Identifying a 1/2 Frame
 

Earlier this month I purchased a VHE-12 gauge from one of the PGCA members from the for-sale section on this site.

There was an on going discussion in the ad thread about what the frame size was or could be for this particular gun. I've done some due diligence on this one since I received the gun and thought I would share my findings here for everyone to see.

Let start out by setting the table. This is a late production Remington manufactured gun with the typical Ilion features you would expect to see on a Parker of this era. It's a VHE-12ga sporting 28" barrels serial # 241657 which I believe was made in January 1941 if I'm reading the Remington codes correctly. The barrels are marked Cyl-Mod but actually measure .008 & .016 with wall thickness of .041 on each tube.

The confusion on identifying the frame size originated from the frame size stampings on the barrel lug. The seller originally thought it to be a one frame & others speculated that it could be anything from a 1 1/2 to a 1/2 frame based on the lug stamping. One of the members pointed out that the only way to truly identify a 1/2 frame is to measure the frame and compare those findings to the frame size chart in the Parker Story. I'll be adding some pictures of the measurements I made in additional postings so please stay with me & wait for comments until I get everything posted.

Here's a couple of pictures of the lug stampings. One is the way it was in the ad, the second one is colored with a sharpie for contrast. I'm sure you will notice what lead to the confusion about the frame size.

Here's the frame size chart from the Parker Story.

Measurement between the firing pins. The chart shows it should be 1 1/16" which would be shared by both a 1 frame & a 1/2 frame.

Distance across bolsters the chart shows 2 3/16" for a 1/2 frame.

Distance across hinge chart shows 1 1/2" for 1/2 frame

Distance across breech chart shows 1 5/8"

Height of standing breech chart shows 1 5/32"

That stamping on the barrel lug is correct for a 1/2 frame.

See the photo here of two NOS barrel sets. The one is a 1-1/2 and the other is 1/2. see the difference between the stamping. There really is not variation in the frame size stamping.

Attachment 51871

good presentation of the question

maybe this should be moved to the general discussion forum unless the gun is back up for sale

I believe this one is a true 1/2 frame based on the measurements. It's too bad that who ever did the lug stamping had a bad day with numbers stamp & hammer.

Please let me know your thoughts on this one.

One last picture showing the holding fixture I used while doing the measurements.