0 Grade Lifter 10b 2 barrel set - missing a forend?

Fishrising (Ben) · 03-25-2022, 03:09 PM

I have an 1877 0 grade lifter 10b s/n:9472 that came from the factory with a 32” barrel. At some point it had a 2nd 28” barrel made for it. Both barrels have the 9472 serial numbers on them.

Would it normally have come with a new 2nd forend as well? As the 32” barrel’s forend will not work with the 28” barrels. I unfortunately don’t have a 2nd forend for the 28” barrels. Both barrels lock up tight without the forend.

What are my options? Have a new forend made to fit out of an abandoned forend? Have a new forend made from scratch? Can the “lug” that a forend would attach to on the 28” barrel be cut and re-soldered to the proper place such that the 32” barrel’s forend would then work? Additionally can anyone decipher the notes for the 4 entries of this gun from the Parker log book? Thanks in advance!

Few pics to help tell the story, some with a tape measure:

Mills · 03-25-2022, 04:03 PM

Nice lifter! The fact that the fore end does not fit both barrels indicates there probably was a second fore end. I would check with one of the gunsmiths on here about finding a fore end that will fit, or getting the current fore end to fit both barrels somehow.

I have two true two barrel sets. One has two fore ends and one has one, although the one with one could have had a second at one point. It fits both barrel sets fine.

charlie cleveland · 03-25-2022, 06:14 PM

them 10 b shells are hard to come by...hope yoy finf that forearm....charlie

Fishrising (Ben) · 03-25-2022, 08:50 PM

I am reloading 10b but still is unfortunate I can’t use the 12b barrels that came with the gun. Guess I’ll learn from this and not assume anything in my next deal. Not sure the fore end I have can be modified to fit both barrels. Think I’ll have to see if the “lug” that the fore end would attach to can be repositioned, to a spot that will work with the fore end I have.

Bill Murphy · 03-26-2022, 07:24 AM

Relocation and fitting of the barrel lug on the second set would be my choice. You may buy nine new forends and still not find one that would fit your barrel lug.

Randy Roberts · 03-26-2022, 07:58 AM

[QUOTE=

Would it normally have come with a new 2nd forend as well? As the 32” barrel’s forend will not work with the 28” barrels. I unfortunately don’t have a 2nd forend for the 28” barrels. Both barrels lock up tight without the forend.

Ben:

With regards to your question above concerning the 2nd forend there could be factory correct 2 barrel sets out there with only 1 but I have not seen any, never say never. All that I have seen have 2 forends numbered to the barrel set they belong on. The barrel sets are also numbered on the loop as is "one" of yours, the other does not appear to be making me suspect it is not PB work. See the last paragraph from the 1929 PB catalog concerning the topic at hand which will clarify how the boys at Meriden felt. Makes me wonder, has anyone here seen a correct 2 barrel set with only 1 forend ?

Dean Romig · 03-26-2022, 08:29 AM

Judging by the August 1885 entry it looks like the 10 ga. 32” barrels were the added set at a cost of $30.

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Dean Romig · 03-26-2022, 08:45 AM

I wonder if this could be the same Dr. John A. Fritchey of Harrisburg…?

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Dean Romig · 03-26-2022, 09:53 AM

Which barrel set has the 2 stamped on the forend lug, the 32” set or the 28” set?

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Pa SxS · 03-26-2022, 10:06 AM

I knew John A. (Doc) Fritchey Jr. He would come out to the club to shoot trap back in the 70's. He once told me (before the PGCA) that he once owned a Parker 10ga. that belonged to Clark Gable. True or not, I don't know. Doc Fritchey founded the Trouts Unlimited chapter of Dauphin Co.