Parker Bros. Barrels??

[Dean Romig]

For those who have studied barrels attributed to having been made by Parker Bros. please take a look at Gunbroker lot No. 194624408 and give us your opinions. The "PB" in the shield on the underside of the left barrel can't mean anything but "Parker Bros." unless I am mistaken. If I recall correctly the serial number is in about the correct range?


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=194624408

[Dave Suponski]

Dean, I think the serial range is a little early.Parker re barreled the gun? I hope Austin will weigh in here.

I couldn't help but notice that the gun had John Dunkle's inspectors marks...:rolleyes:

[Mark Landskov]

There was another thread, 'Parker Made Barrels', that highlighted the 'diamond P' and a 'plain P' (on the right barrel flat) and brought in some comments by Brad Bachelder and Drew Hause. I was hoping that Austin would jump in with some more insight.

[Mark Landskov]

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1833
Here is the thread.

[Dean Romig]

And I wonder what that insignia stamp is to the right of the J.D. (or J.L.) Ser. No. 5045

I'd sure like to get a high resolution picture of it.

[Dave Suponski]

I would think another unknown inspectors mark.

[Bill Murphy]

Looks like some original blue on trigger guard. Maybe it would be worthwhile for someone to make an offer on this gun. Checkering is probably added, but that is a minor thing considering the condition.

[Mark Landskov]

Dean, could it be a partial '4'?

[Dean Romig]

I thought about it being a 4 too but I just don't think so - rather, I don't want it to be a 4 but some sort of "crossed" somethings... Like I said, I wish we could get a high-definition photo.

[Richard Flanders]

Can't make it much clearer.

[Cyril Bodnar]

Hi guys! Maybe these will help for those folks looking for a more detailed view of those barrel flats and markings. I'm new to the forum and PGCA, and hope to post some better looking pics of #5045 in a new thread when I get the time. She's a bit of a 'plain jane,' but is in great shape for her age. Just a guess... but the stamped mark next to the "J.L." looks almost like a couple of crossed blacksmith nails. The barrels are engraved as 'Stub Twist.'

5520

5521

[Dean Romig]

I've searched TPS and can't find any reference to that stamp to the right of "J.L."
I don't think it is a "4" but rather crossed 'somethings' like spikes or....

[Austin W Hogan]

It lookslike a 4 made with a dull die.

Best, Austin

[Dean Romig]

I see the broken horizontal "cap" on the "J" and the crudeness of the "T" so a dull or broken 4 is a possibility. Who was "JL" and what would the 4 be indicative of I wonder?

[Fred Preston]

I like Cyril's idea of crossed broken horse shoe nails stamped on the "stub twist" barrels.

[Robert Rambler]

I knew that mark looked familiar,just couldn't remember where I saw it, (Old age setting in I guess).:shock: Just happened to be oiling the barrels to my 1891 EH that I just finished rust blueing and there it was! Appears there was a damaged #4 stamping die floating around the Parker shop. Wonder how many more we could find like this and on what year guns?

[Dean Romig]

Well I'll be...! There it is.

[Cyril Bodnar]

Interesting photo, Robert. Thanks! From what I have been able to read in TPS, that would be a stamping for your barrel's 'un-struck' weight (4lb,12oz). Even poundage numbers (possible for my barrels) would only have one numeral stamped. According to TPS though, I thought the weight stamps started around 1877? As the grade listing for #5045 is T0 in the ID & Serialization tome, and it's appearance is somewhat plain, it sure didn't look to be a grade number.

[Austin W Hogan]

The lifter gun that PGCA presented to me, 3920 , is stamped 4 2 ; the accompanying letter indicates delivery 10 september 1874.

Best, Austin

[Robert Rambler]

Found another one:D Serial # 15901, 1879'

[Mark Landskov]

Here it is again, from 1877, #10250.

[Mark Landskov]

Hmmmm....a damaged '4' die, or the same person using the exact same technique when stamping numbers, that is, holding the die at an angle when striking.

[Dean Romig]

More likely to be a chipped die. There are a few of them noted in TPS and elsewhere.

[Cyril Bodnar]

Just a quick follow-up on the barrels in question. I received the research letter for #5045, and Stock Book #2 lists them as 30" length "Twist Vulcan Steel". [Note that the top rib, as previously mentioned, is engraved 'Stub Twist'.] Chokes were patterned to 140 #8 pellets in 24" circle at 45 yards for both RH and LH barrel.

I've never heard the term 'Vulcan Steel' used together with 'Twist' before. Maybe someone else has seen/heard that particular phrase?

[Dean Romig]

The man to pose that question to would be tha man who signed your research letter. Mark Conrad has probably read and studied more stock book entries and order book entries than anyone else in the Parker Gun Collectors Association. I would shoot him a PM or simply ask him openly on this forum what his experience has been regarding "Twist Vulcan Steel" entries in the books.

[Austin W Hogan]

I remember reading of Parker using the term "from Vulcan's forge" about earlier barrels, but abandoning it because Remington was using a similar term.

Best, Austin

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Another Parker mystery to solve!