Parker Barrels

[Jim Thynne]

I just ran across an article where the gunmakers, nearly all of them stood in front of the Congress of the United States in 1912. Parker Brothers was Represented by Walter King. The question was who made the barrels for American Shotguns , and Mr King answer,all but the barrels from Whitworth, all of the barrels are made and rough bored in Belgium. It would be interesting to know if they were the same for all grades, or if the steel for different grades was made differently, or from another firm. This included Fox L C Smith and many others! This is well beyond the damascus years! I found this interesting. Walt Snider found this, and published it!

[John Knobelsdorf II]

Wishing I knew more than this, but it feels comprehensive:

https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32925&highlight=Analysis

Also wishing I get to see the picture of Mr. King at the Capitol building.

[Dean Romig]

I just ran across an article where the gunmakers, nearly all of them stood in front of the Congress of the United States in 1912. Parker Brothers was Represented by Walter King. The question was who made the barrels for American Shotguns , and Mr King answer,all but the barrels from Whitworth, all of the barrels are made and rough bored in Belgium. It would be interesting to know if they were the same for all grades, or if the steel for different grades was made differently, or from another firm. This included Fox L C Smith and many others! This is well beyond the damascus years! I found this interesting. Walt Snider found this, and published it!

Jim, you should read more of Mr. King’s statement where he states that Parker Bros. made their own barrels for a period in 1877, 78 and 79 but it proved too expensive because he had to pay his workers more than twice the amount that the factories in Belgium paid their employees.

In other words, it was far less costly to import the Belgian tubes than to make them "from scratch" there in Meriden where it was necessary to pay the workers the "going rate."





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[Breck Gorman]

It was the Payne-Aldrich Tarif Act of 1909. Very interesting reading. Government wanted to tax domestically made barrels. The gun makers testified that it was much cheaper to import tubes from Belgium. Walter King testified that Parker made their own barrels (Laminated and TWIST) from 1877-80, but gave it up as too expensive.
Here is a link to a very good and thorough discussion on the matter on Drew Hause’s Damascus Knowlege site:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12y9006Ur7mMCqdeeye89c7L4DQrc2iXR8p4S6OIN1bA/edit#

[Jim Thynne]

Yes, and if we remember these were all damascus barrels. The later barrels are why the Congress asked the question on imported barrels. I found this very interesting. I wonder why the Congress was so interested, this was prior to WW1

[Jim Thynne]

Dontcha just love this site? Thanks to all of you that watchit!!

[Daryl Corona]

I wonder why the Congress was so interested, this was prior to WW1

Typical bureaucracy even back then. They were looking for a solution to a problem that didn't exist.

[Dean Romig]

...or simply trying to invent a taxable commodity.





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[Jim Thynne]

I wonder if Parker as well as others used different manufactures for dofferent grades of steel? Dr. Gady wrote there was a difference in the grade of steel. I guess we will never know for sure, but it has been interesting to find this out.

[Jim Thynne]

Have to watch my typing, I am confined to cotton gloves for the remainder. I don't proof read well, so have patience with my typing!

[Dean Romig]

I wonder if Parker as well as others used different manufactures for dofferent grades of steel? Dr. Gady wrote there was a difference in the grade of steel. I guess we will never know for sure, but it has been interesting to find this out.

Jim, Dave Suponski wrote an article for Parker Pages on the properties of the various grades (Acme, Titanic, Parker Special, Parker, and Vulcan) fluid-pressed steels. Edgar Spencer is an athority on varius steels used in Parker’s barrels.





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[Jim Thynne]

So my thought is , there may have been different producers of rough tubes, or certainly different runs of steel. Interesting not only did Parker do this, but all of the majors did. I suppose WW1 stopped a lot of the transfer of products from Belgium!

[Dean Romig]

That’s right Jim.





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[Jim Thynne]

As noted , the Vice President of the United States has quoted. That all (ALL) labor should be within the labor unions. Scarry thinking Huh!! keep Biden in there He hasn't a clue!