The last Lifter

[TARNATION !!!]

Thanks Chuck. Interestingly 66611 can be viewed as 11999, also not in the book. Normally, the orientation of the numeral 1 can be determined by the horizontal line at the bottom and the serif at the top. Based on that, I have found the 11 stamped mostly in a manner to be read as 66611. But, in two instances, it is stamped to be read 11999 which would be from 1878, fitting the date range you gave. Here are the pics. What would you conclude? Regardless of SN, it is fairly decent and a 1 frame 12 to boot. Locks up tight and opens easily. Cheers, Jack

[Pa SxS]

Jack, the gun matches 11999. I think we had a drunk German stamping serial numbers that day! The barrels were originally 28".

[TARNATION !!!]

Thanks Chuck. Nice that this little mystery is resolved. I will find a proper right hammer and live with 27" barrels. It is a light weight gun so should be an easy carry in pheasant habitat. Might not be this season, as I have others yet to be broken in. Cheers, Jack

[Bill Murphy]

To answer the question about Austin's #3 frame on the chart, it is a Twist gun marked as a true P grade. I must have missed Jack's comment that Austin's gun is the last 12 gauge lifter. It is really a great gun. I shot our last sporting clays league shoot with this gun. I can't see out of my right eye and always use a crossover gun in competition. Oddly, I shot my best score of the league year with the old lifter, even though it is choked a tight full in both barrels.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Chuck Bishop

Jack, the gun matches 11999. I think we had a drunk German stamping serial numbers that day! The barrels were originally 28".

The only correctly stamped serial number (11999) is on the forend key and the trigger guard strap.





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