Evidence shows

1881 evidence shows that Trapshooting was first contested in this country at the Sportsmans Club of Cincinnati, Ohio. They probably shot used Passenger Pigeons or Sparrows as targets.

In 1840 New York Sportsmans Club held it's first Trapshooting Competetion

In 1866 Charles Poetlock of Boston MA introduced the Glass Target Balls from England

In 1880 Invention of the Clay Target by George Ligowski of Cincinnati, Ohio

Gary Bryant...................Dr.longshot

 

Doc,

You have a few typo's. For the last 130 years or so it has been reported over and over again that the first known trapshooting even happened at the Cincinnati Gun Club in 1831. Nobody really knows when the first trapshooting contest was staged in the U.S.A.

In my research I have found trap shooting contests with live pigeons near Philadelphia, PA in 1826; on Long Island, New York in 1828; and here's a report of a match in my home state of New Jersey in 1829 :

INTERESTING SHOOTING MATCH​

We are indebted to Mr. McLean, of Alexandria, and Messrs. Vanderkemp and Wittaker of Philadelphia, who acted as judges on the occasion, for the following account of an interesting match which took place at Bordentown (N. J.) on the 21st ult. For a double barreled gun, valued at $90. Wild pigeons were shot at; distance from the box twenty yards; range from the box one hundred yards. Mr. Hammet, of Trenton, was pronounced the best shot having killed his five birds. The shots were as follows :
No. 1. The 1st fell at about ten yards from the box;
2d a miss;
3d fell at six yards from the box;
4th the same;
5th the same. – Dr. Lott, used No. 5 shot.
No. 2. The 1st bird fell ten yards from the box;
2d struck, but did not fall within the limits;
3d fell out of the limits. – Mr. Castor, Used No. 4 shot.
No. 3. The 1st bird fell at ten yards;
2d fell five yards;
3d a miss;
4th fell at five yards;
5th out of the limits. – Mr. Bailey, used No. 5 shot.
No. 4. The 1st bird fell at eight yards;
2d do. do.
3d a miss;
4th a miss. – Mr. Frazier, used No. 5 shot.
No. 5. The 1s t bird fell at ten yards;
2d fell at fifteen yards;
3d fell at six yards;
4th do. do.
5th do. do. – Mr. Hammet, used No. 5 shot.
No. 6. The 1st a miss. – Mr. Smith used No. 5 shot.
No. 7. The 1s t a miss. – Mr. White, used No. 4 shot.
No. 8. The 1s t fell at ten yards;
2d fell at five yards;
3d fell out of the limits. – Mr. Wilson, used No. 5 shot.
No. 9. The 1s t fell at six yards;
2d fell at six yards;
3d fell at ten yards;
4th fell out of the limits. – Lieut. Taylor, used No. 5 shot.
No. 10. The 1st fell at three yards;
2d fell at five yards;
3d a miss. – Dr. Lott, used No. 5 shot.
No. 11. The 1st fell at ten yards’
2d a miss. – Mr. Dickinson, used No. 4 shot.
No. 12. The 1st a miss. – Mr. Gunnell.
No. 13. The 1st fell at fifty yards;
2d a miss. – Prince Murat, used No. 4 shot.
No. 14. The 1st a miss. – Mr. Duffield.
No. 15. The 1st fell at eight yards;
2d fell at twelve yards;
3d a miss. – Mr. Kellam, used No. 5 shot.
No. 16. The 1st a miss. – Mr. Ingram.
THE AMERICAN TURF & SPORTING MAGAZINE, October 1829

Charles Portlock is the gentleman credited for introducing glass balls in the U.S.A. about 1866. Like others, I searched for years to confirm this to no avail. Captain Adam H. Bogardus noted this in his book Field, Cover and Trap Shooting, 2nd edition I believe. After years, I finally confirmed that there was a Charles Portlock from Boston. My best guess is that he brought back a very basic form of an elastic rubber with a cup, stretched between two pegs and pulled the elastic downward and launched glass balls in that fashion. Oddly enough, I never have found him shooting glass balls. In fact, I've only found him shooing a contest once. That was with the great antagonist Ira A. Paine (antagonist of Bogardus) and they shot live pigeons. Mr. Portlock was a hotel/saloon owner. I wrote a story some years back for "On Target" a glass ball magazine now out of print, entitled "The Elusive Charles Portlock" or something to that effect. I'd be happy to post it if anyone is really interested.

Glass ball targets really weren't widely known until about 1876 when Bogardus and Paine started shooting them about the time both men decided to patent a glass ball and glass ball trap (1877). Their exhibitions is what brought interest but this target was never popular and was short lived except for a few clubs still throwing balls in the early 1900's.

George Ligowsky, of Cincinnati, OH, did invent and patent the first dome or saucer type clay target. He sponsored tournaments and supplied his targets to grow the business. He knew he had to make target spin but just wasn't sure how to accomplish this. His first targets had a tab on the side and targets were thrown by that tab which was held between a spring loaded clamp. Many broke in shipping and many broke when thrown. Until recently I had never seen a Ligowsky trap. The Trapshooting Hall of Fame doesn't even have one. I believe they are pretty scarce as are a few others ie: Peoria Blackbird Trap (1885), Clover Trap (1895) and the Magautrap (1896, Cleveland, OH) of which I've never seen one.

By 1885 or so the saucer type pitch target was on the market and continues to be the target today.

Here's a picture of a Ligowsky I've seen and touched.



Enjoy Our History

 

That was a Typo I found several caused by stuck keys, thanks for the up date. I found these early articles on line.

GB......DLS

 

Only a handful of researchers are aware of trap shooting prior to the long-reported 1831 Cincinnati GC event. And, no matter where you look to research the earliest known trapshooting, you'll find that 1831 date, even on the Trapshooting Hall of Fame website.

Just know that there was trap shooting going on in several states on the East Coast years before 1831. Maybe even some in Ohio.

Enjoy Our History

 

The upper middle of this collection shows the Legowsky targets that History Buff mentions.

Center right one has the paper tab, center left shows the molded tab and below that one is the last with no tab.