Top Lever Observations
 

Attached are photos of the top lever of two 20 gauge Parkers. Note the difference in the top levers. One is more concave (dished out) and the other is more flat with little to no concave shape to it. What are your thoughts?

https://i.imgur.com/AWF4tA9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WAyLKs8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Js8jWpP.jpg

The driver is the rib. Flat vs concave.
The profile of the rib is carried onto the frame and the top lever.

Generally the flat style is seen on vent Rib guns. But, your gun is an example if a flat “hollow” rib.

Thanks Brian for confirming my thoughts. This particular gun letters with several options and very specific stock dimensions but the flat rib is not mentioned in the letter.

Note also that the top of the breech face, from the top of one breech ball to the top of the other is flat. As Brian says, this is typical of guns with a ventilated rib but is also how they were on guns with a raised flat rib. Typically such guns were ordered as trap or skeet guns.
How many options did this gun have? What are they, according to the known records? How many barrel sets was the gun made with? Anything in the records about ribs?

That gun appears to have a flat rib, is it?



.

Dean the gun letters as a straight grip with checkered butt. The various dimensions of the stock are also specified as well as the size of the checkered butt. It also letters with a hinged trigger. Chokes specified were cylinder/modified. One barrel set, 28" with double ivory beads. The flat rib is not mentioned in the letter. But yes it is a flat rib.

The hinged trigger is usually a dead giveaway for a competition gun of sorts. As are particular stock dimensions.





.