Variations in ribs

[Bill Murphy]

Look in googlebooks for The American Machinist July 10, 1913, pages in the forties, for a full description of the building of Parker barrels, including pictures of the machines used in the various operations. In my research files, I have descriptions and inventories of these machines, but I have never seen pictures. The article describes the "one line at a time" procedure and also the procedure used to skip the cutter over the rib inscription and the end of the rib. Unbelievable.

[Chuck Heald]

I've never seen an Parker upper rib that was not tapered. But then, I haven't seen as many Parkers as some of you. Can someone post a picture and description of what was meant by rib that is NOT "tapered"?

[Bill Murphy]

A "tapered rib" on a Parker usually describes a rib that is rather severely tapered, like from 7/16" at the breech to less than 1/4" at the muzzle, a 3/16" taper over the length of the barrel. The normal taper of a Parker rib is more like 1/2" at the breech to 7/16" at the muzzle, a taper of only 1/16" over the length of the barrel.

[edgarspencer]

Bill, John, and others;
This got me thinking so I just measured a few of mine.
DHE16/1/30" .500-.285
VHE16/0/28" .535-.395
VH 16/1/26" .535-.405 (seems to be the same rib as the VHE16, as that
measures .405 at 2" back from the muzzle)
GH/16/1 2Bbl set
/30" .485-.355
/28" .485-.385
VH 20/0/28" .560-.350
BHE12/1.5/28" .535-.395
DH12/1/28" .560-.385
DHE12/1.5/30" .535-.380

The .560 on the 0 frame 20 is an anomally, but that's a 1900 gun.
The DHE16 must be what is called a 'tapered' rib.

Another thing I never noticed is my dad's VH16 has no termination, but it's in the book as a 26" , and he bought it new in Meriden. Maybe it was one built for stock and cut down to 26" before it every left the factory.
I didn't measure the hammer guns.

[John Truitt]

Parker also produced raised flat solid ribs. Raised as in vent rib height.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by John Truitt

Parker also produced raised flat solid ribs. Raised as in vent rib height.

Yes! Those are my favorites!

[John Havard]

Ed, did either of your PGCA letters report that flat ribs were specified by the purchaser?

Dean or John, do either of you have a photo of a flat raised rib? That must be up there quite high!

[Ed Blake]

John, my gun is not in the book, or are records available. It's one of those guns around 1900 for which the records are lost. It's safe to say the flat rib was a special order. The gun is a #2 frame, but has a slim grip and is about 7.5 lbs.

[John Truitt]

I will take pics of mine tonight and post.
This is a special custom order rib. In fact the whole gun was custom in many ways.
Its a 34" rasied flat rib that tapers/ narrows towards the muzzle.

[Bruce Day]

OK, here are a couple from the safe, both D 20's. Two issues are present:
first you see the width of the tapered rib is less than the standard rib. At the breech end, the ribs are the same width. Second, you see the matting termination on one is back from the end leaving about 1/4" unmatted. On the second, the matting termination is at the end with only a straight line across. Both are original length, not cut, not dressed with a file.

The tapered rib variation is not dependent on barrel length, I have them on 28's, 30's and 32's. My oldest tapered rib is a 1905 C Bernard with Bernard rib, newest a 1939. They may have begun prior to 1905. They are not grade dependent, I've seen them on V's. Some have surmised they were late developments, but that is not so.

I am informed that sometimes tapered or standard ribs were specified, however on all of mine with tapered ribs, the records do not specify. I have not conducted nor had conducted any specific research into the records looking for tapered ribs.

I like the looks of them but do not think they make any difference in use. We discussed this with several people at Pheasant Fest and will likely do so again at the NRA. People can sight down and see if it makes any difference to them.