Early 28 Gauge Production

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Joel Hackett

I've seen it published in articles that Parker started production in 1903 .

I have a 28 that was made in 1900, and I believe there was one made in 1899.
94373 was made in 1900 also.

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

I have a 28 that was made in 1900, and I believe there was one made in 1899.
94373 was made in 1900 also.

Craig wrote:

"In the book 'Best Guns' by Michael McIntosh (copyright edition 1999), on page 8 (5th paragraph) it says "... "in 1905, Parker built the first hammerless doubles in America chambered in 28-gauge."

As they say in PA Dutch country, "Edgar hat recht; Craig nichts besonders..." If missing 'book' dates & entries are interpolated correctly against SN chronology, the very first Parker 28 ga. built (a Damascus barrel Grade 5!) was built either in very late (e.g., November or December) 1899 or in January of 1900. Attempting to definitively document an exact production date absent the "missing books" is akin to predicting the movement of hurricanes in the Atlantic using the US vs. the European models.