Question on correct bore diameter

[Ed Blake]

I'm looking at a 12 gauge 1883 O-grade toplever. The gun is in overall very good condition and does not appear from the pictures to have been fooled with. The seller says the bore is .730". Would this be correct? On page 517 of Vol II PP tells me that until around 1892 Parker bores were oversized with a 12 at .76". I have two D2s (1879 and 1889) with bores right at .765". Is an 1883 12 at .730 out of the question? Thanks

[Harry Collins]

Ed,

I have 21399 an 1881 lifter who's bores are .732 & .731. 32040 has .752 & .750 bores. In the early years it is my understanding that bore size was dictated by two factors: how much had to be turned out of the rough bores to achieve a smooth bore and how many times the reamer had been sharpeed. I think the bores of the gun you are looking at are original and just fine from what you have told us.

Harry

[Dave Suponski]

Ed,I agree with Harry 100% But I think another factor plays in here.I believe Parker used the .730 +/- as nominal bore but after patterning if the gun did not achieve the pellet count that they wanted they would backbore to put more choke in the gun if that was needed. These yankee craftsmen were way to frugal to waste a set of barrels. Also we have alot of guns that were sent back to"clean out barrels". I used to have a one frame 12 1885 gun with .732 bores.

[Ed Blake]

Thanks guys.