Fishtail toplevers on Hammerless Parkers
 

Let's try something fun. Like a lot of us, I am a fan of fishtail toplevers and really like them on hammerless Parkers.

Let's do a survey of fishtails on HAMMERLESS Parkers. They appeared on Parker hammerguns a lot longer, but there appears to be a period in the early 1890's where they appeared on hammerless guns.

I have sn 65759 which is a GH hammerless and does NOT have a fishtail

Sn 66,223 does have a fishtail toplever

I have several serial numbers up to 71811 which DOES have a fishtail. All hammerless Parkers I own within this range have fishtails.

Sn 74014 does NOT have a fishtail.


I would like to know if those of you who have hammerless fishtail Parkers have ones that are before 66223 or after 71811. I think I have seen some in the 72,000 range, but do not remember exactly

Further, does anyone have any regular toplevers that fall within this serial number range.

Privacy will be respected. Feel free to pm me. I am hoping to learn more and share the findings in a Parker Pages article soon.

Thanks!

I think that based on previous discussions here, the latest reported fishtail lever was around 1905 or so.

Ive got an 1892 GH 12 with a fishtail but I also have several 10's from 1889 that DO NOT have a fishtail . Matter of fact I've got several pre 1885 hammer guns that do not have fish tail levers also .

I have 67337 with a fishtail lever manuf. 1891
Love them by the way.

I remember that one, but besides it, every Parker I see in the sn range above has a fishtail toplever and every one I see outside of that sn range has the regular straight toplever.

Yes, none of the really early hammerless Parkers I have seen have the fishtail and the earlier toplever hammer guns do not either.

The fishtails seem to appear on hammerless Parkers around 66,000

And as discussed on previous occasions, it is believed that the fishtail or “serpentine” top lever were used on hammerless guns simply to use up old stock. They were designed for hammer guns in order to provide enough clearance to allow opening the gun with the right hammer fully cocked. This again begs the question, “why would the superior design of the Underlifter action be discarded and the Top Action design be adopted in its place?”

Further, after the introduction of the fishtail lever, not all Parker hammer guns were fitted with it.... and after it started being fitted to hammerless guns, a comparative few had it.



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Trying to get some better data.

Both my Parker hammerless FT's fall within your slot.

Thanks for the responses. I am trying to gather some hard empirical data to back up (or disprove) what has been speculation and loose data up until now.

70253 a GHE 0 frame 16 has the fishtail top lever.

I really like the fish tale levers as well. Though I don't have a hammerless Parker with one. And after reading this thread I want one!

Most of my TA hammer guns have the straight top lever. Mills this may or may not help... the 1909 TA Hammer gun the sold on Gun Broker a few weeks ago, Serial#149687 had a fish tail lever.

Thanks Jay. I did notice that.

I wonder where, if not in The Parker Story or any of the other books written on the Parker gun, one might find such “empirical data”?





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Chuck Bishop may (or may not) reply in support of my remembering at least one hammerless Parker ordered actually specifying the fishtail or serpentine top lever.





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Hopefully Chuck will, although none of the letters for mine say anything about it.

My DH 12 #73179 has a fish tail lever.

I don't know if this helps, but my 0 Frame 16 hammer gun #72105 Is also a fish tail top lever.

Thanks Todd. That would set an upper limit.

Fishtail
 

GH 16 ga 73259 has fishtail. ( Hammerless)

I bought that gun, the fish tail was one reason I wanted it. I wonder if there is another gun (hammer or hammerless) made after that with the fish tail lever?

Thanks Scott!

That is another upper limit

Now, does anyone have a hammerless fishtail Parker below 66,000 or above 74,000? Does anyone have a straight toplever within those serial numbers?

Good snag Jack. I wonder too. Later toplever hammer guns seem to all have the fishtail (that I have seen anyway)

Mills..I have 66,156...12 ga..Should have paid more attention To Mill's ??..Mine is hammer,,,j..

i do not have a hammerless gun with a fishtail but have several guns wwith hammers that have the fishtail....all thee of my parker 8 ga hammer guns have the fishtail....several of my 10 gas have the fish tail....the 8 ga serial no s range from 24000 to 60.000i like the fish tail lever on hammer guns but like the straight lever on the hammerless guns...charlie

1892 DH 12 ga. #70662 has a fishtail

well- how is this for a theory -

when the hammerless first came onto the scene - they were still making and selling hammer guns as well, so the FT still fit a need

as the newfangled hammerless guns took off and hammer gun sales began to decline- the need to use up the FT lever inventory became apparent - so they started putting them on some of the new design.

that would explain why early hammerless do not have them but after a while for a short range of numbers - they show up regularly

BTW - its within your known range - my latest made FT is PH # 70168

I've got a fishtail GH 12 ga. 69,841 ordered in 1892. Damascus 28" barrels. Love the gun.

Matt

Rick, I think that is correct basically . I have not seen any straight toplevers within this range and they appeared on all guns seen in this range regardless of grade. I wonder if part of their reason for being was aesthetic

BINGO! Use up the old stock. THEN make and install the new straight levers. Just good business.

I have #70834, Parker DH 10. A great waterfowl gun!

66378 Grade 5 Fishtail

Thanks Michael. And that adds another high grade to our list.

68805 PH16 26”

DH12 70658 32"

Thanks Dave and Daryl!

67669 Grade 2 Hammerless 12 gauge 30” Damascus barrels on the 1-frame weighing 7 lbs., 12 oz.

59469 Grade 0 or 1 (listed as PT A C 12 32 and now sports 30” Vulcan Steel barrels.





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Thanks Dean. That 59000 range one is the first seen out of the range above. Do you have a letter and does it say anything?

Mills, 59469 is a hammer gun... but you probably saw that.





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Ok. I missed that.