I am sure that this and most all guns without safeties MAY have been used for shooting pigeons in a ring. Chances are however that more likely they were not. We see 20 gauge Parkers without safetys claimed to be "Live Bird Guns". Were those built for the pigeon ring or a Texas dove field?
It is more likely that a long barreled SxS side built without a safety was a completion gun for trap than for pigeons. There were certainly more clay pigeon shooters than live pigeon shooters.
Also, remember when seat belts in cars came about? How many people refused to were them? Heck, some still do not wear them and get fined for not wearing them despite the documented controlled test results and empirical evidence from traffic accident survivors in favor of the good the belts provide.
Some of those old shooters might have hated safeties as much as I hate a car that locks it doors automatically! A hundred years ago I would have been the type of SOB who ordered a gun without a safety just as I would NEVER buy a car or truck that locked its doors automatically!
Sorry to bring logic and my personal lack thereof into this discussion,
Mark
__________________
Don't hunt with a gun that will embarrass your dog!
USMC Retired
USMC Distinguished Marksman
USMC Distinguished Pistol Shot
NRA Benefactor - Ring of Freedom member
Last edited by Mark Ouellette; 01-11-2015 at 11:22 AM..
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