I'm sure there are more 1/2 frame guns out there than previously thought although still scarce. The last few stock books show 1/2 stamped for frame size however I can't believe all these were true 1/2 frames. I'm guessing that their 1 1/2 frame stamp broke and they never made a new one.

Here is a link to my 1/2 frame VH 2 barrel set in the Albums section. The original barreled gun is all Meriden made in late 1937. A few months into 1938 (repair codes) it was sent back to Ilion for the second set of barrels made in Ilion. Both barrels were 28", original choked M/F and the Remington barrel Cyl/ImpCyl.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=358

Chuck, I can't read the frame size stamps on the barrel lugs, can you tell us what the stamp on the original barrel set reads?





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The barrel lugs on 1/2 frame guns are stamped with a large “1/2”. About twice the size of a 1-1/2 stamp.

And the 1/2 stamp is usually lightly struck. About half as deep an usually seen on other frame sizes. And the font is very fine.

Chuck,

When you reference the marks in the stock book, are you in fact speaking of actual stamped marks? Or hand written marks.

In the writing of my article that touched on this topic, it was confirmed that they were hand writing in 1/2 as an abbreviation for 1-1/2 (in the mid-late 1920s). Whereas in later books they actually used a 1-1/2 stamp.

Photo of 1/2 Mark on GH 12ga, gun made in 1899 on a 1 frame, barrel by Remington with a repair code OJ3 July 1940.

Dean, I can't read the frame size on the Meriden barrels, just a 12 is visable for gauge. The Remington barrels have a large 1/2 stamp. I took digital measurements on 1/2 frame dimensions and they are amazingly accurate.

Brian, you are right, I was wrong. The format used for the stock books changed from a horizontal to a vertical format starting with stock book # 75. All the stock books prior to stock book # 75 did not list frame sizes. Stock book books 81 and 82 used stamps and they show the 1 1/2 rubber stamp markings. Stock books 75,76,78, and 79 have the frame sizes written in by hand. See the example. All the guns listed in the stock books were well prior to the 1/2 frame being introduced so where you see the handwritten 1/2, it really is 1 1/2.

Thanks Chuck.

Thanks Brian.





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I believe the later rubber stamped 1/2 frames in the stock books are actual 1/2 frame guns. The research into the 1/2 frame production could have been simplified if the stock books had been available to Craig Reynolds. Maybe they were available to him. I don't remember.

Chuck,
Please clarify if in fact there are any rubber hand stamped 1/2 frame entries in the stock books?
Didn't the stock books stop by the time things went to Ilion?

There was a fairly nice looking runge engraved 1/2 frame dhe on gunsinternational I would have loved to snag.