Guns used for Live Birds had to weigh less than 8 pounds at the
1894 GAH
Gun weights and loads at the First DuPont Grand Smokeless Championship Handicap Live-bird Tournament October
1895 http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1895/VOL_26_NO_06/SL2606012.pdf Sporting Life. John L. Lequin. secretary of the Interstate Association, writes us under date of Feb. 25,
1898 as follows:
“We have received inquiries from most all directions recently from a number of shooters who are probably desirous of entering the Grand American Handicap next month, concerning the weight of guns, and whether the handhold and recoil pad will be counted as a part of the gun when weighed. The subject has been placed before the Tournament Committee of the association, which committee has decided that the guns will be weighed naked.”
The Baker Gun Quarterly, Volume 5, No. 3, May
1900 had an article on the weight of Trap/Pigeon guns used by Capt. A.W. Money (8 pounds - Money used a Greener, Smith, and Parker), C.W. Budd (7 pounds 14 ounce Parker), H.D. Bates (winner of the 1900 GAH at Live Birds; 7 pounds 13 ounce Parker), R.O. Heikes (7 pounds 15 ounce Parker but after the GAH at Live Birds he went back to his Remington hammerless and won the 1900 [1st] GAH at Targets), J.S. Fanning (7 pounds 15 ounce Smith), W.R. Crosby (7 pounds 12 ounce Baker), and Col. A.G. Courtney (7 pounds 14 ounce
Remington CEO).