VHE Trap

[J.B. Books]

One of the features Mark noted for my gun that was ordered in "Trap Configuration" was 2 5/8" chambers were specified. This was my first research letter where chamber length was mentioned. Again the gun is from 1928. I am guessing that 2 3/4" 12ga was available at that time but had not become standard and the person ordering the gun wanted shorter chambers for performance reasons or planned to shoot 2 5/8" loads.

Chamber length for awhile was another variable for "trap" guns or so it appears.

[Bill Murphy]

A 1928 12 gauge gun with 2 5/8" chambers was not likely to have been chambered that way to shoot 2 5/8" shells.

[Austin W Hogan]

Bill; did you consider that there may have been competition shooters that preferred a lighter load?

Best, Austin

[Mark Conrad]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

One of the features Mark noted for my gun that was ordered in "Trap Configuration" was 2 5/8" chambers were specified. This was my first research letter where chamber length was mentioned. Again the gun is from 1928. I am guessing that 2 3/4" 12ga was available at that time but had not become standard and the person ordering the gun wanted shorter chambers for performance reasons or planned to shoot 2 5/8" loads.

Chamber length for awhile was another variable for "trap" guns or so it appears.

Pete, Bill is right on the 2 5/8 inch chambers. Most 12 ga. guns built in that time period had 2 5/8 inch chambers. It was written in the stock book so I put it in the letter. Most of the 12 ga. guns on that stock book page had the same thing. The Trap Configuration was written in the stock book which is unusal. In fact, I don't recall seeing it on another gun. I am not really sure what they meant by that comment. It could have been a full comb or something else. There are plenty of double traps in the stock books that don't have the trap configuration comment.

Mark

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Mark Conrad

The Trap Configuration was written in the stock book which is unusal. In fact, I don't recall seeing it on another gun. I am not really sure what they meant by that comment. It could have been a full comb or something else. There are plenty of double traps in the stock books that don't have the trap configuration comment.

Mark

Mark, I find some of the frustration and mystique is what we don't/can't know vs what we do know. I remember you telling me my VH with the annotation "Trap Configuration" was unusual. I don't know what was meant by Trap Configuration but believe it has to be related to the abnormally large comb (pic of it next another 1 1/2 frame 30" VH attached). It's stock dimensions, 30" barrels, tight chokes and double ivory beads make well suited for trap shooting but the stock seems unusual to me. I have no provenance to a trap shooter but I have a letter with information that suggests this gun was to be used on the trap field.

[Bill Murphy]

Richard, Ed Mellman of Cozad certainly has trap provenance. Don't worry about the spelling of his name. Parker Brothers and ATA could both have spelled his name wrong. In one year he shot, he had a 92.42 average, a pretty hefty average for his time. What year was the DHE built? I wonder if he'll let us hunt on his property?

[Autumn Daze]

Bill,I know I asked you this before but you never replied. Do your records have anything on HH Ganson?

[Blind Dog]

Here's a couple of "Trap" guns. Top is DHE #236734; non auto safety, VR, SST, BTFE, 30" BBls; DAC is 1/16" more than DAH. Below is VHE #190872; no safety, SST, 32" bbls; fat comb. Both are 20ga. Was there a sub guage class in Trap?