Parker DH "ALASKA" ?

[Daniel B Sweet]

A friend of mine just picked up a 1926 (218601) DH with a feature that I have not read about or seen. On the back of the doll's head in capital letters it says ALASKA, this also appears stamped on the bottom of the barrel lugs. Looking at it certainly gives the impression that it was applied by Parker. I have attached a few pictures, I know everyone likes pictures, LOL. Any info on this is appreciated.

[Dean Romig]

Get a letter. I’ve never seen that before either.





.

[Joseph Sheerin]

Beautiful Parker there.

[Dan Jurgens]

A research letter might shed some light on it.

[David Noble]

That is a very nice looking DH. The Alaska stampings are interesting but I really doubt they were applied by Parker Bros. I would like to know who did it though. And why were the stamps on the barrels twice, but not one on the receiver or trigger guard? Perhaps the receiver would be too hard but the trigger guard would be soft enough.
I hope you can find the answer.

[Dean Romig]

I hope the letter sheds some light on the stylized initials that look like JB in the background of both of those ALASKA stamps.





.

[Jay Gardner]

That’s a fine piece of wood. Case appears to still have a lot of color.

[Brian Dudley]

That is a killer gun!

I doubt that the markings were done at the factory. And I have no idea as to why they are on it.

[Gerald McPherson]

Compare the A, S and L with the overload letters.

[Daniel B Sweet]

Just talked with my friend Dwayne regarding his newly acquired DH stamped with ALASKA, read him everyone's comment's up to this point. At this moment he is on the PGCA website joining up and requesting his letter. I agree that this is a fine looking DH it has some nice remaining case colors and the wood is pretty much free of dents, cracks or scratches, the wood has darkened do to age and handling I suspect,:corn: it would be nice if it could be cleaned up enough to reveal the character of that stock it's nice.

[Dean Romig]

More on the possibility of the JB initials…

There is a very real possibility of Dr. Beeson and Dr. Romig having been well acquainted with each other. They both went on emergency dogsled missions beginning the Iditarod.

[Chuck Bishop]

Guys, remember that our Order Books ended in Dec 1919.

[Daniel B Sweet]

Dean,
You asked about the stylized initials JB that seem to appear with the word ALASKA. My VH has the initials JB on the water table could this be further evidence that Parker stamped or engraved ALASKA on the barrel lug? Interesting... hope with everyone's help we can figure it out.

[Dean Romig]

Dan, I don't believe those stamps were done at the factory... but "never say never" as we always say.





.

[Daniel B Sweet]

The info you posted on Dr. Beeson is interesting and a possibility, Alaska was not yet a state in 1926 when this gun was made, making those marks for personal identification may have been a good idea, although the gun certainly has a traceable serial number.

[Dean Romig]

The info you posted on Dr. Beeson is interesting and a possibility, Alaska was not yet a state in 1926 when this gun was made, making those marks for personal identification may have been a good idea, although the gun certainly has a traceable serial number.



Especially so in that his nickname was "JB"





.

[Dave Noreen]

Someone in Alaska who drank Justerini & Brooks.

[Dean Romig]

Maybe it's a dead-end but, call it dumb luck, call it a WAG, or call it clairvoyance but about 12-15 years ago someone came on the forum here talking about a beat up 20 gauge Damascus DH with a horrible 1 1/2" wood extension on the butt from another gun, not even a Parker, and hand-painted with a heavy stained shellac and with crud all over but with an oval with the initials TP saying that family history said it had belonged to someone like a colonel in the army but couldn't remember the name but the initials were TP.
For whatever reason I threw out the possibility of it being Admiral Thomas Perry of the US Navy. My suggestion was poo-pooed but I ordered a letter from Mark Conrad (research chairman at the time) and the truth came out. I made an offer and the gun, having had a leather covered pad installed and re-checkered and wood refinished, it is now part of my collection...


.

[Daniel B Sweet]

That's the kind of luck we should all stumble into now and then, very nice. Appears to have been cleaned up somewhat, not as you described. LOL

[Dean Romig]

Yes Dan, the wood was completely refinished.





.