Perplexed Parker

[dan madden]

Hello Parker Enthusiasts,

New to the forum and am interested in your combined knowledge on a Parker DH 12ga, serial # 105487, I'm in the process of buying. My conundrum is the 26" uncut barrels and lack of Meriden Conn barrel stamp. It appears to be a Remington era barrel, requested by the original (I think) owner, based on the factory reply letter from Dec 1940. Might anyone be able to shed some light on this. Owner was a retired Rear Admiral USN of small stature and I think he had the original barrel replaced with this shorter version for better handling.

Any help woiuld be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dan

[Rick Losey]

i have a Remington barrel on a VH that is not marked on the rib

i am sure someone will know the when and why

[Brian Dudley]

Likely re barreled of there are Remington barrels on a serial number that early.

[George M. Purtill]

Show us a picture of the barrel flats and we can probably tell you a lot.

[Richard White]

I don't believe Rem. marked the ribs on the bbls. that were put on Parker guns at Ilion unless they were left-over bbls. from Meriden. I have a 2nd set from Rem./Parker that are not marked on the rib for a CHE.

[dan madden]

Due to size, they are separate posts.
Tnx for the replies so far!!!
Dan

[Dean Romig]

Please show a picture, or tell us the letters and numbers stamped on the barrel flat of the left barrel. Those contain the Remington repair date codes and if those dates coincide with the date of your factory letter you'll likely have your answer.

[dan madden]

2nd photo

[Dean Romig]

Oops... I spoke too soon. It looks like two sets of stamps but I can't make them out very well.

****************

OK.... RJ3 and EJ3


Hmmm... OV - that's the barrel steel stamp for Trojan barrels, isn't it?

[Brian Dudley]

The serial number is stamped in the place that Remington stamped them. But you can see that there is another number stamped under there.
Barrels may have been from another gun and then re stamped when put on yours.

[Dave Suponski]

Barrels from another gun fitted to this one at Remington......

[Dave Noreen]

RJ3 is a Remington repair code for December 1940. R = December J = 1940. Looks like the boys at Ilion took the barrels from another gun and renumbered them and fitted them to the gun in question.

[George M. Purtill]

RJ3 is a Remington repair code for December 1940. R = December J = 1940. Looks like the boys at Ilion took the barrels from another gun and renumbered them and fitted them to the gun in question.

Dave is correct. Ilion inspection stamps all over them.
The mystery is in the two sets of repair codes.

[Dean Romig]

The factory letter that the OP refers to was dated December of 1940.

Seems like he has his answer right there in the Remington codes stamped on the barrel flats.

[greg conomos]

Maybe I'm just dense but maybe the 'factory letter' might tell us? What does it say?

[dan madden]

Great info coming in. Intersted if anyone can confirm member Ronig comment on OV being factory code for Trojan steel. See letter from factory below regarding barrels as requested.

[Bill Murphy]

OV is the grade code for the Trojan Grade gun. Can you post a picture of the breech face of the barrels. The Trojan gun does not have a dolls head extension and none of your pictures shows an extension. Do your barrels have a doll's head extension?

[dan madden]

Bill,
Yes the barrels gave a dolls head. I'll post a photo later today.
Thanks for the info.
Dan

[Dean Romig]

It would have been a simple matter for the factory, be it Meriden or Illion, to replace the Trojan's rib extension with the proper (for the gun) rib extension with doll's head.

[Erick Dorr]

Left side of lug looks to be stamped "D grade for 2 3/4" shells." If so marked that would be correct for Remington made Parker barrels. Looks conclusive that Remington used barrels on hand to fit a set to this gun.
The letter is a nice piece of provenance for this gun.
Erick

[Bill Murphy]

Are we even sure we are seeing the OV marking?

[Dean Romig]

It is obviously OV but exactly what it signifies in this case is a matter of conjecture. Someone who has a Trojan with the same OV stamps should post a picture of same.

[Erick Dorr]

OK while we're waiting for someone to post a photo of a Trojan OV stamp. Dean perhaps you should be required to own some lower grade Parker's to fill the blanks in.
Seriously most of us recognize the OV mark. This looks like it could have an OV double stamp. The 0 almost looks like a broken heart.
My question is about the inverted horseshoe covered by a staple. Has anyone seen this stamp before? Is it one of the Remington stamps not recognized and mentioned in TPS?
Best,
Erick

[Dean Romig]

Yes Erick, I think you're right about it being one of those Remington stamps we don't know the significance of. I've heard Larry DelGrego knows what a lot of those Remington stamps mean.

[dan madden]

As requested earlier today, two pics of breech face showing dolls head and a third of the OV stamp. Its obvious, as pointed out earlier that the "O" is a double strike.

[dan madden]

#2 of 3 pics

[dan madden]

#3 of 3 close up of "OV" stamp.

[dan madden]

#3 of 3 close up of "OV" stamp. And the "horse shoe."

[dan madden]

I want to thank all of the commentators on this thread. The information provided is very much appreciated.

A few photos of the entire Parker, note 26" uncut barrels you all solved the mystery of.

Thanks Again!
Dan

[dan madden]

And my partner who will be pointing out my future targets!

Cheers
Dan