Early Trap Guns

[Bill Murphy]

I don't think they knew except for the names on the correspondence. Maybe one of "us" contacted these people, but I did not.

[Albert Horn]

need information!!! I have 12 ga 29 1/2" barrel hammer Parker Bros shotgun #38385 with dove butt plate marked "Parker Trap Gun" any help will be appreciated. Albert Horn
sawdust73@hotmail.com

[Bindlestiff]

In another threads on our Parker forum, there is mention of “Trap butt plates” being on guns ordered by H. D. Folsom. From the discussion there, it would appear that for some reason or another, Folsom made a cast of Parker’s dog’s head butt plate and added the word “Trap” below the dog’s head. They then gave that mold to Parker Bros. so Parker could add this “Trap butt” to guns ordered by Folsom. The question arises, “Why would they want a special Trap butt plate on their Parker gun orders?”


H. D. Folsom was located at 314 Broadway in New York City and they held a majority of stock in Crescent Fire Arms Co. of Norwich Connecticut. Folsom also distributed Birmingham and Belgian made firearms under many trade names from 1890 until about 1932; including some marked C. Parker, W. Richards and T. Barker. In 1930, Stevens Arms announced the purchase from H&D Folsom Arms Company and the assets of Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich, Connecticut. The assets of Crescent were to be merged with those of Davis-Warner Arms Corporation and that the newly formed firm would be known as The Crescent-Davis Arms Corporation. Then, in 1954 Folsom was purchased by Universal Tackle and Sporting Goods Co.


H. D. Folsom sold guns under many trade names. I started to list the trade names but the list was too long. Suffice it to say, there were a lot of trade names used by Folsom.

[Jeff K.]

I have seen a similar butt plate for a LC Smith. I have never checked to see if it was also from Folsom. Perhaps someone else knows.
Jeff

[Drew Hause]

The Smith buttplate is commonly found on c. 1890-1910 0 to No. 2 grade guns. No "Trap Gun" was advertised in the pre-1913 catalogs, and the buttplate was likely a marketing tool to promote Smith guns for the increasingly popular sport of trap shooting, and tied into the new Pigeon Gun which was introduced in 1894 (though the first run was completed in May 1893.) See http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfg2hmx7_343dn6phncv

The Trap GRADE gun was introduced in 1913



LOTS about Folsom, and the Parker Trap Gun they marketed with a different buttplate, here
http://docs.google.com/document/pub?...hfguSXXQ&pli=1

And another after-market plate that is not uncommon

[Albert Horn]

under #38385 is patd Mar 16 1875--above that patd Apr 11 1876-Sept 3 1872--on the barrel patd June 25 1878 & patd Apr 11 1876--forearm patd Mar 26 1878--under barrel patd Mar23 1875. This gun is in good condition except inside the barrel has some pitting. Barrel has markings--circle with a T inside--a "J"--ST-6 and a large 1 on bottom of barrel. All serial numbers of #38385 match. Parker Bros on both sides of this gun. "Parker Trap Gun" on butt plate with a pigeon flying. I would like to know the value.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Drew,

I have a LC Smith Syracuse made Quality 2 in 10 gauge that has that Trap Gun butt plate. It may have replaced the original on this 1887 Smith. What do you think?

Respectfully,
Mark

[Drew Hause]

Could be the earliest Mark. Unfortunately, I've not seen the 'Trap Gun' buttplate in Hunter Arms catalogs or advertisments, so it's hard to date.

The 1888 Syrascuse L.C. smith catalog had a testimonial dated May 27, 1887 from Elkhart, Ill. Dear Sir: "I have tested the two Hammerless guns that you made to my order and find them equal to any gun I have ever shot or examined. I think the fastening superior in construction to that of any gun that I have ever examined and it is my judgment that your guns will not become loose and shaky by hard usage. The guns hand and balance equal to any foreign gun that I am familiar with. Workmanship also good."
Yours Respectfully, CAPT A.H. BOGARDUS Champion Wing Shot of the World.

Harvey McMurchy left Cinncinnati for Syracuse in 1886, so it's likely Hunter Arms was promoting trap shooting as early as 1887.

[Jeff K.]

Thanks Drew. Great info.
Jeff

[Dean Romig]

Albert, could that "circle with a T inside" actually be a T with a 'half-circle' over it and a 'half-circle' beneath it? The "circle with a T inside" was actually the stamping of Titanic Steel (fluid steel) barrels which were produced from 1897 onward.