Gary, Austin's old lifter gun is a #3 frame 32" 12, about the last lifter made. I was offered the gun years before Austin showed up with it, but declined because I had no idea how rare it was. I begged Austin to sell it to me, but it was his favorite skeet gun and he would not sell it to me. After his death, I bought it when his estate guns were sold. It was a long search, but now I am shooting one of my friend Austin's guns.

Bill, You have to stay in the hunt like you say, glad you were able to finally get his gun, it is a pretty rare piece, Gary

Gary, it is an absolute "horse". One of a kind. And I'm used to the the eight gauges.

I thought I chimed in long ago on this thread. I have a #3 frame 32" 12 and a #3 frame DH 28" 12. The 28" gun is from 1903 has a flat rib and weighs in at 9.5. So short and so heavy. The original owner (from the Parker letter) was out of PA and was a pigeon shooter. The letter stated he wanted it patterned with 1 1/4 oz #7. Maybe he used in the pigeon ring. Who knows.