Release triggers

Does anyone know the originator and history of the release trigger?

 

I don't know that anyone can truly answer the question. Believe it or not, I actually have a file on the subject. ATA Hall of Famer Charley "Sparrow" Young, of Springfield, OH, has been credited with the first release-fire trigger, but there were release triggers before his patent in January 1936.

Dr. John D. Pollard, of Chicago, IL invented and patented one of these trigger mechanisms that he called a relaxing-trigger, in January 1932. Here's an advertisement from August 1930 :

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The earliest release trigger I have on file was invented or improved by Major Murray Baldwin, who represented the Eureka Gun Co. I don't have the patent but in his 1920 book "The Relaxing Trigger" he seems to indicate that there were patents for this type trigger granted to the Eureka Gun Co. sometime prior to 1918.

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I'd be interested in any information others may have on earlier release trigger mechanisms if you are inclined to share.

Enjoy Our History !

HB

 

HB,

I believe I can speak for many.

IF it had not been for this invention, I along with many others, would probably have hung our guns up long ago.

Thanks to the inventor, whoever he was.

 

US1245889 by Eugene Duflot filed Sept. 26, 1916, granted Nov. 6, 1917


Charles "Sparrow" Young's patents for his "relaxing trigger"

US2027950 Jan 27, 1933/ Jan 14, 1936

US2233504 Jun 23, 1938/ Mar 4, 1941

US2406980 Dec 7, 1942/ Sep 3, 1946 - Combined release fire and straight fire gun

 

Do shooters like Chris Vendel, Nora Martin, Dan Bonillas shoot release triggers ?

Just curious.

 

All of us that shot a bow with your fingers on the string were using the first releases.

 

I know Chris had not gone to a release the last time I shot with him 5 years ago, and I don't know anything about Nora or Dan.

 

Dan does not. At least when I built some gun cases for him back in the 80's.