Purpose of frame sizes...

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Rick, come over here and sit on Uncle Bill's knee. .

now THATS just creepy

but thanks for the history lesson. I have had letters that referenced the order book number, and have included pattern results. But yet to get one with a frame size.

[Bill Murphy]

Rick, "pattern results" will only come from the stock book entry. "Requested patterns" may be mentioned in the order book entry. Mention of frame size is truly rare. I have a DH two barrel set on a #3 frame. The order book entry requests a "2 1/2" frame, which is the width of the #3 frame. This is not the first time I have seen a reference to the 2 1/2 frame. Maybe Chuck Bishop will remember other order book entries specifying frame size.

[Researcher]

So frame sizes were a function of desired weight, and not based on the load intended to be used?

FRame sizes were not just for weight, but also to achieve different balance.

[Pa SxS]

Murphy, I recently did a letter on a gun where the order book requested a 2 1/2 frame. That's the only reference to a frame size I've seen in a order book and one Parker never made (I know never say never!). When I questioned the current owner, he said it was on a size 3 frame so I figured Parker rounded up to the next even size. Off the top of my head, I can't remember who requested the letter. Did the original customer think Parker made a 2 1/2 frame?

[Bill Murphy]

No, the 2 1/2 frame was not a commonly known entity, but obviously, it was a term used among factory people to designate the #3 frame. Whether some retail customers knew about the big frame is doubtful, but the terminology made it to the order books. No one "rounded up" 2 1/2 to 3. The #3 frame is 2 1/2" wide according to the frame dimension chart in The Parker Pages. I have no idea why factory people didn't use the same numbers we do, but they apparently didn't. I also don't know why other frame sizes weren't described in "insider's lingo", but they don't seem to have been, at least in my experience.

[Bill Murphy]

Since frames did not have a frame number stamped on them, the only way a floor mechanic at Parker Brothers could identify a #3 frame was to measure it with whatever measuring device he had in hand. A #3 frame was 2 1/2" wide.

[Dean Romig]

Bill, we presume that measurement is across the face of the bolsters, correct?





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[Bill Murphy]

In 2013, on this thread, Chuck says he has only seen one gun ordered by the "2 1/2" designation to denote a wish for a #3 frame. I have two of them just in my meager collection. Do you think maybe Chuck has seen a few more since 2013? In my opinion, customers didn't know anything about a #3 frame or a 2 1/2 frame. The customer only knew "big" or "heavy" and the person writing the order at Parker Brothers knew that meant a 2 1/2 inch frame in a 12 gauge gun. My #3 frame 16 gauge specifies "2 1/2" as the frame size on the order. I'm sure the customer only knew "real heavy", not any particular frame size.

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

FRame sizes were not just for weight, but also to achieve different balance.

This I what I have noticed going up in a frame sizes you can bring the weight back to center if you are using long or heavy barrels .

I think the 10 gauge probably had the most varied weight range of any Parkers . Ive seen them from 7lbs up to 15lbs and from frame sizes 1 to 6 .

I have seen #3 frame 10 gauges cover a wide variety as well though 8-11lbs .