3 inch Chambers

[Bruce Day]

Fajen or Bishops wood from Warsaw , Missouri, and Simmons rib. Simmons made up many of these in the 60’s and 70’s from their shop in Olathe , Kansas. It was also usual by Simmons to bore the chambers to 2 3/4 or 3” as part of general “modernization”. They did this to a lot of guns. Winchester Mod 12’s were fitted with a new stock , usually in black walnut but sometimes in maple or myrtle , a ventilated rib added , whiteline recoil pad and rebluing. Temperature control on the DuLite blue was a problem and many turned out purple hued .

Simmons also blued Parker barrels and frames. Sporterizing 1903 Springfields was also usual .

As of a couple years ago, they were still doing this type of work. Simmons also monobloc sleeved Parker barrels with straight taper tubes.

[John Davis]

Bruce, that's interesting information. I have a 12 ga. BHE on a three frame (the Vorhees gun). It was originally a 34 inch gun with splinter forend. It still has 34 inch barrels but they've been monoblocked and a ventilated rib added. Also sports a BTFE now and was re-case colored. I know that some of the work was performed by the Delgrego's. Now I'm wondering if Simmons had hold of the gun at one time.