Never say never with Parkers….
 

Factory documented 2-1/2 frame. 10ga/12ga two barrel set, with case.

That is likely the dimension over the breech balls. That is how the frame sizes were documented in the earlier stock books. I know that Chuck currently does not usually put information on frame size in the letters since it is not always shown on the stock book pages. And also these earlier outside dimensions listed add to confusion.

This has all been discussed before.

2-1/2” would be the outside measurement of the breech balls on a number 3 frame.

My guess is that you have this gun in your posession? How is the barrel lug marked?

Not necessarily Brian. I have older Parkers than 1891 wuth actual frame sizes stamped on the bottom of the rear lug.





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Did I say that? No. I know that this era of manufacture would have the frame size on the lug.

Well it’s a bit confusing Brian, to me at least, that the letter specifies a #2 1/2frame yet guns of that era had the frame size stamped on the lug, which we knew as a scale of measurements between firing pin centers yet the referenced size (2 1/2{and it doesn’t reference inches “} is one we’ve never heard of before…
My opinion is that it is simply a matter of semantics and the confusion was initiated at the factory using different descriptions?…maybe? I dunno….

That is my assumption, but since actual frame measurements or details on lug markings were not provided. We are left to speculate based on what we know.

There has been past discussion based on earlier records where the outside frame dimension is recorded in the stock books leading one to deduce that this was “shop speak” for identifying frames. Barrels are the only component marked with “frame sizes”. So the workers way of identifying and referring to the actual frame was by the outside measurement over the breech balls before shoe filing.

In those discussions I recall Chuck stating that he does not add information on frame sizes to letters since it is not always clearly stated, as with the later records. And with the outside measurements being thrown into the mix, it makes for confusion. Vs. Previous research chairs, in this case Ron Kirby, chose to include any and all information put down as it was written.

So this bad boy “should have” 2 1/2 stamped on the barrel lug ?

Interesting choke request, RH -mod, LH-cyl

Yes, I have owned Parkers whose PGCA letter mentions a 2 1/2 frame, which is, as I recall, a #3 frame.