Early 28 Gauge Production
 

I was wondering what the earliest known 28 gauge produced by Parker?

I've seen it published in articles that Parker started production in 1903 but own a 28 gauge in the 108,3xx range from 1902 that doesn't show up in the serialization book.

There was recently, a thread relating to early 28ga. guns.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...t=23804&page=9

There are many lower (V, P) grade guns whose serial numbers do not appear in the 'book', due to, according to Bill Murphy, time constraints place on the team working in the basement at Remington.
I have an early 28, which did not show up anywhere, but on close examination of several in the immediate preceding, and following guns, The research director found it was overlooked do to a red mark partially obscuring the number. looking at the records it was determined that it, and the one before it, were a pair ordered at the same time by a well known NY sporting Goods store.
All of this trivia notwithstanding, 108xxx is at least 26 guns past the last one in the list in the above thread.

I believe it's # 94373 with Damascus barrels

94373 is the lowest serial number in the table of 28 gauge guns in the rear of Vol II of TPS.

However, it is shown as a Grade 5 with 28-inch Titanic Steel barrels.





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Anyone know the serial number of Chas. Askins' heavy 30-inch barrel, 2 7/8 inch chambered, 28-gauge he writes about in his 1910 book and December 1912 Field & Stream article "The Twenty-Eight Gauge Elf"?

The "standard" 28-gauge shell back in the day was a 2 1/2-inch shell with 1 3/4-drams of bulk smokeless powder (or 14-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite) pushing 5/8 ounce of shot.

Attachment 103581

The factory loaded 2 7/8-inch shell had a load of 2-drams of bulk smokeless powder (or 16-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite) pushing 5/8 ounce of shot.

Attachment 103582

Askins writes of hand loading 2 1/8 drams of Schultze and 3/4 ounce of shot in the 2 7/8-inch hull for his nearly 7- pound gun.

this is very interesting....a 2 7/8 inch shell and almost a 7 lb gun in 28 ga...this gun must have been a 1 frame gun possibly 2 frame...do we know the where abouts of this gun....charlie

I have a 28 that was made in 1900, and I believe there was one made in 1899.
94373 was made in 1900 also.

In addition to the V and P grade guns that were omitted, the Grade 2 guns within these ranges were not included either.





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The "Book" is the serialization book, which includes only stock book entries. Some of the research for the article in question was taken from early order books, adding to the available research. Order book information is available one gun at a time from Chuck, our researcher, at $40.00 a gun, or from an order book itself.

The team that took on the project of coping the records I understand were under a time constraint. They did a great job of getting what we now have at their on expense. For this I know we are all grateful.
I wonder if sometime in the future PGCA could get permission to access the records again.
It’s my understanding that each page had to be placed on a copy machine and copied.
With today’s technology with high definition cell phone cameras. It might be possible for a handful of people to quickly copy these records.
This would allow each page to be fully copied. Also many of the records are hard to read and the high definition pictures could be enlarge and contrast enhanced to better interpret what was written.