Stock Book Help

[Pa SxS]

Brian, here is the problem with adding that info in letters. They are only found in the S/N range of 16985 to 18282 in stock book #6. For some reason, whoever copied that book, starting at 16985 they loaded the stock book biased to the left which gave those numbers. Usually, the right end got chopped off after the total weight. By biasing the book to the left, they excluded the first column which gives the barrel steel and grade, example Dam3. Now if I am doing a research letter and only have the stock book in that S/N range, I can't tell what the grade or barrel steel that particular gun had. Therefore, I can't do a letter on that gun.

Hopefully some day, we'll get those stock books and try and recopy them.

[Double Play]

Below is a letter I recently received from Chuck with a note asking me to measure the chamber length to see if it matched the 2 3/8 he found while doing the letter. It did not, but after reading this thread and Dean's thoughts on frame size I checked the gun and sure enough the gun is a two frame with 1 1/8" between the firing pins and 2 3/8" across the breech face. If I was a betting man my bet is Dean got it right.

Hello Mr. Frey,

Parker shotgun, serial number 18127, was ordered by H.T. Hudson of Portland OR in December of 1881 and shipped on December 7, 1881. The order was placed by Dexter W. Parker. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 10, it was a Quality D, Lifter Action Hammer Gun, 12-gauge. It featured Damascus steel barrels with a length of 30 inches.

The price was $125.00.

According to Parker Bros. Stock Book No. 6, the stock configuration was a pistol grip and its specifications were: Length of Pull: 14 ¼”, Drop at Heel: 2 5/8”, Weight: 8 pounds. The chokes were patterned RH 140 and LH 140 pellets of size 8 shot in a 24” circle at 45 yards.

[Autumn Daze]

Don't know if this will help. But I just measured two of my hammerguns. Grade 2 16 gauge lifter serial 20121 0 frame is 2.060 across the breech and my 12 gauge top lever 1 frame serial number 26145 is 2.210 across the breech

[10ga Hammer]

Chuck, Parker hammer gun #15901, #2 frame 10ga, measures 2 3/8 across the bolsters.
#17895, #3 frame 10ga measures 2 1/2 across the bolsters.
# 9848 #2 frame 10ga measures 2 3/8 across the bolsters.
17895 might be in your book. I think your conclusion is correct, indicates frame size.

[Pa SxS]

Thanks for that information Robert. It pretty much answers the question of what those numbers/fractions represent.

I was hoping someone would post dimensions of a 10ga on a 3 frame. Your S/N 17985 shows in the stock book as 2 1/2 so it correlates. Your 10 ga S/N 9848 and 15901, although not in the S/N's that have that info, being 2 3/8 would make them a size 2 frame and we know Parker made many 10 gauges on the size 2 frame.

I'm pretty sure the mystery has been solved.

Thanks everyone!

[WHO]

Serial number 17150 is a 10 gauge 3 frame gun with a 2 1/2" dimension across the bolsters.

[10ga Hammer]

Chuck, You switched numbers. It's 17895, not 17985. It is a 3 frame 10ga and measures 2 1/2. I also have 51092, 3 frame 10ga, measures 2 1/2 as well. I agree mystery solved.