Barrel steels

[Bruce Hering]

Perhaps a multi asked question but can someone (without getting to technical) explain the difference in the steels (as labeled on the top flat of the barrel rib) used for barrels on Parker guns ? Perhaps strongest to weakest but not Damascus.

There seem to be several names so I wonder about their strengths. Especially if barrels have been honed/polished to about .030 MWT in the tubes with higher thickness at the front of the forcing cone and then tapering down to the .030 measurement.

Thanks in advance.

[Dean Romig]

That subject has been visited several times over the years on this forum. Without revisiting all the details and data on the topic may I suggest using the search function in order to access those very informative discussions.

Incidentally, .030” in the forward half of the tubes is sufficient for safe shooting, of course tapering thicker to the forcing cones.





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[Dean Romig]

Not really Harry - as time progressed the barrel steel compositions changed and when Remington started making barrels for the Parkers it changed a bit more radically with the 'new' chromium molybdenum steel.

Not to say they weren't so close that the average person could tell them apart.





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[Bill Murphy]

I thought that Dave Suponski studied this subject a while back.

[Drew Hause]

As Dean said, a recent discussion
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32925

For the long version
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dnRLZgcuHfx7uFOHvHCUGnGFiLiset-DTTEK8OtPYVA/edit

Pre - WWI Parker “Titanic” barrel (courtesy of Dave Suponski) - AISI 1030 with low concentrations of nickel and chromium.
Pre - WWI Parker “Trojan” barrel (courtesy of Dave Suponski) - AISI 1035.
Pre - WWI Parker “Vulcan” (courtesy of Ron Graham) - AISI 1015.
Post-WWI Parker “Vulcan” barrel (courtesy of Dave Suponski) was AISI 1030.
“Parker Steel” was non-standard Acid Bessemer Resulphurized Rephosphorized AISI 1109 low carbon Steel.

None of those barrels were tensile tested.
The industrial standard for 1030 is 68,000 - 78,000 psi; but I recently tested an Acier Cockerill 1030 that was 90,000 psi
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=599972

So cut me a chunk of Whitworth or Acme steel and I'll have it tested ;)

[Bruce Hering]

OK.... Thanks all who replied.

The gun I am looking at has "Special Steel" barrels. Am I correct in thinking this was the final steel of note used on Parkers and... given good measurements with a MWT of .030 can be shot with moderate pressure modern loads ?

[Jim DiSpagno]

Parker Special Steel was used on G grade or grade 2 hammerless Huns and with good wall thickness and structural integrity, can be shot with moderate modern loads b

[Bruce Hering]

Parker Special Steel was used on G grade or grade 2 hammerless Huns and with good wall thickness and structural integrity, can be shot with moderate modern loads b

Thanks Jim....

[Dave Noreen]

From my collection of barrel flat pictures the early fluid steel guns only sported two different barrel steel marks -- Kf on the flats of Vulcan Steel barrels --

98328

and K on the flats of barrels rib marked both Titanic & Acme --

98327

In the mid 13xxxx range I see the transition to the letter(s) in a circle markings -- V, P, P.S., T or A.

[Bill Murphy]

Suponski's last entry was not Parker Special Steel. It was Parker Steel which was used on P grade hammerless guns. In my opinion, all of these steels can be safely used with the mentioned wall thicknesses.

[Drew Hause]

I'll go with what Parker Bros. said; Sears catalog No. 112 1902 "BORED FOR NITRO OR BLACK POWDER"

https://photos.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff/Safe-To-Shoot/i-DDRdhTp/0/3795591a/L/Sears%20catalog%20112%201902%20Parker-L.png (https://drewhause.smugmug.com/Gun-Stuff/Safe-To-Shoot/i-DDRdhTp/A)

And we know that the pressures of c. 1900 Smokeless Powder loads were very similar to the shells available today.

In light of the >100 year old wood however, it would be reasonable to choose lower RECOIL loads.

[Bruce Hering]

Thanks all for comments.

The gun in question has been restocked with "new" wood to adjust drop and LOP. I will still use lower recoil/pressure loads.

Again, to all that commented, thanks so much. What a great board this is to share knowledge.

[charlie cleveland]

I ve shot a lot of heavy loads in wire twist Damascus stub twist plain steel and fluid steel with smokeless powder and some black powder they have all held up to my loads so I agree with parkers statement about being bored to shoot all powders...charlie

[Bruce Hering]

I ve shot a lot of heavy loads in wire twist Damascus stub twist plain steel and fluid steel with smokeless powder and some black powder they have all held up to my loads so I agree with parkers statement about being bored to shoot all powders...charlie

Thanks Charlie.....