doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Early single trigger

What early single trigger used the safety as a selector? Front position is right, middle SAFE, and rear spot is left. Thanks for any tips.

The early Miller triggers worked that way.

Thanks Dave, that was quick. Were they marked on the side like later versions? Gun is a Smith A-1.

Researcher, if it is a Miller, I believe it will be so marked on the top of the trigger blade, just visible below the receiver.

I have a circa 1927 L.C. Smith 12 ga. Ideal Grade, that has Hunter One Trigger on trigger plate housing next to trigger, but has a Miller One Trigger. The safety is as you described.
Why the selector was changed to along side the trigger, like the Hunter One Trigger, was in my opinion foolish. At least the previous way you could select a trigger without fumbling around underneath.
In looking at the mechanics of a HOT, I can understand why that type is set up the way it is, but not for the Miller.

The stamping of the L and the R on the top tang by the Millers is crude and does no favors to a good shotgun. I would much prefer the late selective Miller or a non selective Miller. The safety mounted selector is an abomination in the field and requires the hunter to either look at the selector or manipulate the safety to confirm that it is on safe. When hunting with a Miller safety selector gun, I find myself looking at the selector about five hundred times a day.

Bill, I guess you don't favor the 3 position safety then.

Ithaca offered a safety selector trigger, too. Some Miller triggers installed on earlier Ithacas were not marked Miller, and this caused friction between Miller and Ithaca. Ithaca soon brought out their own trigger.

JDW, I have a whole covey of those triggers and use them a lot. No, I don't like the sliding selector. Next time, I will post what I really think! Fortunately, I never had that conversation with Howard Miller.

Eightbore, that teeter totter Miller selector in front of the trigger was about the best I have seen. The safety selector was sort of clumbsy and could be set wrong easily. I had a NID 5E double with the safety selector. It had sort of an aftermarket shield installed over the rear of the safety so that recoil would not cause the shooter's hand [web between thumb and pointer finger] to slide a bit and move the safety position. Of course , this was a trap configuration gun and those shooters are rarely satisfied with the original gun.