Vulcan Barrels on a GH?

[Justin Julian]

I was under the impression that fluid steel barrels on a GH grade were marked as Parker Special Steel, and Vulcan Steel barrels were reserved for VH grades. So what does one make of this GH with barrels marked vulcan? Have the barrel lumps been renumbered to match the frame or is that just how it left the factory?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=269794927

[Dave Suponski]

The serial number puts the gun being made in 1903. I believe this is before the introduction of Parker Special Steel barrels. With that being said the gun would have left the factory with damascus barrels. We have found many guns in the "books" being returned for new barrel sets. Many times the guns owner would have oppted for less expensive fluid steel barrels. That would have been Vulcan steel. In 1903 the only fluid steel barrels available were Vulcan,Titanic and maybe Whitworth. I dont believe Acme were available yet.

[Bill Murphy]

PGCA letter may give information about the original configuration and possibly later modifications.

[Justin Julian]

Dave's theory of subsequently replaced barrels at the factory is probably the most likely explanation for what we are seeing in this example. Not a bad price for a fluid steel shooter, if one can get past the case colors.

[William Maynard]

I emailed the seller last week about this shotgun requesting who restored this gun and I was informed that he did not know...

[Justin Julian]

I find it interesting that the case colors on this GH are so heavy on the golds and mustard yellows....it very much reminds me of CSMC's case colors on many of their RBLs, and they too are located in Connecticut. A mighty speculative connection to be sure, but perhaps there's some common thread or history there.

[Dave Suponski]

From my experience you need to know your way around a camera to get case colors to look right. Some of our guys here do a wonderful job. Someone needs to get the gun in their hands to truly see the colors. Checkered stock cheeks on a G grade?

[John Dallas]

Isn't Turnbull doing CSM coloring work?

[Justin Julian]

The item description mentions a wrist repair, which usually involves a segment of dowel used as a pin through the head of the stock. The panels are then typically checkered and refinished in an effort to camoflage the ends of the dowel. That might be what's going on here.

[Justin Julian]

Turnbull might be case coloring some of CSMC's products, but not all of them. I saw a short segment on the Outdoor Channel recently which showed CSMC doing its own in house color case hardening on one of its sidelock over/under frames.

[William Maynard]

I am not a pro. I do know my history and it just does not look good to me..

[E Robert Fabian]

I don't think you could go wrong for that money. My guess is that the barrels where probably fitted by Parker... they look like they fit well.

[mearl mace]

I have a gh that had damascus barrels and was sent in and has a acme steel barrels now and was wondering if this adds or lessens the value of the gun? and another question the gun is really nice all original minus the steel barrels but the case coloring isn't perfect should i have turnball case color it? or would lower the value?

[Bill Murphy]

It would impact your checking account, maybe by the value of the gun. A PGCA letter is an easy way out for this Vulcan G grade.

[George M. Purtill]

I was under the impression that fluid steel barrels on a GH grade were marked as Parker Special Steel, and Vulcan Steel barrels were reserved for VH grades. So what does one make of this GH with barrels marked vulcan? Have the barrel lumps been renumbered to match the frame or is that just how it left the factory?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=269794927

I have a DHE with Vulcan bbls. I would say it was sent back for repairs as the stock was also repaired. The PGCA letter doesnt reveal anything about these repairs. But I do know that Governor Wilcox was a friend of the Parker Family and he was also "thrifty", so getting a new set of bbls in a lower grade would probably not have bothered him.

I have a CHE with a V grade stock done by the factory- go figure.

[George M. Purtill]

I am not a pro. I do know my history and it just does not look good to me..

looks like Del Grego case to me.

[George M. Purtill]

Turnbull might be case coloring some of CSMC's products, but not all of them. I saw a short segment on the Outdoor Channel recently which showed CSMC doing its own in house color case hardening on one of its sidelock over/under frames.

I had a tour of the CSMC factory about 5 weeks ago and they definitely do their own case coloring. I dont know if they do ALL the coloring.

[Dean Romig]

I have a gh that had damascus barrels and was sent in and has a acme steel barrels now and was wondering if this adds or lessens the value of the gun? and another question the gun is really nice all original minus the steel barrels but the case coloring isn't perfect should i have turnball case color it? or would lower the value?

If you have a PGCA Research Letter substantiating that Parker had replaced Damascus barrels with Acme Steel barrels I think it would elevate the value of the gun. Parkers which had Damascus barrels replaced at Parker Bros with fluid steel barrels usually opted for barrels intended for the same or lesser grade of Parker because of the cost of the fluid steel barrels which were priced according to the type of steel... rarely (if ever) for Acme Steel barrels fit to a Grade 2 gun - which were almost always used on Grade 4 (C) guns.

[mearl mace]

If you have a PGCA Research Letter substantiating that Parker had replaced Damascus barrels with Acme Steel barrels I think it would elevate the value of the gun. Parkers which had Damascus barrels replaced at Parker Bros with fluid steel barrels usually opted for barrels intended for the same or lesser grade of Parker because of the cost of the fluid steel barrels which were priced according to the type of steel... rarely (if ever) for Acme Steel barrels fit to a Grade 2 gun - which were almost always used on Grade 4 (C) guns.

i made a mistake the gun has vulcan barrels not acme the barrels and forend have the same numbers the rest of the gun has all the same numbers the letter i got with the gun says the barrels were probably added at the factory i'm just curious as to whether this adds or lessens the value of the gun it's a gh, engraved with a fishtail lever its real nice but has lost the case colors except in some areas

[Bill Murphy]

I don't know what kind of "letter" would say that the barrels were probably installed at Parker. However, if the fit and the numbers look factory, the value should be maintained.

[mearl mace]

I don't know what kind of "letter" would say that the barrels were probably installed at Parker. However, if the fit and the numbers look factory, the value should be maintained.

ok thanks, I'm not home now I'm on the road but I have 2 letters one from the historian and another from a guy who's name i see on here alot I will get back to you when i get home and let you know I have 4 parkers and have a letter on another one but need a letter for other 2 but i think they are in the missing archive list but not sure thanks for the info though