Variations in ribs

[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.

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Scarce and interesting are the tapered ribs. Even more interesting is that they don't seem to normally be installed at customer request on order book entries. Just as scarce, maybe even more so, are the flat ribs known as "pigeon ribs".

Very strange is a flat rib on an 8 ga. Yeap got one and it letters out. My question is why ?

[Labowner]

This is my CH 30" 12 Flat Rib

[Ed Blake]

These are pictures of my flat-rib DH. 30" barrels, double beads, straight grip. It's a nice shooting gun.

[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.