Help with barrel flat markings please

[tom tutwiler]

Got my new to me VHE 12 gauge. Late Remington in very nice condition. Has an issue or two that needs to be resolved, but its a keeper. Would request help in decoding the barrel flat markings. First one is:

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL599/2614949/23828662/401438870.jpg

Made in U.S.A
HT and a Capital A below V in a circle and a 4. Figure V is for V grade and 4 is the barrel weight

Second one is:

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL599/2614949/23828662/401438867.jpg

This is more interesting to me. Capital E and G followed by two small circles with a vertical line in between. Also a circle with 6 small lines radiating around it like a sun rays.

Other things of note is the length to end of wood is 13 1/4". To end of Jostam pad is 14.5" so it was lopped at some point as there's 4 holes in the buttstock. Chokes are .015 on right and .038 on left. Twin Ivory beads.

Anyway, would appreciate idea's on what all the extra barrel flat markings are. Thanks

[Kevin McCormack]

HT/A = High tensile alloy steel
Small sunburst symbol likely an inspector's mark
E. and G. probably Remington codes (?)

[Bill Murphy]

October 1936, Tom. This is a manufacturing date. With suffixes, it would be a repair or parts replacement code. It's a nice gun to sell. Let me know. You are the man. Sorry, I misread the chart. The year is 1938.

[Dave Noreen]

If the E G are Remington codes that would be October (E) 1938 (G)

[tom tutwiler]

Thanks all. She tips the scales at 7 lbs 11 oz. I'm headed to Florida with the better half tomorrow for a week. When I get back I'll take a few pictures and post them.

Nice remaining Case Color and amazingly enough a fairly figured buttstock. I think this would be a awesome pheasant gun, but first thing is probably wild turkey's. I've got some RST 1 1/4 oz loads of 6's that I got last year. Like these later Parkers. Drop at Comb is 1 1/2" Drop at heel a delightful 2 3/8". I can shoot this gun I'm thinking.

[Dean Romig]

Tom, a modestly figured American Black Walnut stock on a Remington VH or VHE isn't "amazing" at all really. We have seen quite a number of such V's and in my opinion are the equal of, or better figured than, the Meriden era Grade 2 guns wood.

[tom tutwiler]

Tom, a modestly figured American Black Walnut stock on a Remington VH or VHE isn't "amazing" at all really. We have seen quite a number of such V's and in my opinion are the equal of, or better figured than, the Meriden era Grade 2 guns wood.


I'm sure your correct. My VH made in 1900 is as straight grain and as non-figured as they come. Agree this is early GH level wood on this one no doubt.

[Kevin McCormack]

More highly than expected wood quality commensurate with grade of gun is quite common on Remington Ilion-produced Parkers. The higher-grade wood brought from Meriden to Ilion wound up on a lot of Remington Parkers (e.g., V- and G- grade) that would not have normally been stocked with such highly-figured blanks. Rather than purchase and shape more plain-Jane blanks, Remington used what was at hand.

With only a few years to go until WW II sealed the fate of the Parker Gun, and with so few Remington Ilion Parkers produced, we pleasantly see lower grade guns with high grade wood fairly frequently. One of the very best is a VHE 12 gauge 1/2 frame skeet gun that made its way through the Washington DC area around 10 years ago. The wood on it would have made a D grade proud!