Help To Identify This Single Trigger

[edgarspencer]

This is an interesting single trigger on a 32" Titanic barreled gun I recently bought.
The gun has very trap-like dimensions, and through some digging, I believe the gun may have belonged to Dick McIntyre, of Fairbanks, Alaska. McIntyre Started and ran Frontier Sporting Goods, in Fairbanks, as well as started Frontier Airlines, now part of ERA.
McIntyre was an avid trap shooter, and the gun has a Hawkins styled pad, but with the label molded in of Coopers Hardware Co, Fairbanks, AK. Coopers apparently predates Frontier Sporting goods by many years, and may have sold this gun new.

The first two pictures show the "selector" which, depending on position, allows a normal R-L sequence; or Left ONLY (Trap)

The third picture shows the mechanism, in the rear position, for firing the left barrel.
The fourth picture shows it in the position it would be reset to by opening the gun, to fire R-L. If Left Only was selected, the mechanism would reset, but on closing the gun, return to the rearward position to lift the left sear.
The copper colored piece is a small dashpot, and the end of the mechanism has a piston that slides into the dashpot.
The assembly is fitted to the gun's original floorplate, but when it was new (according to the serialization book) it was a double trigger gun. It is of the highest quality I've seen, in fit and finish, and has it's own serial number and patent date. The gun most likely was returned to Meriden for the customers specific modifications, which included a new set of 32" barrels (Ser, Book says it left the first time with 30") the trigger, and a new buttstock, duplicating the original but to accept the single trigger. The lower tang groove has the correct same serial number, as well as the large R, which I am told by Stosh, indicated Factory Replacement. The barrels and fore end also have the correct stamping for Meriden. The barrel flats indicate Meriden, and not Remington, and as it's a POW grip, there's is no cap, but the barrels are marked with the correct legend for a Meriden Grade 3 gun.
My initial thought was to convert the gun back to double triggers, but it seems to function well and I'll leave it alone, more so if I am able to prove it was McIntyre's gun. He may not show up on Trap rosters, but was a WW2 ACE and pretty famous guy in Alaska.
I'm guessing Father Murphy or Destry may have run across this trigger, but if anyone else has seen it, please speak up. My guess is it's unique to a competition gun.

[winplumber]

Looks kinda like a Fulford I have one on my CH

[B. Dudley]

That is truely interesting.

[edgarspencer]

Come On Steve, don't tease me. Does yours function the way I described mine? How did you find out it was Fuford, and is there any info out there on it.

You're right Brian. It's super quality. The hoop shaped frame appears to be a small forging. Excellent machining and what I would characterize as 'precision'.

[winplumber]

Google it and go to images you will see I think it works the same I havent shot it a bunch

[edgarspencer]

I found this image, and that is the one. Apparently, Mr. Fulford was quite the trap shooter, and won the 1904 GAH. Trap shooting is dangerous, because he got pneumonia shooting a 500 out of 523, and died 3 weeks later.

Edit: He won the 1897 GAH, not the 1904 GAH

[wayne goerres]

Is that a drop in or has the original trigger houseing been modified.

[Dean Romig]

Interesting that the advertisement depicts a Parker Bros. shotgun.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Interesting that the advertisement depicts a Parker Bros. shotgun.

Also interesting the sears aren't shown, which go around each side of the trigger mechanism. Maybe I'll pull the stock off and try to photograph it as the illustration depicts.

Wayne, the floorplate had to be drilled for a #4 screw to hold the selector stop, and a small impression, that was a detent, in each extreme of the selector stop range.
Nothing seems to altered internally, except for possibly screw holes, or a pin hole (See the illustration) in the tang screw boss. I suspect it wouldn't be at all difficult to convert it back to a two trigger gun, however the sear arms seems to be bent upwards. The safety in place now has a rod which moves for and aft with the safety button, not in reverse of the button direction, as would be the case in a standard double trigger arrangement. The safety button on the gun has been changed, I suspect, when the trigger was installed. I'm not sure if a Parker safety button could be used in this setup, but would like to use one if possible.

[winplumber]

I think they also take some wood out ,when I had mine out and stock off I could see this cant remember been awhile .