1 Frame Lifter – My Last Rainy Day Gun

[Jay Oliver]

I have been trying to be more disciplined and focus on elevating my Parker collection. However, I can’t help myself sometimes and end up buying some lower grade/low quality guns. I do think I am “rescuing’ these guns in some cases, but it often doesn’t help me improve the overall quality of my collection.

This #1 frame lifter, 1880 12 Gauge with 28” plain twist barrels was just calling my name. It was listed as having cut barrels, but they were 1/8-3/16 inches longer not shorter than the barrel length listed in the serialization book. I have a few lifters like that so I knew the barrels were the original length. The gun weighs 7lbs. 6oz., which makes it my lightest lifter. The LOP is 14 1/2, which is close to perfect for me with a straight stocked gun.

The barrels are pitted more than I would like for the first half of the barrels, but it knew that going in. I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised, but they were just as described. The screws are nice, I think the tang screw may be a replacement.

This will be a fun one to shoot, I’ll start with some black powder loads.

I need to focus on buying a Grade 3 or higher lifter and these rainy day guns get in the way, but again…I have a problem.