Is it a trap gun?

[J.B. Books]

Parker made a lot of guns for trapshooting. The straight stock (to make it shoot high) and double ivory beads suggest that yours was built for that. Parker did make guns marketed as Double Traps near the end of their operation that have a number of features such as single trigger, beaver tail forend, vent rib, ejectors etc. Trap shooting is an old game and many guns were built for it and some had more options than others. Generally speaking the over riding feature of a gun used for trap is the straight high shooting stock. A letter would tell you as much as is known about your gun.

Pictures of your gun would be welcome.

[Duckman]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

Parker made a lot of guns for trapshooting. The straight stock (to make it shoot high) and double ivory beads suggest that yours was built for that. Parker did make guns marketed as Double Traps near the end of their operation that have a number of features such as single trigger, beaver tail forend, vent rib, ejectors etc. Trap shooting is an old game and many guns were built for it and some had more options than others. Generally speaking the over riding feature of a gun used for trap is the straight high shooting stock. A letter would tell you as much as is known about your gun.

Pictures of your gun would be welcome.

I just got it last night so will have to take some and post them.

[Bill Murphy]

As I recall, The Parker Story authors made their survey of double trap guns by including guns with 30 and 32 inch barrels, ventilated rib, beavertail forearm, and ejectors. The catalogued "Double Trap" was a later item than earlier guns that had the same features. However, I believe the authors examined records earlier than the catalog debut of the "Double Trap". Some double trap guns had features that differ from the features of the guns in the authors' survey. True trap guns ordered by competitive shooters occasionally have double triggers and solid ribs. Unfortunately, guns in the "Double Trap" era are seldom provenanced by original owner.