Number check BHE with 3" chambers
 

Wonder if this is verifiable
Serial Number; 132686
Thanks in advance

Join the PGCA and order a letter will be the best way to find that out Serial # book wont tell

I expire every year. Should'a bought a life membership back in the day, but at 67, annual could be life. Never know.
Thanks for the response.

not in the book, and that would not give the chamber length if it was

a letter may

rejoining just for the letter would be worth it for a BHE IMHO

Been with the PGCA since 1996. Life membership would have been a good investment.

It still would be.

A Life Membership would take you through age 80 at $40/year.... if the Annual Membership remains at $40.

That's the optimistic viewpoint. On the pessimistic side "Life Member of the PGCA" would make a nice bullet-point in your epitaph. :cool:




.

I'll get the membership reup done this weekend. Then I'll get the letter ordered.

Todd, I thought the same as you when I opted for a life membership over the annual, I will be 78 God willing on March 7th and continue to enjoy the benefits of life membership not having to remember to re-up every year, and the great storehouse of knowledge that can be gleaned from this site.A few years ago I knew a gentleman that I admired very much for his business savvy I ask him how he did it. He said he planned ahead, 40 years or more. He was 65 at the time he is now over 90 and has had a few ups and downs but still works every day, I have not forgotten what he said, Gary

Gary, I will be 82 march 6 th.

Happy Birthday my friend, hope we both have a few more. Have you ever stopped to think how many raffle tickets you have sold over the years, Thank you for what you have done and continue to do, Gary

Done, and doner. Letter request emailed. Hope this answers the question(s)
That said, when was the first known example of 3" 12 ga. chambers first produced?

good question...hope someone can answer this for you...charlie

I'd bet Parker Bros. was chambering 12-gauge "Pigeon Guns" for 3-inch 12-gauge shells in the 1890s, maybe earlier.

In those days the long shells didn't have a heavier payload. More/better wadding was their feature.

Attachment 81415

Attachment 81416

The 12-gauge 3-inch progressive burning powder, high velocity loads with 1 3/8 ounce of shot came on the market circa 1924/5 --

Attachment 81417

The 12-gauge 3-inch Magnum load with 1 5/8 ounce of shot came out in 1935, along with Winchester's Model 12 Heavy Duck.

Todd,
I choose a Life Membership when I was 69
Never regretted it!!
Jim

really like those 3 inch shell boxes..i have 2 boxes of the 3 inch record shells and a few boxes of the 3 inch 1 3/8 ounce loads in 12 ga ive got to learn how to post pictures....charlie

The letter arrived yesterday. (Thanks Chuck) The pedigree of the gun was confirmed. Ownership, choke boring, (IC/Full. Dimensions, etc.
The gun was purchased in 1905, and then returned to the factory for a complete tune-up in 1909.
No mention of the chamber lengths, so all we can do is speculate.
Attachment 81719

Deep South bird hunting town. Not likely a quail gun though!

He spec'd it at 8 lbs, and evidently wanted an open first shot, and super tight second barrel.
The same combination I have preferred on hand thrown pigeons. (Hmmmm) Then you throw in 3" chambers. Waterfowl?
I wish this gun could talk.

Very interesting.

Ok, it sounds like the owner of the BHE was planning ahead. Call em in over decoys, miss with the first shot and hope for the best with the second.

Here is a turn of the Century pic of CD Smith (on right) with his brother
Attachment 81742

There appears to be minimal tissue damage so it is my guess those fine specimens were taken with the right barrel. :rotf:

Well, at least we now know for sure it was refinished . Parker 1909 ; -)
Oh, and the chokes are original.

Todd,

Do you have a picture of this gun you can post? It would be interesting to see the engraving on the floor plate.

Ken

Here's a link to it on the for sale forum;
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28930

God bless you Ed. Stay well. You give hope to the rest of us aging pgca members