Laminated

[Bruce Day]

Xxxx

[Dean Romig]

Has that inverted umlat ever been deciphered?





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[Russell E. Cleary]

Dean:

If I understand the question:

The abbreviation or contraction of BROs would warrant the use of a line or dot below the small "s" to serve as a "ligature".

In this Parker example two dots, not one, was used. I do not know if this "doubling-up" has been done before in the wider culture or is unique to this Parker instance. Apparently, any such contraction (one or two dots, or line-under) is rare or unknown with Parker guns, based on the comments I see here.

I am just going on what I learned from a Glyphs Forum: "The line or dot denotes that the Mc is a contraction of Mac [in a Scottish surname]."

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, because Bros is a contraction or abbreviation of the word brothers. But why doesn't it appear more often, or does it?

[Dean Romig]

I've never noticed it before Bill... but I may have presumed it was a flaw, mistake or a ding.





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[Russell E. Cleary]

I re-wrote my post above, as it was confusingly written, and hope my edits make it less so.

[Arthur Shaffer]

A lot may depend on how the ribs are engraved. I could see a new engraver or one doing contract work making a mistake from working on other brands. The format is really common in European settings. However, if it occured when roll engraving or automated work were common, it would either be common or occur when a set of barrels were inadvertantly not engraved and corrected by hand incorrectly.

A third option would be that a set of replacement barrels were commissioned and the barrel maker didn't copy the originally exactly.

[Bill Murphy]

Was the barrel legend on Bruce's gun engraved or rolled?

[Dean Romig]

It looks like it was engraved, the letters by comparisonto each other are slightly different - R’s compared to R’s and E’s compared to E’s…

There are a couple of pages in TPS that illustrate all known roll stamps.





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[Jay Oliver]

I always took that symbol as an abbreviation that evolved over time.

In my earlier back action guns the abbreviation and Font is the same as the picture Bruce posted. Though to my eye the "O" seams slightly smaller, which may also be part of the abbreviation. I posted serial# 97 and #029.

Later guns in the 1000 serial range I have have a slanted font engraving on the rib with the abbreviation as: Bros,, see picture from #01686

I don't have any Parkers is the 2000 serial range, but I have 3 in the 3000 serial number range where the abbreviation has changed to: Bros" see picture from #3644

And to confuse everyone once you think you have identified a pattern with Parkers, serial #10931 has the abbreviation back to: Bros,, I attached a picture as these are cool stub stwist barrels that letter as 29 1/2"

In my collection, after 15,000 it's all: BROS

I think it just evolved or different engravers were brought on and did it their way. This would make an interesting Parker Pages article. Does anyone have any other examples or outliers?

[Dean Romig]

Well, my interest was piqued so I did some looking around and found some different examples on the lock plates of early graded Lifters.



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[Dean Romig]

But the one I found most interesting was the one engraved like this… and it was all intentional because bith sides were exactly alike.


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[Jay Oliver]

Dean, This is great! I never thought to check the lock-plates for the way the abbreviation is done. I don't have any back actions that have "Parker Bros" engraved on the locks. I don't believe that was done, at least not on my <1000 serial number guns.

That is something I have only seen on front action locks. I will have to check a few of my early front action locks this weekend. I would also agree, I like the example you highlighted the best as well...

[charlie cleveland]

nice.....charlie