Let us see some Folsom ordered trap guns

[Bill Zachow]

For everyones' information, especially the private messengers, (I am lousy about returning messages) I note that the above "factory letter" does not detail out the "trap gun butt". Since Mr. Conrad had the order book and order, I would think that specific information was most critical to the documentation of these guns. As I mentioned earlier, order number 14744, covering 69 trap guns and 60 "not trap" clearly identifies which is which in the first column of the order. Until our researcher can further clarify this point, I will continue to think that Folsom, using the dies purchased in order 14744, made the buttplates themselves and fit them to non specific Parker guns, as needed.

[Pa SxS]

I've looked at both orders 14744 and 15464.

As Bill Zachow states, 14744 was a very large order from Folsom Arms on March 9, 1882. On the first page of the order in the left hand column, it says "Top Action, Ext Rib". 1882 was about the time the top action was introduced. On the first page, the entire order was 4 1/2 pages and each page had about 40 guns on it, near the bottom is a bracket in the left hand column saying "Trap Gun Butt." These Trap Gun Butt guns continued on the next page and ended on the third page about 2/3 of the way down the page. The rest of the page and the 4th page had "Not Trap" indicating standard butts. At the end of the order, after the last gun listed, it says: (2) Rubber dies $50.00. It also says, if I read it correctly "Deliv in July & later". Remember these guns were ordered in March but most were not shipped until late in 1882 and in some cases delivered in the spring of 1883.

Order # 15464 was a full 1 page order (about 40 guns) placed on May 29, 1882. This order also said "Top Act, Ext Rib" in the left hand column and also listed a large group of guns as "Trap Gun Butts." There is no indication of rubber dies being ordered.

There is nothing in the Stock Book indicating the guns were for Folsom.