I had tried to pick up one of each version of the lifters over the last couple of years (actually the hammer guns). A few months ago I purchased a lifter (from the description and pictures I took it to be a parts gun and didn't pay much). When it arrived I found it to be a final version lifter, G grade, with nice metal, all original, with really nice wood. Everything there and original parts. It was terribly dirty but cleaned up nicely. Solid operation and no appreciable mechanical wear.
The serial number was in the 24000 range and it appears to be one of the models you mentioned, except that it had a standard Grade 2 lock. I have a 16 gauge top lever hammer from 4 years later and it has the lock with the rear screw.
I had never given much thought thought to this and went through the appropriate sections of TPS, but the whole issue of that particular lock doesn't seem to be addressed. They make a few comments about locks but the only thing definite they mention is that the 4 pin locks were used on Grade 3 and higher guns. They seem to indicate in general that the locks were changed some over time but there were no particular rhyme or reason about the application. This is the first time I have seen this issue raised, as opposed to the adoption of the check hook barrel system and improved frame at the time.
Does anyone know the specific history of that style of lock? Also, I wondered about the source of the statement about the total production of these guns being 1000? I don't see any records pertaining to lock style and have never seen it in a factory letter, so wondered about the basis of the claim. It is impossible to pin down the number of Parker made barrels with the fact that they were installed at times on guns marked as Damascus grades or ordered that way. I am not sure how you would find data on lock types.
Really curious about the whole subject.
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