overload

[RonBarnes]

in the attached pic it is stamped "Overload Parker Bros" on the bottom of the barrels what exactly does that mean, sorry for the dumb question!1466

[Don Kaas]

A bit of marketing by Parker Bros. It is called a "proof mark". It means PB proofed the gun in the factory with heavy proof loads which by definition are "overloads". A.H. Fox Gun Co put "Fox Proof" on their guns, Winchester stamped a "WP" on theirs, for instance to signify the same testing was undertaken on that particular firearm. Unlike almost all western countries, the US did not and does not have a government sanctioned independent proofhouse that tests all firearms for structural integrity prior to sale. Parker and the other major gunmakers did this themselves using procedures similar to the proofhouses in London, Birmingham and Liege. (See TPS for more) W.W. Greener in his wonderful tome, " The Gun and its Development" gives a graphic description of the English proof procedures.

[Dave Fuller]

When did these stamps first appear? The earliest gun I have with them is 214XXX.

[Bruce Day]

Mid 20's.