Sounds like those might be considered "plantation Quail guns" where the shooters road horseback with the empty gun carried in a scabbard and only loaded when the shooter dismounted and walked in for the flush.

The V grade I have was on an O frame and weighed 6 lb-12 oz when it left the factory. One would think a target gun would have been on a heavier frame
for the most part, seems a logical assumption. Gun still weighs the same today.

sounds like a hell of a Dove pass shooting gun!

I will admit, when I am on a Dove stand, and by myself (well just Hobbs and I) I frequently have the gun off safety. Hobbs has a habit that I cannot break, that when he hears the safety click off, he looks around feverously for the incoming bird. Just that little motion frequently sends Mr. Gray Feathers darting in another direction!

[QUOTE=Mark Ray;255590]sounds like a hell of a Dove pass shooting gun!

Yeah, it will be when I get it back. Right now it is in the capable hands of Mr. Dudley for a resto.

Frank makes a great point about live bird shooting being a two shot game, however, Bruce Canfield talks about in his book, in his part of Pennsylvania, it was sometimes a one shot game depending on which local rules were being used. I disremember who I lent my book to, or I’d look it up for more detail.

Often in non sanctioned shoots, the rules are a little relaxed. It is true that in TAPA or similar shoots two shots are required. I have always made it a practice to do my very best to center punch the bird twice, even if I put a wad up its keester just over the wire.

Many years ago, during a 30 shooter "miss and out", with a healthy buy in, and very healthy buy backs, came down to myself and two other shooters that were older, and better, than me. One of the guys was a internationally ranked TAPA shot, and made the suggestion that we call it quits, and split three ways. The third guy refused, so up to the line we went. I was first and killed my bird, and so did the next guy. The guy that didn't split, practically skinned his bird right over the wire, and immediately toggled the lever on his P. gun Mirage, just as that pigeon used every last feather he still owned to do the "dead Rooster Glide" out of the ring. Shooter number three, and a known hothead, closed the gun, jammed the barrels in the sand and pulled the trigger, walked over the barrel for empties and slammed the gun in the barrel nose first and HARD, uttering the name of a DIETY in vain.....stormed off to his pickup and left!

We split the pot in two......

What makes a Live Bird gun?
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=24472

1st year production Flues SBT with a safety courtesy of Randy Davis

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../413853788.jpg

A number of shoots in PA. had single barrel events. You did'nt have to shoot a single barrel gun but just load one shell in your SxS for a single shot at the bird. If you were shooting a two barrel event, full use of the gun was required.

What makes a gun a “Live Bird Gun” is if it was used for competitive live pigeon shooting when new. Period.

Beyond knowing the history of a gun and its original use, the titling of “live bird gun” is based solely on commonly found features on actual live bird guns.

One could argue that the term is more used today as a sales tactic to try and evoke a mystique or rarity to the gun being sold. Not much different than the term “minty”.

On the two shot thing, in my 30 some years of pigeon shooting I can tell you this. No matter what the rules, it's totally stupid to not shoot every bird twice, even if it's in multiple pieces. Shoot the biggest piece!
That said, at the last bird, you MUST shoot the second shot to render the gun empty before leaving the line.
No where on the planet are you less likely to see an accidental discharge, than at a properly run shoot.