For Standard Velocity Only

[Dean Weber]

I saw the question come up about a barrel stamping on a Parker in the For Sale section. I have questioned the marking on a gun I own as well as other posters in the past. Thought it might be helpful to title a thread on the topic for benefit of future researchers.

The question is regarding what looks like a roll stamp on the left barrel near the breech. It reads "For Standard Velocity Only".

My subject gun is a 1923 VHE 16 gauge with 28" barrels. It weighs 6/5 with 3/3 pre-struck weight marking and bbls weigh 2/14 after finishing. Barrels show no Remington repair codes. Chambers measure right at 2 9/16.

MBWT thickness is .024/.025. Bore is .660/.660.

From my perspective....my gun is a high condition, original gun. It is not over-bored nor have the chambers/forcing cones been lengthened. Why the marking then? Probably anyone's guess. My theory is it may be particular Parkers were made light for their gauge and someone?? thought best to stamp the warning.

At any rate, here are the links which I was able to quickly find which may help others in the future.

2024
https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41686

2023
https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=38915&highlight=standard+velocity

2020
https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29532&highlight=standard+velocity

2015
https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=16811&highlight=Some+American+Lightweights

[Dean Romig]

Interesting that in every example in each of those links they are all stamped with the same dies/same font.

Finding it hard to believe it is original Parker Bros. work as there is no such stamp discussed in The Parker Story in the pages on stampings, proof marks, etc. (pgs. 580-592) where they even discuss factory stampings who's meanings are unknown.

I say not factory... but again, never say never. For example, (all) guns sent back for work or service after 1910 were automatically upgraded with the 1910 bolt and replaceable wear plate with no mention of it in the factory records, hence no record of the work for a research letter.

Possibly a particular retailer or repair shop stamped it thusly as a disclaimer for whatever work they did... or even just a gun they took in for resale.



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[Frank Srebro]

A few years ago a well known Parker gent asked me to measure the barrel walls on a 12-ga Number 1/2 frame Parker; as I recall it was stamped "For Standard Velocity" or some similar verbiage.

[Drew Hause]

The DOM of the guns may correlate to Western Cartridge Co.’s ‘Super-X Field’ (12g) introduced in 1922.
The Peters Cartridge Co. named their similar load ‘High Velocity’.
Remington's Kleanbore ‘Nitro Express Extra Long Range’ boxes were marked “3 3/4 Drs. Equiv.”
Western Cartridge Co. never marked the Super-X ‘Field’ or ‘Record’ boxes with “Dr. Eq.” stating only “Maximum Load”. It is presumed that 12g ‘Super-X Field’ 2 3/4” 1 1/4 oz. was also 3 3/4 Drams Equiv. or 1330 fps.

The 2 9/16" 16g Super-X with 1 1/8 oz. of shot was introduced in 1923. I don't know the Dr.Eq. The Super Speed 1 1/8 oz. load was marked 3 Dr.Eq.

[Robert Brooks]

I have handled a standard velocity stamped VHE 20 years ago Bobby

[Bill Murphy]

I didn't reread all of the linked discussions, but I think possibly that the guns in question are short chambered at customer's request and marked "Standard Velocity" so that 2 3/4" shells would not be used in that particular gun. Just my opinion in the absence of solid information.

[Dave Noreen]

The two guns with these "FOR STANDARD VELOCITY ONLY" markings that I know the serial numbers for both date to 1929.

When Western Cartridge Co. added the 16-gauge to their progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity, Super-X loads, they put it in the 2 9/16-inch FIELD shell. The first mention of the 16-gauge Super-X that I've found appears in a Western ad in the October 1922, National Sportsman.

While Remington and Peters followed Western's lead and put their 20-gauge progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity, loads in 2 3/4-inch shells, Winchester, with a load of 2 1/2-inch chambered Model 12s in shooters hands, put their 20-gauge progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity, loads up in both 2 1/2- and 2 3/4-inch cases.

129367

129368

129369

[Paul Ehlers]

Interesting roll stamps of an unknown origin!

My curious mind immediately goes into skeptical questioning mode when I see a statement like this about velocity or how it correlates to anything else like powder used, load weights, chamber pressures & so on.

The big question for me is (What is Standard Velocity and Who set's that Standard) SAAMI sets the standard for chamber pressures these days but is there any entity now or in the past that sets standard velocity speeds, if so, what are they? Are these standard velocities commonly known by the average Joe buying a box of ammo? If not, I question the need for these roll stamp markings in the first place. It's pretty fuzzy and needlessly confusing.

If I were a betting man--I'd place my bet that there were some attorneys involved with these stamps somewhere along the line.