Do YOU know this gun.

[david ross]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

Would that every poster asking questions started with such a good array of photos.

One other might help. One of the rib. Is the rib just plain matted or does it have a Parker Bros. legend? Or, the very rare "PARKER, MERIDEN, CONN. U.S.A." legend?

Parker Pages lists 240466 as possibly the last VHE 20-Gauge made in Meriden, but I don't see anything definitive on the last Meriden 12-gauge.

Thanks Dave.
The rib is a plain matted one.
Dave.

[Bill Murphy]

David Ross, I think we have discussed this gun before. Maybe you could bring that thread to the top so we can review what has been said before.

[david ross]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Being a 1/2 frame gun, it is likely an Ilion, NY made gun. The grip cap is really the only real monkey wrench in this. But that could just be using up stock.

Based on the ship date. It looks like it was right after the move to Ilion.
You very well may have the earliest known 1/2 frame gun.

HI Brian.
Wow earliest known 1/2 frame gun Oh boy if only it is.
Thanks Dave.

[david ross]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

I see "Parker" on the underside, so it is definitely later. Is Josh Lowensteiner here? You ought to submit it to Parkers Found as earliest 1/2 frame

If you see this post Mr Lowensteiner please would you submit it to
Parkers found as maybe the earliest 1/2 frame gun.
All the best Dave.

[B. Dudley]

And those other markings on each side of the water table are different too. The lower part reads BMP from what I can make out.

I am pretty sure I have seen the Parker Bros mark on some water tables before.

The 1/2 frame was not devised by Meriden until 1930 as far as we know based on factory drawings. But it is believed that, though Meriden likely made a run of the frames, they were not made into completed guns until the Remington (Ilion) era.

And there are all sorts of odd markings on the barrel flats.
The serial number being stamped on the barrel flats is a Remington thing.

You may want to double check ALL of the frame measurements and compare them to what a 1/2 frame should be.

[david ross]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

And those other markings on each side of the water table are different too. The lower part reads BMP from what I can make out.

I am pretty sure I have seen the Parker Bros mark on some water tables before.

The 1/2 frame was not devised by Meriden until 1930 as far as we know based on factory drawings. But it is believed that, though Meriden likely made a run of the frames, they were not made into completed guns until the Remington (Ilion) era.

And there are all sorts of odd markings on the barrel flats.
The serial number being stamped on the barrel flats is a Remington thing.

You may want to double check ALL of the frame measurements and compare them to what a 1/2 frame should be.

It is BNP British nitro proof.

Dave.

[OH Osthaus]

any gun imported into the UK must pass the current proof process and will have a full set of the required (at the time) marks added

[Bill Murphy]

The earliest 1/2 frame guns are well documented in stock book entries. I don't know the serial numbers, but they have been discussed here before.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Originally Posted by Chuck Bishop

My 1/2 frame is 240647 and was made late 1937 in Meriden, at least that's what the construction looks like. The second set of barrels was made in Ilion early 1938. I think the key is to look for the mullard border on the stock and forend, the rib inscription, and the V on the barrel flats. I've been told that approx 250 1/2 frame guns were made however I think that total might be a little low.

Forgive me for not being to quick on the draw, but didn't Chuck already say that his gun is about 200 lower than the gun being discussed here?

[david ross]

Originally Posted by larrystauch

Forgive me for not being to quick on the draw, but didn't Chuck already say that his gun is about 200 lower than the gun being discussed here?

Your quicker on the draw than me your right. My mistake.
All the best Dave.

Thanks to you all for all your replys and help with my Parker gun but i think we may have gone as fare as we can on this.
It may well be i will never know the life of this gun as to its owners and adventures but thats another story.