Rare BHE .410 4/0-frame sighting

[Bill Murphy]

Dean, actually, the 0000 mark on the lug would be there on 00 barrels as well as 0000 barrels. That's just the way the Repro factory marked them. So then it gets complicated. If I am right about the firing pin distance, the 0000 receiver would be different from the 28 gauge 00 receiver. My recollection is that the genuine 0000 receiver has the same pin separation as a factory Parker Brothers 000 .410 receiver. In addition to the different appearance of the breech balls, the pin separation is different on the Repro 00 and the Repro 0000 .410 guns. The pin separation on the 000, and supposedly the 0000, is 13/16". The separation on the 00 frame, whether original Parker Brothers or Repro 28 gauge or .410 on the 28 gauge frame, is 15/16". Now, I am working from memory from when I measured 0000 Repro pin separations that were in the possession of Geoffroy Gournet. Maybe the owner of a 0000 frame BHE or Gournet custom could confirm. I believe I also measured pin separations in 0000 frames when Kevin McCormack and I had a couple of 0000 frame Repros in our display at Baltimore a few years ago.

[Bill Murphy]

Now that some generous posters have provided us with pictures of the real 0000 frame Repros, guys like Greg and Kenny will have a better understanding that you don't need a scale or calipers to identify one. They are just plumb different in outer appearance.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Now that some generous posters have provided us with pictures of the real 0000 frame Repros, guys like Greg and Kenny will have a better understanding that you don't need a scale or calipers to identify one. They are just plumb different in outer appearance.

I had no idea that I didn't understand what I identified as a 0000-frame BHE/DHE engraved Repro was when I started this thread. Thank you for pointing that out, Bill. It just goes to show that you can learn something new here everyday!

[Bill Murphy]

Greg, I know this thread was hard reading, but I think the information has gotten out. I have probably handled more 0000 frame Repros than anyone but Geoffroy and the Skeuses, but have never owned one. When I saw the Mike Weatherby ad in Shotgun News a few decades ago ($16,000), I knew I never would. I wish I could have talked to Paul Dorsa before he sold his.

[Wild Skies]

Although I'm not privy to it, I have a hunch that Paul Dorsa still owns the gun and has it on consignment with Steve Barnett, but I could be wrong.

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks for the info.

[Chris T.]

For what it's worth, Steve Barnett has a OOOO frame BHE up on his site.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Chris Travinski

For what it's worth, Steve Barnett has a OOOO frame BHE up on his site.

News Flash for you Chris, we discussed this listing close to a month ago, starting back on pg. 6 of this thread.

[Chris T.]

I guess I'll mind my own business, didn't mean to waste your time.

[Wild Skies]

No need to apologize Chris, I'm quite sure Steve Barnett appreciates the mention.