Parker Lifter 3081
 

I bought a nice 1874 Vintage at the Tulsa Show Serial 3081.It is a 10ga
and nice condition. Serial#on the action flat of B3081. It appears some moron
cut the bbls to 29 1/4. The book shows it to be a 12 ga so maybe numbers
in the book are switched. Is a B grade a precursor to the G ?
The lug has only the letters TB,the barrel has B3081,10 and AL, and on the barrel flat F9R.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/DSC_00061.JPG

Leighton - Will you refinish those barrels? Are they twist or damascus?

They are three bar Damascus and I plan to refinish to the black-brown as original

Leighton, the checkering on the forend is the early "G" style referred to as "three-point".

Leighton,

That old girl looks great for her age. I don't know about the barrels, I would leave the patina that has taken 130 years. Have I missed something from the picture? Anyway a wonderful find.

Kindest, Harry

B3081
 

Very interesting Leighton. I bought 3083 as part of an all or nothing estate sale of three Parker lifters about 15 years ago. It is listed as a ten gauge, but measures as a 12 ga. It has a three point fore end checking pattern and the same lock engraving pattern as 3291, which I am quite sure is a $135 grade. The fore end is not the bow tie of 3291, and 3083 has a latch fore end release. I would assume that the later checking pattern and latch change were done at the same time.

Best, Austin

I decided to try some 10 ga 2 7/8 in it yesterday that I had cut and they will not go!?
I now find that the chambers are close to 2 1/2 inches . Even 2 5/8 seems tight . Is this normal for an 1874 era gun to have about 2 5/8 chambers?

They are probably square cornered chambers which require shells very close to the exact length of the chamber, whatever that length may be.

Well, it looks like I am gonna have to trim my 2 3/4 shells to 2 1/2 now. :(

Davis has a top lever 10 gauge like that, chambers measure in at 2 1/2. And, believe it or not, I have a factory loaded PAPER Selby 10 gauge shell of that length in my collection.

Destry