DEL GREGO ID

[Phillip Carr]

Can anyone tell me if Del Grego identified the guns that went back to them for restoration with any sort of marking? I have aquired a 12 gauge GH that has been completely redone, and is almost perfect in every way except it has a Del Grego recoil pad installed. How helpful is Del Grego if you call and provide the discription and Serial number?
Regards,
Phil

[Bill Murphy]

Larry Del Grego and Son files by customer surname.

[Phillip Carr]

Thanks for the information Bill. I may be out of luck then.
Regards,
Phil

[Kevin McCormack]

DelGrego's marked only replacement stocks (ID'd by the SN stamped opposite of what the factory did in the trigger guard tang inlet) and of course marked the upgraded Runge/Del Grego guns on the watertable.

[Dave Fuller]

They will tell you if they worked on a gun, but in my experience they don't like to dig back through the old files to figure exactly what they did... can't say as I blame them.

[Austin W Hogan]

I don't know about a phone call, but if you walk in the door with a Parker in hand, they will instantly recognize their work.

Best, Austin

[Jay Gardner]

DelGrego's marked only replacement stocks (ID'd by the SN stamped opposite of what the factory did in the trigger guard tang inlet) and of course marked the upgraded Runge/Del Grego guns on the watertable.

Kevin,

Perhaps I am being dense but I don't follow you here. What do you mean "opposite of what the factory did in the trigger guard tang inlet." Can you walk me through what you mean?

Thanks,

JDG

[Bruce Day]

Original PG 20ga Grade 3, showing machine inletted TG groove, SN and grade number.

First picture, frame to right.

Second picture, frame to left.

This an original stock, 1/2PG, checkered butt, letters.

Almost all parts of a Parker were numbered. If you look closely in the tang groove, you can see the mirror image of the SN that is stamped on the bottom of the TG tang, which was engraved later in the manufacturing process. Because of all these serial numbers, it is almost impossible to cobble a Parker together and pass it off as original, such as is commonly done with some other guns.

[Larry Frey]

Jay,
I don't want to speak for Kevin here but will try to answer your question. If you remove the tang screw and rotate the tang counter clockwise 180 degrees as if you were removing the tang the serial number on the tang will read in the same direction as the stamping in the wood. A photo would be clearer but I don't have one handy.

Kevin,
I've only had one DelGrego upgrade but it was not identified as such on the water table, it had DelGrego & Son woven into the engraving on the side of the frame. It was only detectable with a strong loop.

Thanks for the pic Bruce.

[Phillip Carr]

I call today and spoke to a very friendly guy today at DEL GREGO's. I explained my situation in trying to identify if my gun was a Del Grego restoration. He explained that as previously mentioned by Bill that I would need a Last name, as they have multiple file cabinets full of records. I enquired that if I sent the gun in with return postage if there was a possibility to have them determine if it was a DEL GREGO restoration. The answer was sure. I must say I was very impressed with the friendliness and attitude. Gun goes out in the morning. When I hung up I asked to whom I was speaking to, and it was Larry lll. Very nice guy.
Phil

[Kevin McCormack]

Jay - A replacement stock would have the SN running in the opposite direction as the one shown in Bruce's picture.

Larry - Yes there are a few early upgrades out there that are marked as you describe. Also look for Bob Runge's initials (RPR) in "microscript" also hidden in the engraving tableau, usually at the base of a rock or a tuft of grass. Bob's initials are not always present, however, on the very early upgrades (those done before they began marking them on the watertable).

[Frank Srebro]

I'm bringing this thread back up to report that I spoke with Lawrence DelGrego at length yesterday about a Parker that's for sale locally, and he told me DG has always stamped replacement stocks in the TG inlet with the same orientation as the factory did. Not at 180-degrees. I referred Lawrence to what I'd previously read on this thread about the 180-degree orientation and in no uncertain terms he said it's incorrect. Just trying to help and that's all I know.

[tom tutwiler]

I once owned a DHE 10 gauge that they had restocked and it had their Pad added. When I called and described the gun they knew immediately who the owner was. That however was a fairly rare gun and they had completely restored it. They were very helpful.

[FRANK HALSEY]

Does anyone know if the Del Grego's are going to be at the S X S?

[Brian Dudley]

I do not think that they normally attend. Even a few years ago when they were in the area for the Hall of Fame induction, i do not think they attended the shoot.