OK, Enlighten Me

[Gary Laudermilch]

A Wilkes-Barre Gun Company, A grade 16. How does it fit into the grand scheme of American doubles. It seems I vaguely remember they were somehow affiliated with Ithaca. Collectable?

[Dave Noreen]

The "connection" to Ithaca Gun Co. was that Edward George Parry had been a barrel brazier at Ithaca and then went out on his own and produced a hammer double for a couple of years. This is the higher grade version with his rear-acting under-bolt and Laminated steel barrels --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parry%20Arms%20Co/006ParryArmsCoNo46bottom.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parry%20Arms%20Co/005ParryArmsCoNo46buttplate.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parry%20Arms%20Co/004ParryArmsCoNo46noteL.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parry%20Arms%20Co/003ParryArmsCoNo46.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parry%20Arms%20Co/002ParryArmsCoNo46.jpg

McIntosh did a little piece on Wilkes Barre Gun Co. in The Double Gun Journal, Volume Two, Issue 1, pages 72, 73 and 74.

His lower quality gun just had the Greener cross-bolt. From the 1892 S, D & G catalogue --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parry%20Arms%20Co/SDG1892.jpg

At any rate by 1892, Parry Fire Arms Co. was belly up, and some investors bought the remains and moved them to Wilkes Barre, PA, where they continued to build Edward George Parry's hammer gun, and also brought out a hammerless double based on Joseph Tonks Patents No. 333,795 and No. 514,574. An A-grade --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Wilkes%20Barre%20Gun%20Co/WB-A_Grade_Left_zpsvu8gyjqc.jpg

A C-Grade --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Wilkes%20Barre%20Gun%20Co/W-B%20382%20C%20grade_zpsnx6ese67.jpg

Albert J. Aubrey was the factory supt. at Wilkes Barre.

[Gary Laudermilch]

Thank You!! It never ceases to amaze me just how much knowledge is available via members of this forum. Wow!!

[Dave Noreen]

In The Double Gun Journal, Volume Eleven, Issue 1, William Achtermeier did an article on Tonks which touches on Wilkes-Barre Gun Co.
Then in Volume Fourteen, Issue 3, there is an article on Wilkes-Barre Gun Co. by Bob Noble and William Achtermeier.

[Tom Wyraz]

Thanks Dave, very interesting, had never heard of a Parry.
tjw