Factory Straight Stocks

[Garry L Gordon]

Does anyone have information on the Parker factory converting pistol grip stocks to straight? I recently purchased an 1886 16 bore G grade that is listed in the serialization book as having been originally made with with a capped pistol grip. This gun has a straight grip and a trigger guard with a long tang. The tang has engraving, including a serial number that matches the gun. The engraving on the trigger guard is modest, mostly just border engraving with some scroll at the apex of the guard bow.

I've read that Parker would do just about anything for a customer, so I assume this work could be factory generated. I am sending off for a letter, but thought I'd query the group to see what knowledge of such conversions might be out there.

Thanks for considering this.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Get a letter from PGCA I had a straight grip 14 ga. that book said was a capped pistol grip but left factory as a straight grip. Sometimes book is in error. Jim

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks, Jim,

I assumed that there might be errors among the listings, but it's nice to know of exact cases. I happen to have another 16 hammer gun that is the serial number just before the one with the straight grip. (I bought them at auction two years apart!). The earlier serial number has a capped pistol grip. The serialization book shows a block of three 16s consecutively numbered, all with capped pistol grips. It will be interesting to see what the research shows.

I appreciate your reply and the information.

[Dean Romig]

Some years ago I read that if the grip type had not been recorded that the person recording the gun's configuration would enter the default of C or CP in that column.
Now, I don't know if this was in reference to the person recording the gun at Parker Bros. or the person transcribing the records for the Serialization book.





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[Garry L Gordon]

Now, I don't know if this was in reference to the person recording the gun at Parker Bros. or the person transcribing the records for the Serialization book.
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Intriguing. Any sense of how many top lever hammer guns had the straight/splinter configuration? I've been looking at Parkers for a while, though hammer guns are a relatively recent addiction...but I still don't recall many (if any) top lever hammer guns.

[Dean Romig]

Top lever hammer guns? I have several, none with straight grips though.






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[Brian Dudley]

The gun could also have been returned for a restock to straight grip. Or altered / restocked after the fact.

[Jim DiSpagno]

That 14 bore serial#64180 is now with Steve Barnett and a copy of the letter is with the gun.

[Garry L Gordon]

The gun could also have been returned for a restock to straight grip. Or altered / restocked after the fact.

Thanks, Brian. I'm assuming at this point that this gun's stock was altered after it left the factory. I'm hoping the letter might show that it was return for this work, but I suspect it was done "non-factory." Whoever did it knew what he was doing, and it appears to have been done long ago.

I guess my question is really about how often guns were sent back to Parker to have this done, and does anyone have a record of this kind of work for their own gun?

BTW, Brian, I bought a G grade hammer 12 bore from you a few years ago. I had the gun completely restored by Brad B. (who did a great job!) in Grand Rapids. That gun has served me well. I thought you might want to know that it went to a good home and has been well cared for...and continues to take game.

Thanks again for the response

[Jeff Kuss]

I have a che that letters for two restocks and now has a non factory stock. I have a skeet gun that letters with a straight stock and now sports a Remington pistol grip restock. It was done at times.

[Garry L Gordon]

I have a che that letters for two restocks and now has a non factory stock. I have a skeet gun that letters with a straight stock and now sports a Remington pistol grip restock. It was done at times.

Thanks, Jeff. Were the factory restocks on your C-grade to convert a capped pistol grip (or ball grip) to a straight grip? If so, do you note any difference in the restocked long tang's engraving (assuming the new stock received a long trigger tang)?

[Jeff Kuss]

No, they were pistol grip to pistol grip.

[Dean Romig]

Mobird, can you show us detailed pictures of the stock, the checkering, and the trigger guard engraving?

Have you lifted and turned the trigger guard to look for serial numbers stamped into the channel in the wood and into the underside of the tang?


Everything to this point seems to be nothing more than speculation.






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[Garry L Gordon]

I hope these attachments come through...53639

53640

53641

53642

53643

[Dean Romig]

The checkering appears too new for the amount of wear on the rest of the gun.

I have a Parker with the same engraving on the guard bow, but that doesn't necessarily make yours original.

Swing the trigger guard tang out of the way and see if the serial number is stamped in the wood.





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Garry, I have the same situation with a DHE 16 O frame from 1905. Every spec to the letter matches, chokes, weight , etc, except that the letter states pistol grip and it sports a wonderful little straight grip. T he long tang is correct, and the tang was removed showing the proper ser# stamped under the long tang in the wood. The fac. letter does state the stock was redressed in 1910, but I believe it came originally with the straight grip. everyone who has looked at it feels it is right as rain.
Nice gun BTW

[Dean Romig]

Here are a few of my hammer guns with the same trigger guard engraving.




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[Garry L Gordon]

Dean and Harold,

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I will see if I can find my turnscrews to check the stock. In any event, I like this gun and will be taking it to Brad Bachelder for his appraisal and restoration. I really like straight grip guns, although I have a GH 16 pistol grip on an O frame that takes wild quail for me here in Missouri. What wonderful guns, and a blessing to hunt with.

[Larry Frey]

If you look under the trigger guard you may find a large R stamped into the wood along with the serial number. I have seen this stamp on many factory restocks.

[Dean Romig]

What wonderful guns, and a blessing to hunt with.


You can certainly say that again!




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