Did parker shotguns ever have factory recoil pads installed?

[sean mcguire]

As the title says........

Did parker shotguns ever have factory recoil pads installed?

and if so what kind of pad was used? Gun in question is a hammer gun, serial number 46515. I am guessing it was made somewhere around 1885 ish.
Thank you in advance for any info you can provide.

[Bob Hayes]

Silvers were requested

[Bruce P Bruner]

The Silver Pad was patented in 1874, made of “India rubber”. Still available from Kynoch LTD. Illustrated pad from the 1880’s, L.C. Smith Quality 3, 32” Damascus #20882.

[Dave Noreen]

I thumbed through my stack of Parker catalogs and the first I see to offer a recoil pad is the 1913 Flying Ducks. I'm sure Parker Bros. were installing recoil pads earlier, but 1885 may be a bit early, or not. By the Remington era a recoil pad, usually a Hawkins, was "standard" but option of any other on the single and double trap guns

[sean mcguire]

Out of curiosity, would a letter tell me length of pull and perhaps what type of butt plate or pad was requested....?

[Bruce P Bruner]

From my experience the Parker letters have detailed the following:
The date of the order
Who ordered the gun
Where & when it was shipped
Model & Gauge
Lifter, Top action Hammer or Hammerless
Barrel length
Barrel Composition - Damascus, Twist, Titanic Steel, Vulcan Steel etc.
Stock Configuration - Pistol Grip or Straight
Requested chokes
Other details- vent rib, shells ordered
Other people’s letters may contain more information.

[Dave Noreen]

The orders I have copies of for Edwin Hedderly's guns specify "Silvers Rubber Butt" --

117481

but some just list "S R Butt."

[Breck Gorman]

Hawkins pad with heart shaped reliefs for 1930s double trap guns.

[Dean Romig]

I had a 28 ga. Damascus barreled DHE made in 1908 where the order specifies a Silvers pad, and the gun still has the original pad. In fact, the letter specifies, “supply Annie Oakley style case.” too but the case is no longer with the gun.


.

[Terry Smith]

Parker shotgun 153475 is a Grade 3 hammer gun and it was ordered with a "Silvers rubber butt" for an extra charge of $4, where normally it would have had a skeleton steel butt plate

[Stan Hillis]

I would rather fit and grind a Silvers pad to a butt any day over a skeleton butt plate. No precise inletting needed for a Silvers.

$4 extra seems a bit high, all things considered. Just saying.

Edited to add: Rereading this I wanted to clarify that what I meant was not a preference, according to function or aesthetics, but according to the amount of effort/work involved to do either of the jobs.

[Randy G Roberts]

Parker shotgun 153475 is a Grade 3 hammer gun and it was ordered with a "Silvers rubber butt" for an extra charge of $4, where normally it would have had a skeleton steel butt plate

This one from 1900, another hammer gun (Quality B) that would have normally had the SSBP yet ordered with a Silvers pad. Once again, $4.

[Dan Steingraber]

This one from 1900, another hammer gun (Quality B) that would have normally had the SSBP yet ordered with a Silvers pad. Once again, $4.

WOW! Great gun and great letter.

[Stan Hoover]

This one from 1900, another hammer gun (Quality B) that would have normally had the SSBP yet ordered with a Silvers pad. Once again, $4.

Sounds like horribly short barreled light gun, it’s even missing nicely patterned Damascus barrels :shock:

Must be a tough gun to shoot well Randy, I feel bad for you:cool:

[henderson Marriott]

Parker 1923 AAHE, SN 203418 ordered with two(2) butt stocks and separate forends:
one stock for skeet and trap fitted with Hawkins heart pad. The other remaining butt stock was fitted with a skeletal steel engraved butt plate. Parker Bros. always endeavored to
please its client-customers wherever possible. This Parker was a third generation family gun.