A lot of Parkers that were never intended to be used as "live bird" guns were ordered without a safety. Guns that were used as upland guns, of all gauges from 10 or 12 gauge and down that were only closed to battery when walking in over the dogs are examples. Some were waterfowl guns intended to be shot from a blind or duck boat at passing or decoying fowl.
Yes, these are live birds but not the birds that "live birds" that the term indicates. Those "live birds" are the ones that were used in the original form of 'trap' shooting. Even some shooters of inanimate objects (trap shooting after live bird shooting was too expensive or controversial) ordered guns without a safety.
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"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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