Early 28 Gauge Production

[Pa SxS]

Edgar, I'll return your money in exchange for the gun

[edgarspencer]

Nah, It's obviously a fake. I'll just scrap it.

[JWH]

I was wondering if the was any counts on how many 28 gauges were built on "O" frames ? I'd love to track down how many 0 Frame VH 28 gauges were made with 28" barrels.

I had read somewhere that when the 28-gauge was introduced; they were built on the 20-gauge 0-frames. Parker most likely took a bunch of 20-gauge guns that were languishing in inventory, fitted them with 28-gauge barrels and moved some inventory.

Later adding the 00-frame with a 15/16 inch firing pin spacing for a lighter weight 28-gauge then the early guns. Then in 1926, they introduced the 000-frame with a 13/16 inch spacing for the .410-bore.

[JWH]

I spoke with Larry Delgrego and when asked how many 0 frame VH 28 gauges where made he said it's either 14 or 19 total.

It wasn't clear if that number was for VH grades specifically and or specifically with 28" barrels.

He also mentioned it was an ongoing family debate weather the total number was 14 or 19, so it sounded like a topic well covered in his shop previously.

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[Reggie B]

I think there is a lot more than 14 or 19 0 frame 28 gauges out there. I have seen more 0 frame 28 gauges than 00 frames. I don't have a ton of experience with 28 gauge Parkers, I have owned 4 and only one of the four was a 00 frame.

[JWH]

Originally Posted by Reggie Bishop

I think there is a lot more than 14 or 19 0 frame 28 gauges out there. I have seen more 0 frame 28 gauges than 00 frames. I don't have a ton of experience with 28 gauge Parkers, I have owned 4 and only one of the four was a 00 frame.

Thanks for the info, it sounds like he meant "0" frame 28 gauge VH's. Weather or not he was specifically noting ones with 28" inch barrels I'll have to follow up with him.

[James L. Martin]

Somewhere I saw 275 as the number of 0 frame 28ga guns ,can't remember where. 0 frame 28ga guns where made for approx. 12 years, that would be about 23 a year from 1900 to 1912. For what's it worth, I doubt anyone knows for sure.

[Pa SxS]

There is no way of knowing how many 0 frame 28ga. guns were made without physically looking at the guns and keeping a tally. I reviewed stock book # 75, which is the first stock book to list frame sizes. All the 28ga. guns listed were all 00 frames and all were in the 5 1/2 to 6.0 pounds except for 1 or 2 that had long barrels. Stock book 75 started at S/N 213778 July 1925.

But I have to ask, Why is it so important?

[Dean Romig]

Beginning with the first serial number listed (158496 - all gauges and grades) from 1912 onward, I count 859 28-gauge Parkers made according to the 28 gauge table in the rear of Vol II of TPS. Certainly not all were on the 00-frame and we don’t and won’t know how many were on the 0-frame either but surely the 0-frame 28 gauge guns petered out, but there are a number of guns on both sides of 1912 that are not included in the data retrieved from the available factory records, antd that number is unknown but can be closely extrapolated from the known data.

Suffice to say that the 275 number might be correct if we extrapolate from the 253 28’s made to the beginning of 1912.





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[James L. Martin]

Dean I had my doubts about that number, what would be your guess.