The last Lifter

Pa SxS · 08-28-2016, 04:35 PM

Both the order book and stock book show this gun as a hammerless 12ga. GH with Damascus steel barrels. The gun shown in the picture just doesn't make sense. It's got the pintel joint and keyed forend. The pintel joint came into being about S/N 5500 (1875) and the keyed forend was replaced by the new forend latch. The keyed forend ended about S/N 16222 (1879). This gun was probably made between 1875 and 1879. Show us pictures of all the S/N's and if you can, check the S/N's on the buttstock and forend wood.

TARNATION !!! · 08-29-2016, 11:04 AM

Thanks Chuck. Interestingly 66611 can be viewed as 11999, also not in the book. Normally, the orientation of the numeral 1 can be determined by the horizontal line at the bottom and the serif at the top. Based on that, I have found the 11 stamped mostly in a manner to be read as 66611. But, in two instances, it is stamped to be read 11999 which would be from 1878, fitting the date range you gave. Here are the pics. What would you conclude? Regardless of SN, it is fairly decent and a 1 frame 12 to boot. Locks up tight and opens easily. Cheers, Jack

Pa SxS · 08-29-2016, 12:13 PM

Jack, the gun matches 11999. I think we had a drunk German stamping serial numbers that day! The barrels were originally 28".

TARNATION !!! · 08-29-2016, 01:56 PM

Thanks Chuck. Nice that this little mystery is resolved. I will find a proper right hammer and live with 27" barrels. It is a light weight gun so should be an easy carry in pheasant habitat. Might not be this season, as I have others yet to be broken in. Cheers, Jack

Bill Murphy · 01-24-2018, 10:11 AM

To answer the question about Austin's #3 frame on the chart, it is a Twist gun marked as a true P grade. I must have missed Jack's comment that Austin's gun is the last 12 gauge lifter. It is really a great gun. I shot our last sporting clays league shoot with this gun. I can't see out of my right eye and always use a crossover gun in competition. Oddly, I shot my best score of the league year with the old lifter, even though it is choked a tight full in both barrels.