Thoughts on Shields and Ovals

[WmRike]

I have a 1929 Smith Crown grade double trap with an engraved oval in the grip cap. First, it can sometimes be near to impossible to decipher the scroll. Second, I have to assume the gun was used by a fairly serious trapshooter and would have been an ATA member. I have searched the Average Books and found no matches. I cannot describe my frustration on that point. Third, I still think engraved ovals and shields are fascinating, and it shows that someone took pride in their gun. On this last point, do any of you think that maybe the personalized guns are, today, in better shape than the non-engraved?

[edgarspencer]

I have an 1898 Titanic barreled CH that belonged to a Canadian Trap shooter named Robert Montgomery. He won the silver medal in the 1923 Paris Olympics, though I have nothing to indicate it was won with this gun.
It has two shields, one on the toe line with his initials, and another silver one at the rear of the comb. This unusual shield is documented in the PGCA letter.