Is it a trap gun?
 

I recently acquired a DHE with 32" barels and am wondering if it was originally a trap gun (I got it for ducks) or if there is any way to tell. Gun has a very straight stock for the time, 14 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/4, ser #229740. Has two white beads that are not yellowed with age so might not be ivory, safety is non-automatic which someone may have changed? I am not sure if a non-automatic safety was an option. Gun appears all original with the exception of a new Silvers pad which may replace a deteriorated factory pad. Barrel blue and wood finish look original and pretty good for the guns age. Action has been cleaned and is silver but done well and engraving is very sharp and nice. Gun is tight as a new one. Would a letter tell me anything? I really like this one!
Thanks for any info.

Parker made a lot of guns for trapshooting. The straight stock (to make it shoot high) and double ivory beads suggest that yours was built for that. Parker did make guns marketed as Double Traps near the end of their operation that have a number of features such as single trigger, beaver tail forend, vent rib, ejectors etc. Trap shooting is an old game and many guns were built for it and some had more options than others. Generally speaking the over riding feature of a gun used for trap is the straight high shooting stock. A letter would tell you as much as is known about your gun.

Pictures of your gun would be welcome.

I just got it last night so will have to take some and post them.

Does it have a single trigger or vent rib? Sounds like a keeper.

As I recall, The Parker Story authors made their survey of double trap guns by including guns with 30 and 32 inch barrels, ventilated rib, beavertail forearm, and ejectors. The catalogued "Double Trap" was a later item than earlier guns that had the same features. However, I believe the authors examined records earlier than the catalog debut of the "Double Trap". Some double trap guns had features that differ from the features of the guns in the authors' survey. True trap guns ordered by competitive shooters occasionally have double triggers and solid ribs. Unfortunately, guns in the "Double Trap" era are seldom provenanced by original owner.

Does yours have a BTFE by chance? I do not think that Parker ever had an actual "Trap" gun. They just had "trap" features that could be ordered on normal guns. Things like long barrels, BTFE (or Trap forend) and Vent ribs are popular add ons for "trap" guns.

The above is the case for earlier guns, however I think I may have seen something about a buttplate that Parker put out that was marked with "trap" on some of the later guns. Is this the case?

Some info I left out. Gun is a 1 1/2 frame, solid rib I would call swamped or dished. Double triggers and splinter forend. When I put this gun to my shoulder it (at least for me) stacks the two white beads and shows some rib just about like my old M12 trap gun which has the MC stock and duckbill rib.
Can't wait to shoot it.
Will do pictures later on.

Sounds like a keeper for sure.

D

Brian, the "Trap Gun" buttplate was from the hammer gun era, not used in later guns. The "Trap Gun" of later times is shown in the 1937 Remington-Parker catalog. This is their actual trap gun with all the features, not just add ons. I am not sure if the "Trap Gun" was mentioned in earlier pocket catalogs. Mr. Clark's gun is a normal field style Parker missing the features of a double trap. With the straight stock, it could have easily been ordered by a trapshooter to shoot his game, either competitively or casually. It is in the serial number range when fully optioned trap guns were made.

[The above is the case for earlier guns, however I think I may have seen something about a buttplate that Parker put out that was marked with "trap" on some of the later guns. Is this the case?[/QUOTE]

Brian
The Trap butt plate was a creation for HD Folsom and was pre-1900 or thereabouts.
its in TPS and there was a PP article as well.
However, i have a Folsom that was SUPPOSED to have a trap butt plate according to the order book but in fact doesn't.
Go figure.

Does not sound like you have a purpose-built Parker trap gun. What you have is still very desirable because of the configuration. Long barrels and high comb, in D-grade. I'd be very happy to own that gun.

I knew I had seen a Parker trap buttplate somewhere.

This one may not have originally been purposed for trap, but it would make a nice one to use for trap now.

Also, wasn't the straight grip more of a popular Skeet feature?

Pictures of gun with trap features some.
 

Please enjoy some pics of my newly acquired 32" DHE I asked about. Not the best photos but not bad for a ham & egger.
No one has said if non-auto safeties were ever offered of did someone disable???
Would appreciate feedback.
Thanks,
-plc-

...and one more
 

last photo I took

Very Fine Gun! Something to be proud of for sure.

Non Auto Safeties sure could have been a factory option. If you said that it had a safety delete, then we could say for sure that it was intended to be used for trap or live bird.

A lot of people do prefer a non auto safety and it is very easily had by just removing the reset pushrod. The only way of telling if your non auto safety is factory would be to see if the records mention it ordered that way, or to take the action off the stock and see if there is a hole drilled where the rod once was.

That is if the stock is Original. I don't want to open a can of worms, but there are a few features that makes me wonder about it.

Who made the Quilt, It's a dandy as well super nice gun. The dogs and the border around them look's a little different? no

I'm no expert but the stock looks every bit of 84 years old and fits me well. I guess I could pull the trigger guard and look for numbers. I also know that the Mona Lisa could be faked these days. The gun came from a pretty reputable dealer, WL Moore and sons, who claimed original features except the new Silvers pad of course. Anyhow I like it. No worry on cans of worms.

calvin humburg;Who made the Quilt,

I noticed the quilt too Calvin and all the other examples of nice needlework... Your handiwork Peter?

It's a dandy as well super nice gun. The dogs and the border around them look's a little different?

The lack of the oval around the 'game scenes' on the sides of the frame are a bit unusual and are a nice touch. The engraving is typical of 1920's - early 1930's DH engraving and is often attributed to Frederick Anschutz

.

My wife made the quilt and dozens and dozens more. Also the pillows and about everything else in the picture. Unlike me, she has talent!

My wife, Kathy, is also very adept at needlework having made loads of quilts and such. Our daughters always had beautiful new hand-made dresses for every occasion while they were growing up, thanks to Kathy's talent.

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That's great Peter and Dean, Another great old school thing that is dissapearing sewing.

Thanks for the info Dean I like all dogs but the way Peter's are is neet. I'll have to right that down. I asked Bruce who did the dogs on his C hammergun they are wonderful he told who he believed did it and I didn't right it down I'll have to ask again It was a joy to hold that gun. Do you have any Idea who might of done a D '86 toplever? Do you need pictures?

Generally speaking we can only say who was chief engraver at the time a gun was made. Some had a recognizable style while other's style is relatively obscure.

I can see why you are proud of that gun, she's a real keeper with those 32" tubes with great wood and engraving. Be careful as 32" guns are the most addictive for me. I can't resist them. She'll make a great shooter.

I seem to remember looking at a DHE on Moore's website recently. I assume yours is that gun. Congratulations. Your wood looks absolutely original to me. Beautiful gun.

I agree about the 32 inch barrels. I absolutely love my guns with long tubes.
That is a beautiful DHE. Enjoy it.

What a great gun, you should be proud.

Could be Bill. It might even be still up on their site. Imust say my pictures are better than theirs however. They do have another DHE with shorter barrels and some colors left but I prefered the 32" gun. Also, it worked out for me as my friend from Phoenix, who is one of their regulars, was visiting me and hauled some Winchesters I never used for a swap. I feel good about the trade and Moores are great to work with. Dave Moore told me a couple of times he seriously considered keeping this gun for himself for ducks and target shooting.

I only floated the thought of the woods originality because the shape of the comb looks off and the definition/shape of the cheeks and drop points look too sharp. That was the justification behind my statement.

There is a fair amount of variation over the years of course, so these things are not concluding factors, but just a signal to look into things more.

That looks like the Parker Bros. "trap" comb. To my eye those stock cheeks and drop-points look right for a gun of that era. Great gun. I'd be happy to shoot it.