Serialization Book Question

[Jim McKee]

Yesterday I looked at a very nice 16b Parker with all serial # matching with Titanic barrels.
The Parker Gun Id & Serialization book shows it as a Bernard barrel.
Misprint or possibly barrel changed by Parker to Titanic steel?
Made in early 1900's
Thanks!

[Reggie Bishop]

A letter might answer that question. Everything else is just speculation. Sounds like a nice one!

[Dean Romig]

If they are true Titanic Steel barrels I would surely think they are factory replacements.





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[Randy G Roberts]

If they are true Titanic Steel barrels I would surely think they are factory replacements..

Why is that Dean? We have seen early 1900's era guns with Titanic barrels. I once had a 1904 ordered gun with Titanic barrels.

[MattHaney]

I think Dean is assuming the serialization book is correct that the gun originally had Bernard barrels. But Randy is correct that it is not unusual to see Titanic barrels on non-D-Grade guns as they were one of Parker's earlier offerings in fluid steel, before many of the other steel barrel brandings were introduced.

A letter will probably clear it up, in this case, as Reggie says.

[CraigThompson]

I’ve got a DH 12 32” no safety gun that letters as being manufactured in 1899 and it also letters as having Titanic steel barrels . And no there’s no mention of it going back for new barrels .

[Dean Romig]

True guys - I was laboring under the assumption that it actually was made with Bernard barrels when I myself have had Parkers that in the records misidentified the barrel steel…
Case in point, a 28 ga. DHE that was recorded as having 28” Titanic barrels when in fact it left the factory woth 24” Damascus barrels…

And a C hammer gun that was recorded as having left the factory with 30” Damascus barrels yet it actually left the factory with 30” Bernard barrels.

There are really so many errors in the Serialization book and yes, even the factory records that we can really only use these records as a guide as they are not always exact.

The gun in hand may be the only accurate way to determine originality.
This is not to denigrate the records we have or those who have researched this information to provide us with research letters.

But yes, Parkers with original composite barrels were sometimes returned to the factory to have fluid steel barrels fitted.




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[Jim DiSpagno]

I had a C grade that lettered with a hard rubber bp, titanic steel bbls and a second set of Damascus bbls. 90861 if I remember correctly. Made very early 1899

[John Allen]

Jim, Was this gun at the OGCA meeting this past weekend?

[Jim McKee]

Yes it was at the OGCA

[John Allen]

I was set up next to the owner of the gun and looked it over. I really like the engraving and overall condition on the gun. I think the barrels are correct as I could find no repair codes on them. 16 gauge C grades like that are really scarce. There were also 2 VH 28 gauges and a VH 410 at another table as well. Some really good guns have come through the OGCA over the years.

[John Bastiani]

I was set up next to the owner of the gun and looked it over. I really like the engraving and overall condition on the gun. I think the barrels are correct as I could find no repair codes on them. 16 gauge C grades like that are really scarce. There were also 2 VH 28 gauges and a VH 410 at another table as well. Some really good guns have come through the OGCA over the years.
John-What table was the VH 410 at and what was the condition? I saw one of the 28's that was clear down around row W. It was one of Connecticut shotguns Parkers that the dealer was selling. I didn't see you come by the table or I would have showed you the Winchester 21 Grand American-20 gauge that I bought. After 15 years of looking for a early one(pre-68 before they added a W to the sn) and not one that has been upgraded or redone-I finally found a good one with a factory letter and order sheets.

[Jim McKee]

John,
Thank you for the information about the Parker 16b
It will be visiting Ohio soon
Research letter is being requested
Thanks!
Jim