Flat Rib

[David Miller]

I have a Parker DH with a flat rib. I have not seen another flat rib but did see a reference to one. How rare is the flat rib and does it affect the collectibality and/or value of the gun?

[Labowner]

Dave, I have a flat rib CH 1901 and have not seen more than one or two flat rib guns in the last couple years. Post a couple of pictures if you get a chance.
Bob

[David Miller]

Bob,
Thanks, I will try to do that tomorrow.
Dave

[C.O.B.]

I know of a DHE 20 flat rib gun with 32 in barrels.

[David Miller]

Thanks Richard. There seem to be not very many!!
Dave Miller

[David Miller]

I tried to upload pictures of the DH Flat Rib to this post but was unable to do that.
David Miller

[Don Kaas]

I don't think a flat rib adds much value to a Parker but is is another interesting feature usually found on target style Parkers. Most of the time the feature goes un-noticed. A friend of mine has a BHE and a DHE both 32" 12 gauges with flat ribs. There are 2 variations I have seen on these ribs, one with a basic placement vis a vis the muzzles similar to the normal concave rib and the other where the rib end in lowered well into the muzzles creating a higher shooting set of barrels. Flat ribs are often called "pigeon ribs" and are found commonly on British pigeons guns with a "file cut" ribs. BTW,the latter term refers to the look of the rib (it looks like a file) rather than by what tooling was used to matte it. My 1893 Purdey 2 barrel set "pigeon gun" has flat,"file cut" ribs on both of its barrel set.

[David Miller]

Thanks Don, do you have any idea how many of the flat ribs were made?
Mine does appear to be positioned very much like my other concave ribs.
Dave Miller

[Don Kaas]

No, I don't but not that many.

[Labowner]

Dave, try emailing pics. to yourself and they will get resized for you, then save them and try down loading them.