C Bernards

[Bruce Day]

About 480 Bernard barreled Parkers are known to have been made, all C grades except for a couple B's and a hammer D. They were made from about 1885 to 1918, which is the last known. Most were made 1889 to about 1905, and any Bernard after 1905 is uncommon. Most were 12ga, there are some 10's, about 16 16ga's, and 12 20's. Only 2 16ga's are publicly known now and no 20's have been found, or at least publicly known. The 12 20's is supposed to be a true number and not a projection, so a 20ga Bernard would be a grail gun to Bernard enthusiasts. There are likely more 16's to be found. Most 12's were 2 frame 30" guns. There are some 1 frame 28" 12ga lighter game guns, but they are uncommon.

The Bernard pattern of damascus began with Leopold Bernard, cannonier, Paris. Leopold died around 1850 and the pattern continued with Emil Bernard, fusils, Liege. Many high end makers used Bernard patterned guns, so one can find continental and top British firearms, rifles and guns, with Bernard. Some evidence points to Emil Bernard making or providing Bernard pattern barrels to the trade, other evidence suggests that the name became generic to the pattern and lost identity with a Bernard as maker.

So here are some Parker Bernards, and I'll do a post for each.

The first is SN 36,491, an 1885 top action hammer 12ga, which was a New York showroom gun for 12years. It went back to have rib matting applied when rib matting began in late 1886.

[Bruce Day]

The second is SN 65,557, an 1891 CH 12/30 Bernard and 10/26 Damascus set, missing the second forend. This is an early hammerless, as the hammerless configuration began in 1889. This gun was found in terrible condition and has been a long term project gun for Austin Hogan and myself. The 12ga barrels have an unstruck wt of 6lbs, the 10's at 4/4 with cyl chokes( uncut).

[Bruce Day]

Next is SN 121,835, a 20ga 26" CHE with croille damascus barrels. Its not Bernard, but the closest to the missing 20's that has been found. Out of 12 in the SN book, four are known. These are light upland guns, about 6/2 wt for this one.

[Bruce Day]

SN 136,503 is a 1906 CHE from Los Angeles, a 12ga 30, originally no safety then returned for safety installation. 2 1/4" drop at heel, so I suspect its original purpose was trap. We have a lot of people that come on here and believe that any no safety gun was a live bird gun, as if that makes it extra special somehow. I think that this one was a live bird gun, trap gun, or maybe just ordered for a person that didn't like safeties.

This piece has a peculiarity with the stock which is correctly SN'ed and grade numbered. The cheek panel is original and the grip checkering lacks the bump normally found on C's.

[Bruce Day]

Finally is SN 156,518, a 1911 CHE 16/28 1 frame. Near the end of Bernard production, this is one of the last, so viewers have seen a very early one and a very late one.

This also is peculiar, first for being a rare 16ga, then it lacks any bolt wear plate, so it is the pre 1905 locking bite. It also has the plain grip cap, when the lettered one came out in what 1900?

I am partial to 16ga's, and this one is really a sweet gun at 6/6. Tight and tighter, but I'll leave it as it was made. Because of the high condition of this piece, people sometime ask about refinishing. The consensus among high end collectors is that the stock has an old refinish and the trigger guard has been reblued. The barrels are original finish. The frame has high case colors and no one has been able to identify any refinishing marks and the colors are Parker period correct. The engraving is still crisp but not repointed and the little details are still there unworn and unbuffed.

So I hope viewers appreciate the thread, I hope it helps your own collecting and searching for whatever you are most drawn to.

Bruce Day, Parker beginner enthusiast and forum non expert

[Angel Cruz]

I vote for the 16ga!! Sweet 16!!!

[Jean Swanson]

Bruce :

I know of two Bernard 12 bores with 30" tubes--------Both guns are in excellent condition ,90 plus . One is in Wilton NH and the other is in Manchester VT , I have been after these guns for some 25 to 30 years --unsuccessfully . Nice informative post !! Allan

[Larry Frey]

Next is SN 121,835, a 20ga 26" CHE with croille damascus barrels. Its not Bernard, but the closest to the missing 20's that has been found. Out of 12 in the SN book, four are known. These are light upland guns, about 6/2 wt for this one.

Bruce,
Thanks for sharing your C grade pics.

Not sure if this little 20x26 is one of your known guns or not but I sure wish I were the owner.

[edgarspencer]

In 121,835, posted by Bruce, and the 20 posted by Larry, me eyes were quickly attracted to the fluid transition between the engraving and damascene pattern of the barrels. If I become any more refined, I'm going to start carrying Grey Poupon in my glove compartment.

[Drew Hause]

More information about Damas Bernard
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_108gj6wxpcf

[Tom Carter]

Dr. Drew, Please check your PM's. Tom

[chris dawe]

Bruce :

I know of two Bernard 12 bores with 30" tubes--------Both guns are in excellent condition ,90 plus . One is in Wilton NH and the other is in Manchester VT , I have been after these guns for some 25 to 30 years --unsuccessfully . Nice informative post !! Allan

Well ,while not 90+ condition.... you can add one more:) mine is a 30 inch 12 bore,serial#84672,shipped June 6 ,1896 to Buhl &Son`s in Detroit.

It made it`s way from there somehow ,to I believe Northern Europe where it was picked up by a bulk firearm`s dealer here in Canada....I purchased it a couple year`s ago for the princely sum of less than $200.00 Can.

I love the old girl!!!

[John Havard]

Are most of the shotguns made with Bernard damascus barrels relatively heavy, or is it just my imagination? In other words, was their unstruck barrel weight heavier than say those typically made with Titanic or Acme steel?

[Bruce Day]

John, I don't think they were any heavier than other guns of the time with croille damascus barrels. For example, the straight gripped 12/30 I showed is 7lbs 10. The 16ga is 6/6, so it is lighter than many other 1 frame 16/28's and lighter than a similar 16 I have with fluid steel barrels. The 1891 12/30 is an 8lb 6 gun, a heavy waterfowler. Many gunners wanted heavy guns for max fowling loads, so that's what they ordered. You can find lightweight Bernard game guns, but they are less common than the heavy ones. There is nothing inherent in a Bernard that says it has to be heavy.

Comparing damascus of any form with fluid steel, yes, I think the damascus barrel is a little heavier, but not much. Its anecdotal only, and perhaps an interesting study for someone, a typical damascus/Bernard 12 ga 2 frame barrel will be .034 and fluid steel .030. If we had numbers from a lot of guns, a better conclusion might be drawn. On the fowlers, you'll commonly see .040.

Bruce Day, but don't confuse me with an expert