When did Parker change the headstock inletting?

[edgarspencer]

My 20 bore 0 frame project is temporarily stalled. I've located a few good candidates to replace the (possibly Fajen) aftermarket stock, but this is an early gun, 1900, and there is a fairly significant difference in the in-letting of the headstock. Parts literature refers to a 'Model 10' change in the sear springs, but it seems that the back of the hammer profile is quite different in early vs late actions. This gun has the longer, more flat, lever, and all of these changes may have occurred at the same time.
Someone alot better than me could probably remove enough of the wood to make it conform to the earlier type, but before I go down that road, it would be nice to know when the change was made, and possibly find an earlier stock candidate. The gun is a simple VH, 0 frame 28" 20. Apart from the replaced wood, it's a pretty nice little gun.

[B. Dudley]

The change occured when the bolt operating was changed on the guns. Parts were reduced as well as method of bolt operation. Not sure of the year off the top of my head. Was it 1918?

There is much more wood in the later buttstock heads since there are less parts needed to open the bolt and since the hammers do not draw back as far.

Worse case, if you have a later one, but need an earlier one. You can remove the required wood from the later one to make it work.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

The change occured when the bolt operating was changed on the guns. Parts were reduced as well as method of bolt operation. Not sure of the year off the top of my head. Was it 1918?

This gun has the V spring type.

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

There is much more wood in the later buttstock heads since there are less parts needed to open the bolt and since the hammers do not draw back as far.

Worse case, if you have a later one, but need an earlier one.

Makes sense.

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

You can remove the required wood from the later one to make it work.

By 'You', you're referring to anyone but me. My wood working tools are limited to baseball bats and chainsaws. Well, not really; I do build a pretty nice, true mortise and tennon post and beam building, and I've restored some nice antique boats, but I think it best I leave wood working on guns as nice as these to people like you, not me.

[B. Dudley]

Yeah, the V type spring was the early style bolt operation where the hammers draw back into the stock.

'You' was a bit of a general term. Was just saying that it can be fitted to work. However, something more delecate than a chain saw would be required.

[edgarspencer]

I have 6 chainsaws. Not even my little trimmer? Damn, I know my baseball bat won't do it either.

[Paul Harm]

Oh, you put some blueing on the metal parts, push it back togeather, take it apart, and you'll know where to remove some wood. Do it all over 20 to 100 times and you'll be in business. Piece of cake if you have the patience. paul

[Bob Brown]

Although it isn't really definate it says in The Parker Story the coil spring top lever spring came out in the 2 frame Trojan in 1918 and was phased in to the other grades. By 1926 the catalogue mentions all having the new spring.

[edgarspencer]

Thanks Bob. That's the info I was after.