Grade 0, Grade 1 and Grade 2

[Rick Riddell]

I know there are differences between them, but looking at the pictures of the Parker grades I notice a few Grade 1s look very similar to the Grade 0s, were there some cross over between the two? Were the Grade 2s all the same as far as engravings and more standardized?

[Dean Romig]

Are you referencing hammer guns or hammerless? I think your observations apply more to hammer guns.






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[Rick Riddell]

yes Hammer guns!

[Dean Romig]

Generally speaking, top-action Grade-0 guns had Plain Twist or Twist Steel barrels while Grade-1 guns had either Damascus or Laminated Steel barrels. Grade-2 top action-guns almost always had Damascus Steel barrels.

Re: engraving - Grade-0 might have had a simple single-line engraving around perimeters of the lock platess and frame while the Grade-1 guns had a 'graver-walk' around the perimeters of the lock plates and often a minimal amount of scroll on lock plates and a bit on the frame.... but there were a significant number of Grade-1 guns that did not have any scroll on the lock plates at all. Grade-2 guns almost always had, in addition to the scroll engraving, game birds engraved on the lock plates and sometimes a single game bird engraved on the bottom of the frame as well as more embellished scroll on the bolsters and top tang.

The above will vary depending on the particular era of manufacture and often depending on the whims of the chief engraver at the time.





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[Rick Riddell]

Dean thank you!

[edgarspencer]

The extra cost of Laminated barrels pushed a twist barreled grade 0 up one notch. One of my 16ga Hammer guns is identical in every respect to a friends grade 1, but his has Laminated barrels; mine, twist. Both are lettered accordingly.

[Rick Riddell]

So laminated barrels are the better of the two? I always thought it was Damascus, Twist and then Laminated. The later and Twist being the two to stay away from, but I do know differently now!

[Dean Romig]

Generally speaking Rick, any of the Twist, Laminated, Damascus (of various grades), Bernard, etc. are equally safe to shoot, all things being equal like wall thickness, the lack of dents, bulges, cracks, occlusions, etc. along with appropriate loads and commom sense. I and many, many others here shoot our Laminated, Twist, Damascus, Bernard barreled Parkers all the time with appropriate low-pressure loads, either store-bought or hand-loaded.





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[Rick Riddell]

Yes Dean absolutely agree! I was curious about dents in either, would dents be a no go? Or could they be removed from the barrels so they can be used safely? Only reason I ask is there are a fair amount of Damascus and Twist barreled guns out there with pits and dents at relatively curious prices.

[Bill Murphy]

Parker hammer guns vary in engraving patterns throughout production. Some early higher grade guns had much sparcer engraving than later guns. Some later guns have more elaborate engraving than earlier guns of the same grade. You can't tell what you have until you get the letter or examine the gun for grade markings. Catalog descriptions only give you a hint by mentioning steel types. Good luck with your search.

[Dean Romig]

Dents can often be lifted and the gun should be safe to shoot again, but this should be done by an expert and he should be able to affirm their safety.
Light pitting isn't much of a problem but they should also be assessed by an expert, preferably a professional, and be given a 'clean bill of health.' Severe pitting is usually something you should steer clear of.

Each gun should stand on its own merit... or fall for lack of it.





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[Rick Riddell]

Thanks guys! One step closer to my first hammer gun!!

[Dean Romig]

What gauge and grade are you hoping to find?





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[Rick Riddell]

12ga, any grade that is safe and in my price range!! There was a pretty cool 12ga straight stocked Twist barreled grade 0 on doublegunshop, but looks like it might have been sold, but I got my eye open, something will come along.

[Dean Romig]

There are a huge number of them for sale up to $2500 or so - is that in your range?


(Not trying to work up a sale here - I have nothing like this to sell.)






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[Russell E. Cleary]

Consider the following which was posted on this Forum a few years ago:

LAMINATED BARREL COMPARISONS:
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"We have not performed destructive testing to chart specific hardness or steel composition. The gauges that we use are machinability, dent raising, striking, polishing, and contrast at initial etching. Higher grade steel is more difficult to machine and shows less contrast at etch. Softer steel is easily machined and shows bold contrast at etch.
Based on these observations I would rate in descending order: Laminated, Damascus, stub twist, plain twist, Parker twist.

Brad" [Batchelder]
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REC

[Dean Romig]

Amen to Brad's testimonial!
However, each of these barrel steels that Parker Bros. used on their guns are completely safe to shoot, keeping in mind the precautions I mentioned earlier in this thread.





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[Robin Lewis]

Amen to Brad's testimonial!
However, each of these barrel steels that Parker Bros. used on their guns are completely safe to shoot, keeping in mind the precautions I mentioned earlier in this thread.

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It may be best to get an opinion that includes decarbonized steel too. Of all the barrel types, this is one we hear the least about.:corn:

[Carl Baird]

Just a quick question, my 12 ga. 1884 hammer gun (top lever) has "Stub Twist" 32" barrels. Can anyone hazard a guess as to grade? In all respects it appears to be a low grade, but looking in the Parker book, Stub Twist was more expensive than plain twist and the book says the name Stub Twist was changed because it didn't sound like a high quality twist, which it was.