Opinions, please.

[Bill Murphy]

I corresponded with Dr. Truitt by PM indicating that the term "Truitt Special" is a compliment and refers to a big long heavy gun that shoots shells legal in the small gauge classes but without insert tubes. I will stand by my statement that these attempts at the win do violate the spirit of the game. It will cause those who compete with "little" original guns to vacate the competition. I think Daryl and I are on the fence about when the big guns should be allowed. Obviously, the Vintager sanctioned shoots should be a place where they should be discouraged, since the vintage original guns are what they want to see. The Southern Side by Side is another type of shoot altogether. No one much dresses up Vintager style and no one much pays dues to Ray Poudret. Maybe at shoots such as this, the rules should allow rebarrelled big guns in the small gauge events, which they do, and maybe they should go back to allowing tubed guns, which they once did but no longer do. The Northeast Shoot is in the hands of Ernie Hauseman and could go either way. I applaud Dr. Truitt for taking it upon himself to build such great guns and every time I see him, I ask to inspect his work. I am no newcomer to NSCA competition, have a very low membership card number and competed for several years from the beginning. There are small gauge events at almost every shoot and a side by side event at every important shoot. The big guns have every opportunity to be used at these events. I would hate to be deprived of the privilege of seeing John Truitt in action with his great guns, but the rules may catch up with him, as they did with me when I won the .410 at the Southern.

[John Truitt]

Bill,

And I am going to stand by my thoughts that I am not violating any rules or the spirit of the shoot.
They are posted and clear and I am in no way breaking them.

I have nothing to hide but also no reason to justify my decisions in guns to you or anyone else for that mater.

You Sir have no right to point fingers at me.

[C.O.B.]

I don't think takeing a 12 ga framed gun and fitting 34 inch 410 barrels to it makes it a 410 or a 20, 28 ect.

[John Truitt]

I do like 20 ga's on #1 frames.

the 28 ga gun will be on a O frame

the 410 on a OO frame

They just happen to be planned to have 34" barrels

but I am in no way putting multi barrel sets together on a 12 ga frame (that would be quit the endeavor)

Each will be its own gun.

Rich, (not taking your comment personal, please don't take mine as such)

But I disagree. If Parker were open today. They would build what the customer asks for. Obviously in the past they did some very interesting things. Point in case a 12 ga on a #6 frame. Is that not a 12 ga gun?
I really wish they still were open. It would be a lot easier to get what I want. Instead I am confined to current available materials/ methods/ gun smiths/ and the like. I think you would understand since you seem to be having some custom guns built for yourself. I have really enjoyed all of my project guns. It is very rewarding having something come together and function that you envisioned.

I respect your opinion and all of the others. But what I don't appreciate is anyone making a comment that I am in some way violating anything, cheating, or trying to do something to run away shooters participants/ etc. That is crossing the line with me. Period.

[Double Lab]

John, they sound really nice. I truly love my 20ga, 1frame w/32" barrels and of course the 16ga. you so kindly sold me in the same configuration. Man, a 28ga. w/34" tubes would be the bomb! Keep us posted on their progress and post some pics if you can.

[John Truitt]

Thanks Daryl,

You and I have discussed our like for long barreled guns many times.

Word has it that Parker made a matched pair of 34" 410s for some brothers out west ( I think Washington State).
I think they were called the roman candles or something like that.

[Double Lab]

Well I guess the search goes on for those long smallbores. Have to hit the lottery for those .410's.

[C.O.B.]

John I never said you have violated any rule. You may "build" anything you like. My opinion is that vintage shoots should be with vintage guns as they left the factory. You asked for opinions and thats mine.

The only "custom" Parker I have ever done is Gunner's Gun and the custom work only pertains to engraveing and stock work. It is still a VH 20 on an 0 frame with Parker barrels.

[John Truitt]

Rich,

I did not mean to imply you did. That was a blanket statement not directed at you.

And that's fair and I respect your opinion.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Around the year 1900 weren't pigeon and trap guns limited to 8 lbs?