What year did Parker stop making Damascus Barrels?

[Harold Pickens]

An update to this old thread. I have ser# 230234, a DH 12 1frame with 30" damascus, that some saw this weekend at Rock Mtn, and many feel it may be unfired. Holding it for my wife's cousin, found in the house of her deceased parents. Not in books and no letter available(rats!)
see pics I posted a week ago under last damascus Parker.

[John Allen]

Most of the damascus barrels for the US makers came out of Belgium. When WWI broke out in 1914, the supply chain for these barrels was broken. At the same time fluid steel barrels were more available and much cheaper. This lead to the push to scare people away from damascus. The old time shooters still wanted damascus barrels and some were built into the late 1920s or later. I have seen a DHE built in 1930 that had damascus, but do not know if they were original since it was not my gun.

[Drew Hause]

Thanks for posting that Harold.
I have recorded that the latest Parker damascus barrels are SN 220,657 GH D3 1927, SN 222,845 DHE D4 1927, SN 227,020 VHE D3 1928, and now SN 230234 DH c. 1928 or 1929 (no record available).

Dean might have a correction.

[Dean Romig]

I had a CHE double trap gun 230760 made in 1928 and no information was available due to missing books.

Unfortunately it happens, as others can testify.

I believe “Harold’s” gun is a very high condition all original DH.





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[Harold Pickens]

Dean, several people saw it at Rock Mtn this weekend and felt that it may even be unfired.

[Drew Hause]

Harold: would it be possible to take a full size high resolution image of an about 10" section of barrel, where the contrast is most apparent. Outside with partial sunlight works well, with the barrel raised a few inches above a dark grey solid surface.
It would be very valuable to have evidence of what close to original Parker (likely D4) colors look like.
Or send the image to me as an attachment (not embedded in the email) to drewhausemd@yahoo.com and thanks!

This is about the best Parker DAM4 I have. I failed to document who sent the image however

[Harold Pickens]

Will do it tomorrow Drew.

[Bruce P Bruner]

Another Parker Damascus DAM4 example.

[Harold Pickens]

Drew, here are some additional pictures.

[Drew Hause]

Thank you Harold. The barrels are 3 Iron DAM3.
Interesting that they have darkened slightly forward of the forend



2 'zipper' rod to rod welds between 2 straight ribband end welds. The ribband end weld scrolls are slightly smaller, with "jumping" the ribband edges



OVERLOAD PROVED?!? What were they thinking??