown

[Buddy Marson]

John,
Great work. I am so excited for you!

Buddy

[Mike Franzen]

Franzen , sounds like a research job for you :whistle:

From what research I’ve done there is very little information about the make and model of the guns. But I’ll look deeper.

[Brett Farley]

CONGRATS John! Outstanding!!

[John Davis]

My run at this year’s Grand is over and I’m headed home. I finished up yesterday with a 99x100 in the Champion of Champions event, which wasn’t good enough to keep me in the carry over for ties in today’s singles event. There were 5 other State Champions who ran them. I’ve had a great run and figured I’d quit while I was ahead. Besides, I’ve been away from the farm long enough and the crops need tending.

As a final word, any of you out there who might be shy about competing with your Parker (or other favorite vintage trap gun) in an ATA registered target event, don’t be. They will crush just as many targets as any modern space gun out there, as long as you do your part. Remember, there is no substitute for practice.

[Garry L Gordon]

Hard to believe that a 99 wouldn't be enough. That's rarified air.

Congratulations on a great performance.

[CraigThompson]

Hard to believe that a 99 wouldn't be enough. That's rarified air.

Congratulations on a great performance.

Most ATA or NSSA 100 bird Champ of Champ events take a 100 to get into the actual race (the shoot offs).

[John Davis]

If I had been shooting in the Veteran category, I would have been in the carryover.

[Mike Franzen]

Great shooting! You make us all proud!

[Randy Davis]

Orlich was shooting a Model 12... He started shooting the Ljutic Mono Serial #1 around 1960...

[Drew Hause]

This is the only image I've found of Orlich and his pump; unfortunately low resolution. Joe Hiestand on his left. Randy will know who is on his right - I don't think it's George Snellenberger

https://photos.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/Trap/i-Bxt29gT/0/KbBfVxtPjQtgZPZvvjdtDHchfW5DFKV3KkKsHKFrX/M/Dan%20Orlich%2C%20Joe%20Hiestand-M.png (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Trap-Skeet/Trap/i-Bxt29gT/A)

[Chuck Bishop]

George Newmaster?