The Ray-Ban model originally designed for shooting sports was the Shooter. Introduced in 1938, it was a functional variant of the early aviator family aimed at sportsmen and outdoors users rather than only pilots.
Its most distinctive feature was a circular device built into the center of the nose bridge. Often described as a cigarette holder, it was intended to keep a sportsman’s hands free while taking aim. The unusual feature explains the model’s name and makes the Shooter easy to distinguish from the standard Aviator.
The Shooter also used the practical features associated with early Ray-Ban outdoor eyewear, including a brow bar designed to help keep sweat and debris from interfering with vision. Some versions used yellow Kalichrome lenses, which were promoted for improving contrast and reducing haze in certain conditions.
The Outdoorsman is the tempting alternative because it was also made for outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing. However, the central holder and its explicit connection with taking aim identify the Shooter as the shooting-sports model.