Finding "Grade"

[Richard J. Kelley]

New to the forum, and pleased to find it. My first post: As a Connecticut native and long-time lover of Connecticut craftsmanship (guns & clocks) I was happy to find a Parker hammer shotgun here in Texas. S/N 11662. I found it on the watertable, but there was no "Grade" notation above it. Barrel rib identifies barrels as "fine twist", if that is helpful. Any info on "grade" will be appreciated.

Regards,
Rick Kelley,
Elkhart, TX

[Dean Romig]

First - Welcome!

Next, does it say just Parker or does it say Parker Bros.?

Parker Bros. guns were 'never' marked "Fine Twist" and this leads to my above question.





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[Richard J. Kelley]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;433098]First - Welcome!

Next, does it say just Parker or does it say Parker Bros.?

Parker Bros. guns were 'never' marked "Fine Twist" and this leads to my above question.




.[/QUSorry if I said "fine twist" - - still getting my terms right - - what is inscribed on the barrel rib is "plain twist"

[Dean Romig]

Plain Twist is one of the ‘Twist’ steels used on the Grade-0 and Grade-1 Parkers.





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[Richard J. Kelley]

First - Welcome!

Next, does it say just Parker or does it say Parker Bros.?

Parker Bros. guns were 'never' marked "Fine Twist" and this leads to my above question.





.Hi Dean - - I worked for years for an Andover start-up - - they sent me to Texas, and I have been here ever since - - . I'm still wrestling with 'navigation', and trying to separate PMs from Posts, so bear with me - -

Sorry if I said "fine twist" - - it was "plain twist" that was engraved on the barrel rib - - . In one reference manual, it showed the "grade" above the serial number on the watertable, along with some other data. On mine, it just shows the S/N - - so there is still a question on that one. The one in the pub looked like it was a later vintage, so it may have changed over time.

Great fun. Thanks for contributing.

[Dean Romig]

Post some good pictures of the frame or action of your Parker Richard.

Which company in Andover?





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[Dave Noreen]

Serial number 10208 is marked PLAIN TWIST and is a Grade 0, 12-gauge, Quality U.

135097

135098

135099

[Richard J. Kelley]

[QUOTE=Dave Noreen;433150]Serial number 10208 is marked PLAIN TWIST and is a Grade 0, 12-gauge, Quality U.

135100

135101

135102

135103sure looks like it, but mine has checkered stock & forestock - - maybe grade 1, or maybe done later - - ? There is also a black insert on the very front of the forestock, that looks like plastic - - but can't be if it original - - you have one of those?

I worked for MODICON, in the old mill building, and have the dubious honor of selling the first programmable controller to Exxon - - the very first in the petro-chemical business, I believe. Stayed at the old Inn on Andover Academy campus when I made my monthly visits - - got the same room, next to a big pine tree, where crows landed and woke me (without fail) at 6am. (Also had a German shorthair at one time).

You are on the wrong side of Texas to get here easily, and I don't have a good spot for wing shooting - - but if you want to drop a wild hog or two, come on over.

[Dean Romig]

We just parked at the Andover Inn today when we went to the Addison Art Gallery at the Academy.
There are a number of old mill buildings in Andover. I live a half mile from the old flannel manufacturing mill buildings in the village of Ballardvale where Skeet was invented by Davies and W H Foster.


The checkering pattern (design) on your forend is not how it would have originally been done… and the drop points on the stock behind the locks were ‘only’ done on Grade-3 and higher.


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[Steve Huffman]

We just parked at the Andover Inn today when we went to the Addison Art Gallery at the Academy.
There are a number of old mill buildings in Andover. I live a half mile from the old flannel manufacturing mill buildings in the village of Ballardvale where Skeet was invented by Davies and W H Foster.


The checkering pattern (design) on your forend is not how it would have originally been done… and the drop points on the stock behind the locks were ‘only’ done on Grade-3 and higher.


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Dean, I have a lifter with drop points like Richards, I sent you pictures some years ago it isnt a grade 3. I emailed you the pictures again

[Dean Romig]

Yes Steve, I remember yours and one or two others with drop points that are lower than Grade-3 guns.
I believe they had all been made before Parker Bros. settled on specific features of the grade or they may have been ordered that way.





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