Chokes

[bob lyons]

What serial number range did Parker start to put in chokes into their shotguns?

[edgarspencer]

Bob, my understanding is chokes began to appear around 1875, so that would equate to roughly the 6000 range. I don't have any specific gun to look to, but Jay Oliver might jump in here, as he has many guns earlier than 6000

[Dean Romig]

I have a 10 gauge Lifter in that pre-6,000 range but it isn’t currently in my posession but I’ll measure it when I get it back.





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[WHO]

Here are the choke measurements of 3 lifters:

#33xx-right brl. 037" left brl. 029" 12 gauge 1874
#60xx-right brl. O37" left brl. 041" 10 gauge 1875
#171xx-right brl. 038" left brl. 014" 10 gauge 1879

[ArtS]

On the other hand, I have several older guns welll above 6000 which appear from the factory letters and barrel measurements to still have been made with no choke. I think the 1875 number is close for a lot of guns including Parker, but I think a lot of people specified guns with no choke or with pattern densities wit smaller shot that would have required little choke to attain. I know I have guns made in 1880 to 1885 range which have what appear to be original non-bored barrels with no chokes. I doubt if many people actually had the chokes completely removed from standard barrels, especially on 10 gauge.