You would rather have Austin's old gun.

Okay, might need to visit the optometrist now. Eyeballs went pretty fuzzy scanning hundreds of columns for the last lifters. Or was it the scotch causing that. Parker Story speaks of 25 lifters after 1890. I did find 25 starting in 1891 and ending in 1907. Definitely have to add Austin's gun, since it exists in hand but not in the serialization book. The last 26 are an interesting bunch of lifters. (There is also 666XX yet to be double verified with seller)

Here they are. Eyes too fuzzy to fill in factory specs right now but maybe tomorrow. Cheers, Jack


Okay, here is tomorrow's edit. When saying "last", we know we can never be conclusive due to the occasional error and the missing entries in the serialization book. Anyway, here's what appears to be the case until proven otherwise by a gun in hand, like Austin's.


1891

64340 D3 U 0 C 10 32
66611 NIB - no that means not in book
68315 D3 U 0 P 12 26 Last 26" barrels

1892

70721 PT U 0 C 10 30
70722 D3 U 0 C 10 32
71172 D3 U 0 P 12 30

1893

77461 PT U 0 S 12 32
77462 PT U 0 S 12 32
77463 PT U 0 S 12 32 Last straight grip stock
78381 D2 U 0 C 10 32
79415 D2 U 0 C 12 32
79491 D2 U 0 C 12 32

1894

79578 PT U 0 P 10 32
79582 PT U 0 C 8 34 Last 34" barrels

1895

81280 D3 U 0 C 16 30
81882 D2 U 0 C 12 26
82435 PT U 0 C 16 28 Last 28" barrels

1899

90584 D2 U 0 C 16 30
91641 PT U 0 C 12 30
92135 D2 U 0 C 12 30

1901

102226 D2 U 0 C 12 30
104043 XX U X X 12 32 NIB (Austin's gun) Last 12 ga BILL, could you fill in the blanks?

1902

111658 PT U 0 C 16 30 Last 16 gauge

1904 (monster gun for 8 ga Charlie if he doesn't already have it)

127333 D2 U 0 C 8 36 Last 36" D2 barrels Last 8ga (sure would like to see this one)

1907

141222 D3 U 0 P 10 30 Last 30" barrels Last pistol grip
144078 D3 U 0 C 20 26 Last D3 barrels Last 20 ga
144937 PT U 0 C 10 32 Last known Lifter Last 10 ga Last 32" PT barrels Last capped pistol grip

Very interesting. I would like to see a letter or two on those late guns. Austin's gun is a real horse. It was his favorite skeet gun.

Thanks for posting that list.

List updated with specs and the known last this or that. If I screwed up any of it, point it out. Cheers, Jack

Okay, I bit the bullet. Internet is good or bad depending on point of view. The actual SN on barrel and frame and trigger guard is 66611.

The description of 66611 in the serialization book is not this gun. Is anybody keeping track of errors in the book for future update or publishing of an "errata" page?

The book says 66611 is D2 H 0 C 12 30

Gun in hand is 66611 PT U 0 B 12 27

A bit of a suspect length but it looks okay (barrels touching). Under magnification, the keel solder doesn't quite look right but if trimmed it was reasonably done. Factory 27 would be a rare length I imagine.
Right hammer is a replacement and poorly fitted.
Click on image for enlargement

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.

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

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

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