ok - educate me - why would that be true? there is no mechanical connect that I know of

Rick, The ends of the shell ejectors ride in a channel on the rib extention. That is why you see the screw head on the end of the dolls head rib extention on ejector guns.

But many live bird/competition guns were ordered as extractor guns. So I hold true to my original statement that the buyers didn't want the dolls head in the way.

The ejectors ride in slot cut into the underside of the doll's head and stop against a stop plate mortised into the end of the doll's head.

I just said that...As an aside. Have you ever extracted shells from an extractor gun without a dolls head? It is much easier without that infernal contraption in the way....:)

Thanks very much Drew. On page 67, my gun is mentioned exactly as it is in the research letter. Really cool.

Interesting that old time live bird shooters would order Parker Bros. doubles without a rib extension. Certainly couldn't do that with an L.C. Smith or Lefever, and I've never seen a Remington hammerless without a rib extension. A "third bite" was often a feature of English Pigeon Guns.

The third bite in British guns is not on the breech face and is not in the way of shell extraction. All "no doll's head" Parker pigeon guns are extractor guns for the reason explained by Dave Suponski.

Daryl, please explain "my gun" and "page 67". Do you own one of the guns previously owned by a famous shooter? Which shooter, which gun?

Bill, see post #17 on this thread. Click on Drew's link on post #28 and scroll down to page 67 where WR Crosby is discussed.

I guess I don't understand why speed of loading is even a consideration in shooting either trap or live birds. Can someone explain this to me?