Remngton Date codes

[David Lien]

Did Remington work on Damascuss Parkers??? Would Del Grego Have worked on a damascus Parker in the late 50's and put date codes on the gun????
David Lien

[Dave Suponski]

Happy New Year Dave ! From what I have heard Remington would not work on damascus Parkers. Date codes on a damascus gun could have happened in Meriden before the move to Illion I would think. I have no opinion on Del Grego's policy on damascus guns.

[Dean Romig]

I have a CH Bernard barreled gun with Remington date codes stamped into the barrel flats. You've handled the gun Dave - but I think we're in agreement that it went back to Remington for forend work.

[Robin Lewis]

I do not think Parker used date codes, it was a Remington thing I believe?

[Destry L. Hoffard]

But did they start using date codes after Remington bought them out but before the move to Ilion?

I have early 50's some letters on my beater BH between a former owner and Remington that say they won't work on the gun because they think it has damascus barrels. So apparently they'd checked the records on the gun and were unaware that it had been rebarreled at some point.

This was before Delgrego started doing the repair work when they were still using Frank Lefever. So at some point they stopped working on them for sure.


DLH

[Dave Suponski]

That would be my best guess.That Remington management implemented the date code program before the move from Meriden.

[Robin Lewis]

It was Remington polocy that they stamped their guns with this same code during the final assembly phase of their gun manufacturing process.

They didn't do this with the Parker gun during its manufacture but they did use the codes on repair work done on Parkers.

[Russ Jackson]

But did they start using date codes after Remington bought them out but before the move to Ilion?

I have early 50's some letters on my beater BH between a former owner and Remington that say they won't work on the gun because they think it has damascus barrels. So apparently they'd checked the records on the gun and were unaware that it had been rebarreled at some point.

This was before Delgrego started doing the repair work when they were still using Frank Lefever. So at some point they stopped working on them for sure.


DLH
Destry; Do you or any of the others know if there is any where or anyway to get Records of the guns ,Frank LeFever worked on .The reason I ask is I have a gorgeous 12 Ga., DHE ,32" Barreled gun ,English gripped stock Parker single .trigger gun I purchased at a gun show ,the gentleman I bought the gun from said he had a letter from LeFever that he had done the work on this gun ,I had hoped to recieve the letter but we have never hooked up again .

[E Robert Fabian]

Russ, it maybe a work order letter like Larry will supply you with if you have them work on your gun

[Russ Jackson]

Robert ; Thank you for the reply , and you are probably correct but how would a person get in touch with anyone from LeFevers today ?

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Lefever's isn't really a shop anymore, there's a gunshop that bought them out and answers the old phone number. I don't have any idea if there are any records available.

Destry

[Russ Jackson]

Destry ;Thank you for the reply ,This is what I thought also ,now I will ask ,would anyone know the Phone # ?

[David Lien]

Happy New Year to you Dave: An old waterfowler came in here this winter to hunt, and tells me that Remington would not work on damascus Parkers. We have three damascus guns with Remington date codes. One dates to 1935, one dates to 1936, and the third one dates to 1958. I would bet that many damascus Parkers are out there with Remington date codes. I also think that many die-hard Parker shooters shot damascus for a long time. I know of two fellows that shot damascus Parkers right up through the 1950s. A lot of hunting opportunities in this area and the two damascus Parkers were busy. How many shooters in your neighborhood were shooting damascus Parkers up to WW 2? Many times when you find one the checkering is all worn off and the triggers are shiny. Someone shot that gun for a long time. I think it would be interesting to know how many guns Remington worked on and returned to the owner. The guns were good and they were still shooting . The mystic that went with the Parker gun most likley kept the repair department busy. thanks to all who responded to my post. David

[Bill Murphy]

Robin, I believe Remington did stamp their date codes on new Parkers upon completion.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Here's the number I had written down: 1-315-337-6722

[Russ Jackson]

Destry ;Thank you much ,I will try the # in the morning !!!!! Much Appreciated ! Russ

[Kevin McCormack]

Answers to David's original post: No and No. Answer to Russ' post; you will need a good psychic. Keep in mind that Remington routinely date-stamped Parker guns for no other reason than the gun having been received for repair work, regardless of whether any actual work was done on the gun itself or not.