Chokes
 

What serial number range did Parker start to put in chokes into their shotguns?

Bob, my understanding is chokes began to appear around 1875, so that would equate to roughly the 6000 range. I don't have any specific gun to look to, but Jay Oliver might jump in here, as he has many guns earlier than 6000

I have a 10 gauge Lifter in that pre-6,000 range but it isn’t currently in my posession but I’ll measure it when I get it back.





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Here are the choke measurements of 3 lifters:

#33xx-right brl. 037" left brl. 029" 12 gauge 1874
#60xx-right brl. O37" left brl. 041" 10 gauge 1875
#171xx-right brl. 038" left brl. 014" 10 gauge 1879

On the other hand, I have several older guns welll above 6000 which appear from the factory letters and barrel measurements to still have been made with no choke. I think the 1875 number is close for a lot of guns including Parker, but I think a lot of people specified guns with no choke or with pattern densities wit smaller shot that would have required little choke to attain. I know I have guns made in 1880 to 1885 range which have what appear to be original non-bored barrels with no chokes. I doubt if many people actually had the chokes completely removed from standard barrels, especially on 10 gauge.