How many Top Action guns made without Dolls Head?

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I had previously thought that I got short changed because my Grade 2 doesn't have a Dolls Head!

Eris and "Inspector Parker" Kurt D. spotted the missing Dolls Head immediately and informed me, "A top action withour a dolls head is pretty rare!"

Thanks Eric and Kurt!

[Bill Murphy]

Hammerless without dolls head except Trojans are very rare. There is no known way to tell how many were made.

[Austin W Hogan]

I think this Folsom order has been shown before. There is a note Top Action Ext Rib at the upper left. The orders on this page are in the 26 - 29000 serial range.
The first top actions appearred in the upper 24000 s/n range. 26145 has an extension. I think TPS estimates the number without extension at about 1000. There was a top action for sale at Vintagers about 5 years ago that did not have the extension.

Best, Austin

[Jeff K.]

Bill,
I have a twenty ga Vh without a dolls head and without a safety. It has 26" barrels and a ball grip.
Jeff

[Bill Murphy]

Jeff, have you ever shared the provenance on that great gun with us?

[Jeff K.]

Bill,
I have mentioned it in the past. Serial # is 126522. Shipped Oct. 8 1904 to O. W. Gaines of Meriden Conn. lop 14 1/4 DAC 1 5/8 DAH 2 1/2 Weight 6 lbs. RH Cyl LH Mod. Brain spasm, Barrels 28" not 26".

[Big D]

Looks like the Doll's Head cutout has been filled in on that gun, Was that standard?

[Dean Romig]

Other examples we have seen were done the same way. Are there any examples of frames that were never mortised (stamped/cut) for the doll's head?

[Jeff K.]

The only ones I have seen have been filled in. The higher grade ones are engraved over and are harder to see.

[Dean Romig]

Now doggone it Jeff, you're holding out on us.... Please tell us about that one.