Parker Double Trap.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by David Holes

I'm curious when the game of trap doubles originated. Assuming it was later then the game of trap itself. Any idea on the date of trap doubles.

The only thing I could find quickly was the first recorded 100 straight in Trap Doubles was shot in 1926.

[Bill Murphy]

In the big, big, trapshooting state of Pennsylvania, in 1937, 494 shooters shot singles and handicap. 107 shot doubles. I mean 107 people shot at least one pair of doubles. Most doubles shooters shot 100 to 300 birds. The high volume double shooter in the state shot a Model 12. I know this because I own his gun. He shot 1450 doubles birds. Hardly anyone else shot anywhere near that many birds. Doubles was not and is not a big game in ATA. No one bought a new Parker in 1937 to shoot doubles. They bought them because they were neat guns and had a choke for 16 yards and a choke for handicap. And they could shoot doubles with them, but that was not their primary purpose. Parkers with high stocks, single triggers, and beavertails, and long barrels made in 1929 are absolutely identical to guns made to catalog specs as trap guns in 1937. The 1937 catalog entry is an advertising thing by Remington, not a new gun.

[Frank Allegra]

Again, thanks to all for posting. My initial posting was just a question based on a section in Larry Baer's book "The Parker Gun" . I now see the problem about posting about the Double Trap. I believe that the authors was referring to a Parker Double with 32" vent ribbed barrel, BTFE, selective trigger and recoil pad which was called the double trap. He did say that because of the late production of this type of gun, it was assumed to be one of the rarest. In another section he also did say that he thought the skeet grade marked skeet/in skeet/out to possibly be more rare that the trap. Very confusing to someone like myself that has always liked doubles but has more recently been drawn to Parkers.

To continue to the other part of my question....how rare would it be to see a 32" double with vent ribbed barrel, BTFE, and all the other features of the trap guns in a gauge other that 12 gauge.

I'm going to be looking at a supposedly mentioned trap gun with the above features but in 16 gauge and need some input from the experts.

[Autumn Daze]

Frank, According to TPS there were 206 guns made that match the double trap description.Believe it or not most of them were D grade guns

[CSL]

Originally Posted by Frank Allegra

Again, thanks to all for posting.
To continue to the other part of my question....how rare would it be to see a 32" double with vent ribbed barrel, BTFE, and all the other features of the trap guns in a gauge other that 12 gauge.

________________________

Frank,
There were a number of companies back in the day that did conversions and upgrades adding BT forearms, after market vent ribs, and single triggers to make a Parker more resemble an original "Trap Configured" gun...

The degree of rarity based on the gun you have asked about (a small bore "Trap Configured" Parker) would depend greatly on condition and whether it was equipped with all original Parker options, or, after market ad-on's... Make sure you know the difference between the two (original vs non-original) before you lay your money on the table... Below is a photo of two DHE's, at left a 12ga, and at right a 20ga, both with 32" vent rib's... In addition to occasionally busting clays, they were also enjoyed hunting as well...

Best, CSL
____________________________________


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[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Frank Allegra

Again, thanks to all for posting. I'm going to be looking at a supposedly mentioned trap gun with the above features but in 16 gauge and need some input from the experts.

Frank, let me suggest that you take a good number of pictures of the gun and post them here. We will try to lend assistance as to its originality. It may very well be all original... but then, maybe not.

[Frank Allegra]

Dave, Thank you.
That was the kind of info I was looking for. Not only were they D grades but I would guess they would also be 12ga guns. A correct assumption?

[Bill Murphy]

Yes they were 12 gauge guns. Trap configured Parker shotgun in smaller gauges are very rare. To add to the information you were requesting, Capt. Grier, together with Walter Beaver, were the high average doubles shooters in 1937 with a .9300 average. Now I realize I not only own the high volume doubles shooter's gun from PA in 1937, Jim Stinson's Ulrich engraved Pigeon Grade Model 12, I also own the high national average doubles gun for 1937, Captain Grier's Model 21. I don't write a lot of checks, but I keep my nose to the ground and talk to a lot of people. Remember that pump guns were very popular for doubles events. Rudy Etchen proved that. I don't own Rudy's gun yet, but I'm working on it.

[Frank Allegra]

Thanks Bill,
Congrats on your collection of fine historical guns and good luck in acquiring your desired future purchases.

[Frank Allegra]

Chris,
I will be cautious but thanks for the heads-up.