The one I mentioned (without going and checking) is 40xx. It definitely has the old style lifter (I tried a newer style and it wouldn't work) but the top hole is filled and barely visible in the metal surface. The old lifter works so it must have been shortened. That's why I think it was factory modified when assembled.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Romig
Stan, the pin which extended up from the frame immediately above the lifting lever when opening the action was modified/inproved upon in late 1874 and early 1875.
The lever mechanism was changed so that the pin no longer extended up from the frame and the frame was changed and the pin hole in the frame may seem to have not been but this is because the new design was retrofitted to some guns.
In late 1874 or early 1875 the change in the bolt and bite design occured in order to better facilitate the bolt to seat more securely into the bite, hence the new tapered design.
Some guns had this new design retrofitted and we have seen a few of these guns where the hole in the top of the action has been plugged but most of these examples have the later tapered bolt/bite installed.
The earliest known example where there is no hole at all in the top of the frame is Parker No. 4239 but Parker No. 5395 has the hole but it is plugged.
Pages 95 - 98 of The Parker Story explain the changes in the lifter designs.
Above, ArtS gives an example of the modification retrofit to such a Parker.
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