Early 1/2 Frame 12 Gauge Lifter?

[Jay Oliver]

Hello Everyone,

I picked up a new lifter today. It’s serial# 3492 a 12 gauge lifter, Dollar Grade 2 I believe with 30” damascus barrels. When I got it home and was checking it out it seemed like a very light weight 12 gauge especially for an early lifter. On a bathroom scale it weighed 7lbs. 10 oz. That doesn’t seem that light now but maybe it was back in 1874?

Also the barrel thickness at the breach is the thinnest I have seen in a Damascus gun. The chambers measured 2 5/8” a 2 ½ RST 12 gauge shell seems very loose(side to side until it seated) in the chamber. I put in 2 Original 12A Parker Brass shells, which fit much better. I thought maybe these barrels were honed/polished to the point where there wasn’t too much metal left? I don't know if you can tell from the pictures?

I measured the frame, 1 1/16” between the firing pins, 1 5/8” across the water table on the frame and 2 5/32” across the bolsters(which look like grade 1 instead of grade 2). Would that make this a 1/2 frame 12 gauge? I thought that might explain the light weight barrels.

If you zoom in on the barrel and forearm picture you can see 12 stamped in the barrel. Also JL under it but upside down(Initials?). There isn’t a barrel weight on the lug, except maybe a “1” or “L” that may be part of the initials.
Overall a very nice gun, bores are nice but not perfect so that may support some polishing. The rest of the gun seems to be in good condition(all the numbers match). I have never seen that type of bead on a Parker.

It is nice to shoulder, when I measured the LOP between the triggers it was 12 ¾” which I usually wouldn’t like, but the gun feels light and nice. Shooting these thin chambers concerns me a bit, this seems like a black powder gun with light loads. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated?

I have a research letter on the way.

Thank you,
Jay