When was Bead sculpting eliminated on D grades and below?
 

Was looking through TPS, and read the part again about removing the Bead sculpting from guns below D grade in the mid 20s.

My question then is, did all guns prior to this have bead sculpting on the bolsters?

My 1921 VH has them and my 1890 GH has them, surpisingly though, my 1899 DH does not...

Pictures below.

Uh oh. Now I have to dig out all of my Parkers to check for "bead sculpting".

Bill Holcombe, as you have found, the answer to your question is no.

And some guns have it long past the supposed termination date. Just like some guns have long and deep bottom frame grooves well into the 1930's.

A great many matched frames and barrels were put into inventory even before their finished grade was determined. The bead sculpting may have been done around the time they were matched and not taken from inventory to fill a particular order until years later.
We have seen evidence of this practice throughout the history of Parker Gun manufacture.

Well mine was made and sold in 1899, and according to TPS all guns made prior to the 1920s, so I was surprised when I looked at mine and didn't have it. So I was just curious, lol thought I might have an earlist known serial number.

Hmmm.... My DH 90739 has the bead. Strange, isn't it?

Nothing is strange is anymore with Parkers.

Generally speaking, for a gun prior to the '20s to not have the bead is considered an oddity.
I have seen it before, but only once as I recall.

Thx Brian, I was curious if that was the case or if this was an error in TPS.