Question for Parker Historians

[BRDHNTR]

I may have overlooked it but i could not find the answer in The Parker Story to the following question. When Parker re-barreled one of their guns, did they serial number the barrels to the same serial numbers elsewhere on the gun?

Also, does anyone know what 44 stamped on the barrel flats means?

[Jeff K.]

from my experience, yes they put the serial number of the gun on the new barrels.
I would not say that was the practice 100% of the time.

[Bill Murphy]

4 4 is probably the unstruck barrel weight of a 12 gauge gun. 4 pounds, 4 ounces.

[B. Dudley]

A set of replacement barrels would be marked and numbered in the exact same manner as any barrel set put on a new gun.

[King Cobb]

Only discrepancy might be if the barrel steel types don't line up with what original steel type. Several guns that vame from factory with damascus got replaced with Vulcan.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Bill Holcombe

Only discrepancy might be if the barrel steel types don't line up with what original steel type. Several guns that vame from factory with damascus got replaced with Vulcan.

That is an interesting comment. In the spirit of just conversation, why do you suppose those barrels were changed out to Vulcan. Probably a myriad of reasons. Guns are tools that were knocked and banged around and used I am guessing and using Vulcan was just the most economical repair at the time in the evolving faster, better, less expensive industrial process management. Or, was that a conscientious decision to make a change to use modern powder.

I am probably guessing D. All the above. Unless you may know something.

[King Cobb]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

That is an interesting comment. In the spirit of just conversation, why do you suppose those barrels were changed out to Vulcan. Probably a myriad of reasons. Guns are tools that were knocked and banged around and used I am guessing and using Vulcan was just the most economical repair at the time in the evolving faster, better, less expensive industrial process management. Or, was that a conscientious decision to make a change to use modern powder.

I am probably guessing D. All the above. Unless you may know something.

As I understand it, when you got a set of replacement barrels, you had the option of paying to get a matching type or a cheaper barrel type. You see it also with barrels that were added from the factory later. Sometimes they match barrel ttpe sometimes they don't.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Bill Holcombe

As I understand it, when you got a set of replacement barrels, you had the option of paying to get a matching type or a cheaper barrel type. You see it also with barrels that were added from the factory later. Sometimes they match barrel ttpe sometimes they don't.

Thanks. I think Dean and Brian have alluded something similar to your reply as well. It is never just one thing probably that would make someone make a change from a duplication to replacement. Sometimes price at the end of the day does matter.

My only other thought and not certain if any merit to it is that maybe some asked for new barrels based on new generation of barrels for modern powder use. Maybe its just me when I hear the word "cheaper" it has a sense of derogatory tone like it is something of less quality as opposed to just being less expensive. I get it may have less grade because it does not have scrollwork or inlay and hence less pricey.

I don't know maybe I was thinking someone asking for Vulcan barrels might have been folks that were early adopters of the change. But as dean alluded to some of the change was forced. I think I do recall a thought at the time that damascus was tried and proven and some were slow to adapt to new fangled fluid steel.

I guess it is somewhat the same as having barrels that are fixed choked as opposed to getting a gun with screw in chokes.

[Craig Budgeon]

I have 2 rebarreled by Parker and by Remington. The first was rebarreled by Parker in 1911 and letters to that fact. The 2nd. was rebarreled Remington in 1948 and has the repair codes to that effect. The Remington rebarrel was originally produced as a 12 ga with Damascus barrels and now has steel barrels that are 16 ga now on a #1 framed gun.The Remington barrel gun has the chokes marked o the flats; the gauge, grade, and shell length on the frame lug. Serial numbers match the frame numbers.

[B. Dudley]

Craig, but the important thing about the Remington rebarrel is that those extra markings (choke, grade, chambers and gauge) is how Remington normally marked Parker barrels before production ended.