How many Top Action guns made without Dolls Head?

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 02-07-2011, 10:50 AM

Gentlemen (and any ladies),

The Parker story states that the Top Action (top lever) guns started production in 1882. It further states that the Dolls Head was added shortly thereafter, or perhaps it states after 1882.

1. Does anyone know how many Top Action guns were made without a Dolls Head?

2. Is there a breakdown by grade for Top Actions without a Dolls Head?

Respectfully,
Mark

Dean Romig · 02-07-2011, 11:19 AM

Mark, I believe that when Parker Bros. made an improvement or modification to the design 'standard' records of which serial numbers to be manufactured to this new 'standard' were not kept. I think an educated guess is the best we can come up with.

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 02-07-2011, 11:40 AM

Thanks Dean!

Okay, of the appoximately 5000 Parkers made in 1882, what percentage would be, based on our best statistical deduction, Top Actions?

This is assuming that all production of Top Actions made in 1882 would not have a Dolls Head.

Thanks,
mark

Opening Day · 02-07-2011, 12:01 PM

Like I told you at the show I have "No" idea.... Be interesting what others that know about these guns come up with. Would be an interesting article for the Parker Pages. Eric

Dean Romig · 02-07-2011, 12:01 PM

What are the statistics upon which we can base our "statistical deductions"?

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 02-07-2011, 12:03 PM

Dean,

I was hoping that you would know

Autumn Daze · 02-07-2011, 12:32 PM

I would think less than 5%. Top lever guns without the dolls head are rarely seen. There was some discussion awhile ago that pigeon ring competetors liked guns without the dolls head for speed in loading.

todd allen · 02-19-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

I would think less than 5%. Top lever guns without the dolls head are rarely seen. There was some discussion awhile ago that pigeon ring competetors liked guns without the dolls head for speed in loading.

I don't know why there would be a need for speed in loading for the pigeon ring.

Bill Murphy · 02-19-2011, 09:07 PM

OK, that may be true, but about the only guns specifically ordered in the hammerless era "without doll's head" are competition guns. If not pigeon shooters, then trap shooters. Has anyone seen a hammerless graded small gauge gun without doll's head? I have not seen such a gun.

Dollar Grade · 02-21-2011, 11:45 PM

Top lever hammer guns without dolls head extension per tables in the grades chaper in TPS: Grade 0 and 2 only

grade 0 724 out of 23426 1:33
grade 1 no table (144) out of 4325
grade 2 283 out of 7547 1:27
grade 3 no table (45) out of 1337
grade 4 no table (3) out of 100
grade 5 no table (2) out of 71
grade 6 no table (1) out of 32

Total estimate 1202

One could probably use the two two available tables to set up a ratio for the rest of the grades. Some sort of estimate could be determined. I am assuming it would only apply to grade 0 to grade 6. Per the 1:33 and the 1:27 I will average it to 1:30 for the other grades and put the approximate value in parentheses, with some rounding off of course. I am making the assumption that there were also non dolls head guns made in other than grade 0 and 2..........not sure why they wouldn't have been. Maybe the grade 1 wasn't available at the time ?? If that is the case then the total may very well be 1007 as shown in the two tables.