To say Randy has an extensive collection of trap artifacts would be an understatement.

I would love to see some more pictures of that 97.

Mine looks exactly like your third picture(your first post) and has more of the original black finish. Thanks for posting the pictures! Have you any idea what the value might be?

Remington experimented with a metal reusable target in the mid to late 1970's at Lordship Gun Club in CT. It never got legs. I have an example somewhere in the "stuff" but can't put my hands on it right now. If I find it I will post a photo.

It had a round metal domed body with a "wing" attached that allowed it to be launched at a good rotational speed. When hit with a shot string, the wing and dome would separate to score a hit. Then the pieces could be reassembled to use again. Lots of labor involved that likely overcame the target cost-savings. The current day, Helice targets are very similar but are launched at much higher velocity than what was available in the late 70's.

They called it Pro Pigeon.

I'm not a collector, per se, but having shot both Helice and pigeon matches I talked a match promoter out of a Helice bird. Anything as tough to put down inside the ring as they are deserved a spot hanging in my shop. IMO Helice is much tougher to go straight on, than flyers.

Interesting thread.