doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Le Tir aux Pigeons and Monte Carlo

In the U.S. the transition to hammerless pigeon guns was well established by 1895, but American manufactured guns were a distinct minority. That changed within the year, and after the DuPont Pigeon Championship of 1895.

At the Riverton Handicap March 8, 1895 only one of the 15 competitors used an American made gun
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/54954
“It may be interesting to some to note the guns and loads used, and we give it below. It was a lamentable fact that of the 15 guns used only one American make was represented. This was a special pigeon gun of the Parker Brothers' manufacture, and was a beautiful weapon in every way, and was owned by Mr. Post, whose score of 93 on a hard lot of birds did not show that the shooting power was lacking.”
“All the guns were 12 gauge, and it was noticeable that not a full pistol-grip stock was among the number, and most of them were the straight-grip ‘pigeon gun’ model, nine being of this description, and six of the half-grip style. All were of the hammerless pattern excepting two; Mr. Welch and Mr. Robbing using hammer guns.”
Following is the make of guns and loads used:
Capt. A.W. Money - Greener, 7 1/2 pounds.
George Work - Purdey, 7 1/2 pounds.
Post - Parker pigeon gun (AAH introduced in 1894)), 7 11-16 pounds.
Jim Jones - Scott, 7 3-16 pounds.
John B. Ellison - Scott, 7 1/4 pounds.
Fred Moore - Purdey, 7 7-16 pounds.
Leonard - Westley Richards, 7 1/2 pounds.
Mott - Crown grade Greener, 7 2-16 pounds.
J.S. Robbins - Greener hammer gun, 7 1/2 pounds.
R. Welch - Purdey hammer gun, 7 1/2 pounds
Downing - Scott, 7 6-16 pounds.
J.K. Palmer – Francotte, 7 1/2 pounds.
Edwards - Scott Premier, 7 pounds.
J. Wolstencroft - Greener, 6 15-16 pounds.
Eckert - Scott Premier, 7 1/4 pounds.
Shells were 45 - 49 grains (3 1/4 - 3 1/2 drams) smokeless powder and 1 1/4 oz. shot.
Capt. Money (2nd in the 1894 GAH) and George Work (3rd in the 1893 GAH) tied at 94 killed.

mc asked if Scott made pigeon guns. Apparently in 1882 he billed his hammerless "triplex action" Patent 761 as a pigeon gun action. Here are two ads from an 1882 London exposition, one for Scott, and one for Holland&Holland, advertising the Scott action on H&H guns (which he either bought from Scott or made himself paying Scott patent royalties), both touting them as pigeon guns:



Here is my 16 bore 27583 (1886) using the Triplex Action. There is a "Patent Action" stamp on it. Although most Reilly Pigeon guns from this tine were hammer guns with low profile hammers, this still fits what Reilly was advertising as a "pigeon gun" at the time - flat file cut rib, 30" Whitworth Compressed Steel barrels originally choked full and full, side clips. The only thing is the weight 6lbs 11oz..but that is still pretty heavy for a Reilly 16 bore if it were meant to be used only as a game gun. And it has a safety.

Scott made h&h shotguns up to around 1890 actually my question was about how many gunmakers used Scott actions and barrels to make there pigeon guns I do own a 1892 Scott Monte Carlo b bar action side lock no crystal cocking indicators.this pigeon information is a great addition to this site .

Since we've expanded to Le Tir aux Pigeons in general, I changed the title of the thread, which already is the top link for some Google searches

The is Chimay Villégiature, Ardennes by Jules Alexandre Grün, dated 1900. Chimay was a resort center in SW Belgium, 220 Km from Paris



f100,000 = about $900,000 today

f450,000 = about $2,000,000 today

Palermo, Italy, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, January 7, 1877

The Hot Springs resort in Vittel, France

Reverend Drew included some USA shoots earlier. How about a synopsis of the last Grand American at Live Birds in 1902? Thanks

"Charles Lancaster's Special Pigeon Gun"
https://historical.ha.com/itm/shotg...eon-double-barrel-shotgun/a/6076-50916.s

This advertisement appeared at least 1898 - 1906



Same price as Lancaster's "Highest Quality"

Who would be searching Pigeon Shooting???

Serbus,

Raimey
rse