Pleasant surprise! DH and GHE

[Jerry Andrews]

Went to pick up the DH I'd discussed in the ealier thread, barrels are good inside, marked TWIST and have a good deal of pattern. The skeleton plate is correct, 30 inch barrels, serial # is 66845. No cracks in the wood at all, but the forend is not checkered. It honestly doesn't appear to ever have been checkered. The wood is not below the metal, no visible signs of sanding or of old checkering. The buttstock is checkered. Would this have been possible?
The other gun I bought is a GH, turned out to be a GHE. Nice colors, and I think steel barrels but...someone stuck a rib on the gun. I don't know how they did it, I hope it's only soldered. Any ideas on this one? I'm trying to include as many pics as I can on here. Thanks for any help that might come my way on this, Jake
GHE serial number is 152757

[Jerry Andrews]

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x169/JakeFlyFish127/Parker/

[Steve Huffman]

A DH with Twist barrels ,I am still learning. I thougt the twist was used on the lower grade guns . Orderd that way ??

[Jerry Andrews]

I have no idea! I"m an L.C. Smith guy personally, although I sure appreciate the workmanship in these Parkers. I'm hoping to gain some info on these guns. I'd like to think the rib could be removed from the GHE. It's a very nice gun. Jake

[Dave Suponski]

Jerry,I would order a letter on the D grade. I wonder if the twist barrels were added later to replace a damaged set of damascus tubes. Could you post more pictures of the rib on that G grade? I am interested in that rib.

[Dave Noreen]

The matting on the after-market vent rib looks to my eye like Moneymaker. The 2-frame GHE barrels are stamped D for Damascus on the flats, so are blued over Damascus.

[Jerry Andrews]

OK, I wondered what that stamping was. Either way, is there a way to get the rib off do you think? How was it stuck on there? Solder possibly? Jake

[Jerry Andrews]

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x169/JakeFlyFish127/

[Jerry Andrews]

I still can't seem to post individual pictures, but the first four here are of the rib on the GHE. Jake

[Mark Ouellette]

Jerry,

To post a photo put the mouse pointer on the photo in Photobucket.
Move the pointer to the IMG Code windox box.
Left click on the code to highlight the box.
Right click for your tools and select copy.
Paste the IMG Code into the forum.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x169/JakeFlyFish127/IMG_0830.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x169/JakeFlyFish127/IMG_0829.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x169/JakeFlyFish127/IMG_0828.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x169/JakeFlyFish127/IMG_0827.jpg

[Jerry Andrews]

Wow, that's kinda like if you are paddling down the street and the wheels fall off your canoe, how many pancakes does it take to shingle a doghouse?

[Jerry Andrews]

Thanks Mark, I did the cut & paste on your directions, I'll play with that later! Thank you, Jerry

[Jerry Andrews]

To post a photo put the mouse pointer on the photo in Photobucket.
Move the pointer to the IMG Code windox box.
Left click on the code to highlight the box.
Right click for your tools and select copy.
Paste the IMG Code into the forum.

[Jerry Andrews]

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j303/CaneRodMaker/S7303998.jpg

[Jerry Andrews]

Wrong picture, but now I see how! Thanks Mark. Someone wanted to see some of my other work on here anyway. Jake

[Bruce Day]

Hello Jerry. Looking at the barrel photos, it looks like the original Parker rib is below that strap vent rib, so you are fortunate the original was not removed and discarded like so many were. I suspect its just soldered on with soft solder. Fill the holes and get it re-browned and it will look like a proper damascus barreled gun should.Good luck.

[Bill Murphy]

I disagree with Bruce. The Moneymaker rib gives the gun character. Spending a bunch of money to remove the rib and refinish the barrels is counterproductive and will result in a gun that may have visible holes in the rib and worth less than you have in the repairs. Sell it to me and I will leave the rib in place. Your choice.

[Mark Ouellette]

I agree with Bill. Please consider this: If we knew that a famous Trapshooter owned and used this Parker and had the rib installed to raise his scores would we remove it? Probably not! That rib is a part of history rather Parker collectors like it or not!

[Dave Suponski]

I agree with Bill and Mark....No way would I remove that rib!

[Bill Murphy]

Years ago, I was at an auction where a Glahn signed gold inlaid Smith was offered. It was a ten gauge with aftermarket vent rib and Miller trigger. No serious collector would touch it, including me. It sold for peanuts and has been sold a few times since. It is the greatest old Smith I have ever seen and would buy it today if I could find it. I wonder what the Smith records say about that gun?

[Francis Morin]

How many "after market" rib installers were there back in "The Day"- The original Gifford Simmons 1926 designed ventilated rib on the set of 32" Nitro barrels my older 2E Smith has are original (I have a copy of the work order card and the new barrels are serialed to the gun-

I think a raised ventilated rib- to my vision and perspective, seems to "fore-shorten" a bit the barrel length when you mount the gun and shoot- I always hold the gun low and under the expected target- whether a crossing orange clay disc or a pair of incoming mallards- butt under my armpit, then move and mount- If I shot Trap doubles with either this Smith or my friend's M21 32" VR Trap Grade 12-with the gun premounted, perhaps the view of barrel length might seem different- I like the VR on a live bird and waterfowling gun, for a quail or pheasant side-by, I prefer std. 28" with regular file cut rib- to each his own!!:bigbye:

[Bill Murphy]

Francis, is this Gifford Simmons mentioned in a book on the L.C. Smith gun or did you do your research somewhere else? Your Smith and my Smith are the only ones I have ever heard of with Hunter Arms installed vent ribs on guns made before the introduction of vent ribs by Smith. I don't have provenance of the installation of my rib, nor do I know whether the barrels are replacement barrels or whether just the rib was replaced. I do know that it is my favorite Smith and the only one I shoot on a regular basis. My vent rib 32" Smith is an OE Grade made about 1907.