Fishtail toplevers on Hammerless Parkers

[Mills]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

Ive got an 1892 GH 12 with a fishtail but I also have several 10's from 1889 that DO NOT have a fishtail . Matter of fact I've got several pre 1885 hammer guns that do not have fish tail levers also .

Yes, none of the really early hammerless Parkers I have seen have the fishtail and the earlier toplever hammer guns do not either.

The fishtails seem to appear on hammerless Parkers around 66,000

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

Yes, none of the really early hammerless Parkers I have seen have the fishtail and the earlier toplever hammer guns do not either.

The fishtails seem to appear on hammerless Parkers around 66,000

well- how is this for a theory -

when the hammerless first came onto the scene - they were still making and selling hammer guns as well, so the FT still fit a need

as the newfangled hammerless guns took off and hammer gun sales began to decline- the need to use up the FT lever inventory became apparent - so they started putting them on some of the new design.

that would explain why early hammerless do not have them but after a while for a short range of numbers - they show up regularly

BTW - its within your known range - my latest made FT is PH # 70168

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

well- how is this for a theory -

when the hammerless first came onto the scene - they were still making and selling hammer guns as well, so the FT still fit a need

as the newfangled hammerless guns took off and hammer gun sales began to decline- the need to use up the FT lever inventory became apparent - so they started putting them on some of the new design.

BINGO! Use up the old stock. THEN make and install the new straight levers. Just good business.

[Steve Parker]

I have #70834, Parker DH 10. A great waterfowl gun!