I’m a Parker rookie. Would you please explain this to me? Does forward mean between the latch and the forend tip (muzzle end)?

When installing the forend and seating it, pressure should be applied at the rearward half of the forend. Ideally, right over the back of the latch body.

Thank you!

Good eyes fellas. You may not be able to hit a fastball any longer, but they couldn't slip this curve by you.

Dave, What Brian said.
The inletting for the latch lever, on the outside, and the iron and latch toggle on the inside, removes so much wood, that the cross section is very small in that area. Pushing forward of the round portion of the latch lever is a sure way to snap the wood.

The proper way is as described above by Brian and Dean and if it is still reluctant to seat , hold the forend in your hand as when opening the gun to load , slide the opening lever to the right and as the gun opens the Forend will pop right on without any added pressure any where !

Just to add a note to my comment above ,a number of years ago ,I was purchasing a Parker Gun from Chuck Brunner and I was having trouble getting the forend back on and he quite politely ask if he could show me how to properly install the forend ,he showed me this little trick and it works every time !

Thank you all for the advice. Snapping the forend in half in this way is not something I do not want to experience!

On thing I've noticed is I need to push the forend back into the knuckle to get it to seat, and it has a "spring-loaded" feel as I push it back into the knuckle. Normal?

Yes Dave - that is normal.





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Thanks, and sorry for the thread drift!