Calling all 3 Frame 12 gauge's
 

The thread discussing Dennis Nix' latest purchase of a 3 frame VH on got me wondering. Factory records I believe did not record frame size. It would appear to me Parker Bros. occasionally built 12ga guns on 3 frames I believe to achieve a desired heavier weight. 3 Frame 12's are not rare but are certainly uncommon.

So how many are out there among us and what are they?

I have a VH with 32" barrels F/F built in 1900 on a three frame, barrel weight stamp is 5', gun is 9 lb even. It was ordered and shipped to the general store in a small Illinois town on the bank of the Mississippee river. 9 pound weight was requested. A lot of barrel swamp. No doubt intended to be and used as a Fowler. The gun was solid with modern dimensions but pretty messed up. Couple of mechanical issues, cold blued frame and barrels and checkering refreshed with a steak knife. I had Larry DeGrego & Son bring it back 100% in 2008.

Hey Pete, how about some pictures of your 3 frame:corn:

Pete and all,

I own a high condition DH Damascus 34" 12 gauge built on a #3 frame. This Parker weighs 10 pounds even and is choked with .040" in each barrel.

Mark

I have a 34" DHE 12 gauge straight grip on a 3 frame. A friend down in Mississippi has a 32" DH on a #3 frame I used to own as well. Destry has a #3 frame DHE he is quite fond of:shock:

Steve asked for pictures. Reminds me I need to take some. I think after nearly 5 years the cc has faded some but this is how it looked when I brought home from LD&S in '08. My recall is both barrels are .036 constriction.

I'd like to see pic's of those D grades.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...r/100_0307.jpg

I have 12 gauge, 30", size 3, Twist barrels which are going on my DH 10 project.

Don is correct, "The Swamp Angel" and I are near constant companions in the duck blind. I think I killed every goose I shot last year with it as well. The big magnum 10 gauge was jealous, it's not been out of the house in a couple years.

Destry

I thought since it is the only Parker I own I would put in some pictures of mine. It is aVHE 12 gauge 3 frame 34'' barrels made in 1912. I bought it in 2005 several parts were parkerized including the barrels. I had the barrels reblued by Turnbull and am still working on saving for a complete metal restoration. I put some pictures of the forearm on to get an collective opinion on whether or not I should do a complete restoration. As far as I know the wood is untouched it has the exact dimensions as the letter gives 15'' LOP and 3 1/2'' drop at heel.

Some more.

What a great gun for your only Parker. Some years ago, I traded a wonderful minty postwar 38-44 Outdoorsman for my cased DH 12 gauge Damascus factory two barrel set on the #3 frame. It's a pretty nice gun with pinned cheeks and outrageous barrels, 30" and 28", and skeleton butt. My DH Lefever sleeved mag ten was originally a #3 frame 32" Damascus twelve, also with skeleton butt. My "new to me" ex Austin Hogan extremely late lifter 12 is also on a #3 frame. In my experience, this is a real rarity, but I may be wrong about that. Of course, my little 28" 16 gauge Wisconsin grouse gun is also a #3 frame, but I guess this thread is about 12 gauges.

Who needs a Super Fox.

We want those too.

I would take the money that I was going to pay turnbull and buy another great parker. I realize you reblued the parkerized barrels but the rest of that gun looks pretty good especially the case colors. I am no expert but guns have to be pretty bad before you start working on them.

Don't need one Ed, just want one but would also love to have a 3 frame 12 with looooong barrels.

What a great gun for your only Parker, it looks great! What other parts are Parkerized? Does not look like you very far to go to make it right.

Here's my 34" #3 frame 12 gauge. "34 for 4"

The top lever, trigger guard, and forearm latch. I was going to recase color it as I was told that it is not original style. I forgot to mention it is 9lbs 8oz.

The trigger guard should be blued. Another option to consider is replacing the top lever and forend latch with original worn condition parts, as the worn parts might fit/blend better with the original/worn cc on the frame. You might be able to find those parts on this site if you ask around.

I have a grade 3 hammer gun on a 3 frame it is a 12 ga, I will get some photo's tomorrow Mark that is a beautiful gun and a killer piece of wood! Gary

So you think I should not redo the frame?

Not from what I can see in the pictures.

Eldon,

I've had a lot of vintage guns restored but if I owned your Parker I would leave it as is!

Mark

Beautiful gun Mark. Radar looks pretty proud too.

Thank you guys for the input. If I left it as is it certainly would save alot of money.:bowdown:

Eldon,

Guns are like fancy cars. Sometimes they both need and deserve to be restored.

34" #2 frame PHE with the action and barrels restored by Brad Bachelder. The gun was used by a guide on Lake Erie and was a gift from his clients.

PS: I should state that before restoration the action and barrels looked much like the condition that Dennis Nix's new to him #3 frame Vh is in. The wood was in decent so Brad was instructed to simply refinish rather than restore it.

great looking gun mark, the colors look great. brad can sure do some nice work.

Mark, Are you cornering the market on those P grades, nice 34"

1903 GH 3 frame 12ga. with 32" Damascus barrels, The gun weighs 9 pounds 6 ounces.

Patrick

One last stupid question. Are these parts interchangeable by frame size or are they specific to a frame size?

As they say, there are no stupid questions. I am pretty sure the forend lever would be the same. I "think" the lever would be the same but I there are some different styles of levers. Somebody with more knowledge of smithing will chime in hopefully.

Gary,

I just buy the good ones when I can! :whistle: Of course I heed George Washington's parting advice to his officers, "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.", such as you and my Parker mentor, Eric. :bowdown: There are of course others whom I am thankful to such as Brad, Kurt, Eric, Paul H. and probably a few more whom I'm forgetting in this early morning ramble...

Mark

So only five 3 frame 12's among the active posters? Seems low, are they that uncommon? I have seen only 6 or so for sale over the last 5 or 6 years.

I am aware of four others.
Two VH each 32" (they were both for sale thru Ivory beads a few years ago. I think one of those is for sae wiht another dealer now may be Steve Barnett but I am not positive)
Two DH's.
One 32" damascus that resides in Northern VA as of three years ago.
One 28 " unknown where abouts.

I have shot one of the 32" VH's and she is one hell of a shooting iron.

#3 frame guns are very cool.

PS:
I do remember seeing a #3 framel 36" 12 VH about two or three years ago at the Spring Southern

George Lander had a high condition 3 frame VH for sale a couple of years ago and I recall seeing a 3 frame D grade on Safari Outfitters a couple of years ago too. I remember the Ivory Bead guns as well.

This has me more excited about my DH 10 project and also glad I jumped on the set of 12 gauge barrels for it.

A 30" DH was sold in 2011 on Gunbroker by an individual in Washington State. A 28" flat-rib DH was also sold on Gunbroker in 2012. That was a very cool gun.

Ed you and I know of one #3 frame 32" VH 12 for sale.

Yes. I have my name on it.

Pete, there are actually Parker records that record frame sizes. Stock books in certain eras list frame sizes. Also some order book entries specify the "2 1/2" frame, which is the #3 frame.

Bill were you able to get any sense of % or production of 12ga on 3 frame from those records?