parker serial number application

[Eric Grims]

I am curious as to how serial numbers on older Parker guns were applied. i have an 1883 #2 grade hammer gun with damascus barrels where all the serial numbers match. The gun is very tight with some nice case color remaining, locks up real tight and shoots fine. The serial number on the barrel has one digit that is a little crooked but is of the same font and curls as the others. It is located tightly in the 90 degree angle between the barrel and the vertical plates. Someone looked at the gun and raised the question of numbers being changed on a later second barrel and then added on to the gun. The more I look the more I think not but it did raise the question of how numbers were marked then and in addition how the later roll marks were applied. i would be interested if others could share some info on this.
thank you

[Dean Romig]

I've observed a number of all-original Parkers where the serial number on the barrel lug has numbers that are not in a perfectly straight line. They are all perfectly aligned 'north and south' but some are higher or lower than their neighbors.

On some of the earlier hammer guns with barrel weights of four lbs., X oz., the diagonal on the 4 die is broken and the stamp looks more like a Maltese Cross than a 4. A great many guns were stamped with that broken die.

In any case, I believe the serial number numeral dies were each stamped individually, but sometimes they are aligned so well that it would almost seem the serial number was stamped with a single die containing all of the digit dies.





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[Eric Grims]

Dean,
Thanks a lot for the info. Your observations match up well with what I see in the gun. I was looking to maybe sell the gun but the more time I spend with it and the more I read this forum I'm sure it is not going anywhere. I just need to shoot it more now.
Thanks again