[Autumn Daze]

Gentlemen,This is a great discussion.We know that prior to the introduction of the single trigger(first offered in the 1922 catalog)the vent rib on double guns(1923)the trap forend(catalog offering1926)Parker produced many guns that were used at the traps.

In the hammergun era there were non of these options available so I would think that a gun with provenance to a trap shooter play's an even bigger part in determining a "Trap" gun.In that era Parker equipped guns with the Trap buttplate to promote sales of trap guns but in many cases other than that the gun was a standard gun.

Austin has mentioned and we have read in the Parker Pages,The Parker Story" and sporting advertsing of the era that many noted trap shooters used "off the shelf" guns to great success while others had guns"built" for their needs.

To my mind we have determined that 1) Many Parkers both hammer and hammerless were used at the traps by novices and professionals alike.Some were field guns some not.2) That prior to the introduction of trap gun options the use of a Parker Gun at the traps provenance plays a large roll in determining weather the gun was a trap gun or a gun used at both the traps and in the field.3)With the coming of the 1920's Parker advertising decided to cash in on the continued popularity of the sport and introduced "Trap Model" guns.I am sure industry pressure had alot to do with this and with that came the opportunity to upgrade some guns as repair work.

That is not to say that trap guns were not used in the field or duck blind just as today when we see skeet guns on the sporting clay's courses.

Wheeeww...