Frame Size Variants

[B. Dudley]

Yes, Parker “shop language” referred to the frame sizes by the outside breech ball measurements, not the numbers stamped on the barrel lug as we know them today. Chuck will confirm that many of the earlier stock books reference this outside measurement in them for frame size, before the books started being recorded with the more commonly known frame size numbers.

The barrels were marked with frame sizes for easy identification. But the frames were not. So the frames themselves were referred to by the outside breech measurement for size. Of course after finishing and shaping the measurements will vary some.

The weight and balance of a gun can be greatly effected with how much material is removed or left on the frame. Not long ago I had a 2 frame 12g with 32” barrels that was a true “cannon breech” sort of gun. The gun weighed well over 9 lbs. The gun could have easily been built on a 3 frame. But the factory chose a 2 frame. Even when just the back half of the gun was being held, it felt just heavy as hell in the frame. Big breech balls and less filing in the body of the frame.

[Dean Romig]

What say you Chuck?

Can you post a picture(s) of an entry in the ledgers that supports what Austin referenced?





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[Bill Murphy]

I own a #3 frame gun that was referred to as a 2 1/2 in the order. I'm sure there are others that refer to the frame in inches rather than frame number as stamped on the rear lug. Austin clarified that. The authors also referred to a #8 frame gun which later turned out to be a late production eight gauge gun owned by a friend of mine with the gauge stamped on the rear lug. We have learned a lot about frame sizes since the publishing of The Parker Story.

[Bill Murphy]

Chuck, in answer to Dean's request, and without a lot of searching, you could print a copy of the order book entry for Serial Number 125,757, which was ordered as a "2 1/2 frame".