Wow. All the big names that had a reputation to protect made double trap guns. To my knowledge, Stevens did not come under that heading. Anyone else know for certain?
Up until about 1915 s trap gun was just a gun used at the traps - it differed little from a field gun, which differed little from the live bird guns. After that point in time the makers began to tailor their guns for the increasingly popular, high volume clay target game, which meant the addition of recoil pads, single triggers, vent ribs, and beavertail forends. A maker's reputation could be significantly enhanced by success at the traps, so Parker, Smith, and Ithaca were at the forefront of the fray. Winchester came in on the tailend of the double era, and others like Fox and Iver were minor players.
Double trap guns are relatively scarce items. Keep in mind that prior to WW II the trap game was vested primarily in 16 yard birds, and by about 1920 the main players were offering a single barrel for the job. Not a lot of handicap was shot. Very few doubles were thrown, probably because of the tedium of dealing with the mechanically actuated, hand set traps of the day. Thus, if you were one of the many who didn't even bother with double birds, there was little point in spending the money on a fine side by side when a cheaper single or infernal magazine gun would do the job.
