Flat Ribs

[Ed Blake]

Compare and contrast the dollsheads on these two 12 gauge flat rib DHs. Both are from 1900, only a couple thousand guns apart. The flat dollshead is a 7 3/4lb #2 frame with 30" barrels and the second gun is a #3 frame with 28" barrels. It weighs 9.3. It has a small dimple at the dollshead that really caught my eye. I showed this gun to several people at the Southern and no one had seen this before. has anyone else seen this?

[Dean Romig]

I saw the one with the "dimple" very recently at auction. Congratulations on a great gun Ed. I really like a flat rib... there aren't many of those!

I don't have a clue why that "dimple" was done.

[Dave Suponski]

Ed, Do you have a larger picture of the dimple gun? Could this have been ordered with the dimple similar to the "sighting notch" commonly seen on vent rib guns?

[Bill Murphy]

Ed told me there is nothing in the order mentioning the dimple. However, it is quite some gun.

[Dave Suponski]

Okay, How about this.... The top lever is a top lever for a concave matted rib gun.

[Ed Blake]

I will get a better picture. Didn't realize how small it is.

[scott kittredge]

I saw the one with the "dimple" very recently at auction. Congratulations on a great gun Ed. I really like a flat rib... there aren't many of those!

I don't have a clue why that "dimple" was done.

Great, i am glad someone here got it, you out bid me:crying: scott

[Ed Blake]

Better picture of the dollshead.

[Robin Lewis]

Okay, How about this.... The top lever is a top lever for a concave matted rib gun.
I think you got it Dave. I looked at a DH picture in the grades area and the top lever is shaped just like this one. To make it work with a flat rib, making a dimple like this makes short work to make it fit and it looks good.

[Chris Travinski]

Nice gun Ed, I love unusual features like flat ribs, safety delete etc. I'm sure your going to need to make room in your gun safe so I'll be glad to help you relocate your 32" DHE we were talking about the other day! Lots of room in my safe, wink, wink.

[Dave Suponski]

Maybe Robin. This is a very interesting gun.That is most definitely a flat rib frame. Congratulations Ed.

[Ed Blake]

The seller was kind enough to include the letter from Chuck. The gun was ordered to shoot "...extra close using 48 grains Schultze Powder, 1 1/4 oz #7 shot." That sounds like a pigeon load to me.

[Dean Romig]

I think Dave and Robin nailed it however I have seen a few other flat rib guns and never noticed this feature on them.... which doesn't mean those guns didn't have it.

[Mark Conrad]

The flat rib was used almost exclusively on number 2 and 1 1/2 frame guns in this time period. PB probably kept a small inventory of frames ready for use. Ed's gun is a 3 frame and probably the only one with a flat rib. Instead of making a frame just for his gun, they used the dimple. The flat rib frame was used latter on the vent rib guns as well. My 2 cents.

[Eric Eis]

The flat rib was used almost exclusively on number 2 and 1 1/2 frame guns in this time period. PB probably kept a small inventory of frames ready for use. Ed's gun is a 3 frame and probably the only one with a flat rib. Instead of making a frame just for his gun, they used the dimple. The flat rib frame was used latter on the vent rib guns as well. My 2 cents.

Mark don't forget a certain 6 frame flat rib 8 bore, I still shake my head and ask why....

[charlie cleveland]

ive yet to get to see a flat rib parker in person in hand...there just not many parkers around my area to look at.. but maybe someday ill get to come to a parker event and see all these beautiful guns..keepem coming.... charlie