Hammer Guns Without Checkering
 

How many members have Parkers without any checkering? I have seen a few, all hammer guns made prior to 1880 but would like to see more so please post pics of your guns if you have one. This one is #7004, 12 gauge with 28" barrels.

Todd, this is from the 1878 price list but it is the same as the real early price list description except they didn't offer a pistol grip. I believe I've also seen many of these 0 grade guns with checkering but can't tell if it's original or added at a later date.

"Plain Twist Barrels, no Engraving or Checking. Pistol Grip; No 12 Gauge. $55.00." "Ditto with Straight Grip, $50.00." This was the lowest grade comparable to a Grade 0.

Chuck's the guy with the records but I can't say I've seen a documented 0-grade equivalent Parker of that era that had checkering. Later on the 0-grades had checkering but I don't have the serial number range or year that the change was made.

Todd, I have a couple early guns in the 3-4000 range that have no checking, All the rest of my early guns have checking, I have found that the two without checking also have plain steel barrels, I believe that plain steel barrels are pretty scarce do not know for sure, but do not see many of them . I also believe that they were pretty strong barrels for their time, maybe Chuck can chime in here? Gary

1878 10ga, underlifter, 32' twist barrels.

I don't know that this narrows down anything, but here is 9562. It is a 0 grade with barrels marked "Plain Twist". The wood is original and there is no checkering.
Attachment 39279
Attachment 39280
Attachment 39281

I also have 11009 which is also a 0 grade with Plain Twist barrels. It also has original wood, but has what appears to me to be original checkering.

I no longer own this particular gun. But here are some photos of it.

1 frame 0 grade 12g. with 28" barrels.

S/N 12896

Attachment 39313

Attachment 39314

My Lifter 8526 is checkered, not factory work. Does not look like it's been sanded out and re-cut. Bet it left the factory plain.

William

I have two hammer guns without checkering. Both 0 grades

Attached is a scan of the 1874 price list. As you can see, the lowest grade in both 10 and 12 gauges says it has Plain Steel with no engraving or checkering. The next highest grade has "English Twist" steel, no engraving or checkering. If the rib inscription says "Plain Steel" would this be an indication that it's the lowest grade? The second level says Englist Twist but I've never seen the rib inscription say this. I have seen "Twist Steel" on the rib inscription, is this "English Twist"???

Stock book #1 goes from 1500 to 4259. It's very hard to read, the printing is so faded that many parts are blank, especially the column for barrel steel. I've seen 0, iron, twist, laminated, and Damascus in the column when I can read it. Would 0 indicate Plain Twist, iron indicate decarbonized steel, twist indicate English twist, laminated and Damascus are a given. In Stock Book #2, you start to see the abbreviations PT, T0, T1, T, and PS. Many of these blocks where the barrel steel is written in is completely blank but who ever analyzed the original records wrote in red ink what type of steel was used. They must have been able to read the original records but when they were copied, it didn't pick up the faded writing so they wrote in red ink on the copy we have.

As you can see, doing research letters on these real early guns is a challenge that I don't look forward too.