1/2 frame guns
 

I have searched the Parker Pages but cannot come up with how many 1/2 frames were made. Any ideas?

There was a Parker Pages article on that subject just four or five years ago. I believe Dave Suponski has done some research on that as well.






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Craig Reynolds wrote the article. He estimated about 200-300 may have been made.

The belief is that the frames themselves were actually made in meriden. As there is a blueprint drawing, which dave has, dated 1930. But the frames were not assembled into guns until production went to Ilion. The thought is that 1 frames may have run out, so the 1/2 frames were used for lightwegiht 12g guns.

There are various combinations of 1/2 frames, barrels, and forends that can be used to make a whole gun if you have one missing something. A #1 frame barrel set, any gauge, will fit a 1/2 frame. A #0 forend will also fit on a 1/2 frame. I made a two barrel 12-16 set out of a 1/2 frame that started with no barrels.