Original Meriden Charcoal Case Colors

[Bruce Day]

Here are some Parkers with high original condition charcoal case colors, dating from the 1910's through the early 1930's. After the Parker production move to Ilion in 1936, a different process was used and the colors became brighter, less subtle, and often striped.

The photos of the near new 20 ga Trojan is interesting, because the highly engraved surfaces of high grade guns usually do not show case hardening colors as distinctly as non engraved surfaces.

Sharp eyed viewers will notice that the floor plate screws on the last photo, a 16ga CHE Bernard, have rotated. I'll correct that this winter.

[Josh Loewensteiner]

Great educational posting, Bruce. I hope others will join you and post some photos of original Parker case colors. This is real eye candy!

[Bruce Day]

I'm sure this is old hat to an experienced Parker person but it may be helpful to a new collector. It helps to know what they should look like.

Of course there is nothing wrong with a silver frame Parker with colors mostly or entirely worn off. The issue to many collectors comes when a gun that originally had the muted Meriden charcoal case colors is redone with the bright, tiger striped cyanide case colors applied by more recent restorers.

[Ray Masciarella]

Bruce

Is it your experience that Parkers before 1910 have slightly different colors? I know they did when made by Remington. Just wonder if the colors evolved between say 1880-1910.

Thx, Ray

[Bruce Day]

Brad Bachelder has identified several different periods of Parker case colors. Yes, I see a difference but I don't know enough to define the periods and define the differences. When we are discussing subtle color variations it reminds me of wine descriptions, a hint of blackberry, a touch of cassis, subtle lingerings of wild cherry.....

[Ray Masciarella]

I know almost nothing about it, but observation is that later hammerless guns had more blue and less pink. On the other hand, it seems earlier hammer guns had quite a bit of blue/gray.

[Paul Harm]

Brad does the case coloring for some big name restorers. He's doing a gun made in 1874 right now for me. Maybe he'll chime in.

[david ross]

I'm sure this is old hat to an experienced Parker person but it may be helpful to a new collector. It helps to know what they should look like.

Of course there is nothing wrong with a silver frame Parker with colors mostly or entirely worn off. The issue to many collectors comes when a gun that originally had the muted Meriden charcoal case colors is redone with the bright, tiger striped cyanide case colors applied by more recent restorers.

Hi Bruce.
Please could you tell me what colours my vhe Remington Parker has. Charcoal
cyanide or bonemeal oil ect' And are they ok or to far from a origanal 1937
PARKER.
All the best Dave.:bigbye:

[Bruce Day]

They are not the tiger striped cyanide colors that many find objectionable and not true to the originals. Late Rem Parkers were color case hardened by a cyanide process that left brighter colors than the charcoal process. I have seen enough cyanide colors to know that they do not have to be bright and striped and much of the coloration depends upon operator technique.

I believe that these are likely charcoal case colored and may have a lacquer spray over them. IMHO they are attractive. Others will have their own opinions.

[david ross]

Thanks Bruce for your help.
All the best Dave.

[Bill Murphy]

They aren't factory, but, like Bruce, "I like them".

[david ross]

They aren't factory, but, like Bruce, "I like them".

Thanks to all out there who liked my vhe colours. I hope did not offend all you
purists out there. As i know to some a restored Parker is allmost blasfourmy.

Thanks for all your help Dave.:bigbye:

[calvin humburg]

David, don't suppose there is anyway you would let that flag go. ch

[Dean Romig]

No, keep the flag. We have become an international organization. I think the Union Jack is a very nice-looking flag and at one time in our history made a pretty nice target.

It's nice to know we are now on the same side.

[Rick Losey]

No, keep the flag. We have become an international organization. I think the Union Jack is a very nice-looking flag and at one time in our history made a pretty nice target.

It's nice to know we are now on the same side.

Agreed, i know what i would say if someone asked me to pull ours.

[Dean Romig]

Or did Calvin mean the American Flag used as a backdrop to his Parker??

[david ross]

David, don't suppose there is anyway you would let that flag go. ch

Hi Calvin.
Iv'e had that flag for 50 years . But you count the stars? i think it's older than
some parkers out there. :cool:
Send me a pm we may strike a deal.
All the best Dave.:bigbye:

[Rick Losey]

Or did Calvin mean the American Flag used as a backdrop to his Parker??

Now that makes a whole lot more sense doesn't it :bowdown:

Only went back to David's last post, didn't reread the whole thread,

Apologies Calvin, some days jumping to conclusions is the only exercise I get

[Dave Suponski]

Thanks for the chuckle Rick...I needed one today......:)

[Rich Anderson]

A 1927 DHE 20.

[Bill Murphy]

Not an ugly gun. Vent rib, huh?

[Rich Anderson]

30 inches of vent rib sighting:)

[Peter Clark]

They are not the tiger striped cyanide colors that many find objectionable and not true to the originals. Late Rem Parkers were color case hardened by a cyanide process that left brighter colors than the charcoal process. I have seen enough cyanide colors to know that they do not have to be bright and striped and much of the coloration depends upon operator technique.

I believe that these are likely charcoal case colored and may have a lacquer spray over them. IMHO they are attractive. Others will have their own opinions.

Here are what I believe are fairly early Remington case colors in pretty good shape.

[Dean Romig]

237962 and 237750 are early in the Remington era and were built in Meriden using Parker Bros. bone charcoal method.

[david ross]

Hi Peter.
Nice gun is it a VHE and what is the frame size and year.
All the best Dave.

[david ross]

237962 and 237750 are early in the Remington era and were built in Meriden using Parker Bros. bone charcoal method.

Hi Dean.
My gun a VHE Remington 1937 No 240830 i think was made at Meriden to.
So will it have the same bone charcoal method as the other two guns.

All the best Dave.
PS. What year did Remington stop making 1/2 size frame guns.

[Bill Murphy]

David, I think 1/2 frame guns were assembled until the end of production. Enjoy your gun as much as you can, because it is not worth much where it is compared to "over here".

[Bill Murphy]

Rich, is that the vent rib 20 that came from my neighborhood? I never got to see it before it disappeared. I understand it was a real nice gun that was under a gun show table within ten feet of me for a whole weekend and I never saw it.

[Dean Romig]

Hi Dean.
My gun a VHE Remington 1937 No 240830 i think was made at Meriden to.
So will it have the same bone charcoal method as the other two guns


The Parker gunworks was moved to Ilion, New York in 1937 but cyanide color case hardening may have begun before the move.

Please show us some pictures of yours David.

[calvin humburg]

Dean, I believe it is the gun on the flag.

[Dean Romig]

I see. David's gun on the flag is a very nice Parker, however I believe it has been recolored. The clue is that the trigger guard is also case colored while Parker and Remington blued the trigger guards.

[George M. Purtill]

No rib markings? [I will re-read the thread]

[Peter Clark]

Hi Peter.
Nice gun is it a VHE and what is the frame size and year.
All the best Dave.

Dave,
237750 is a 12ga VH, 28" about IM/F chokes. The other one, 237962 is a 12 ga 26" VHE chokes about IC/M. I can really shoot that one. The 28" is light, barely over 7 pounds and recoils smartly. I put Hawkins pads on both without cutting the stocks and they work better for me now. Can put the DHBP back on in a snap if I want. Both are 1 1/2 frame, 1934 I think, I would have to look it up again.
Peter

[Peter Clark]

237962 and 237750 are early in the Remington era and were built in Meriden using Parker Bros. bone charcoal method.

Thanks for the info Dean. Oddly, the rib lettering is a little different between these two guns. Kind of block letters on one and more like an outline of the letters on the other???

[david ross]

David, I think 1/2 frame guns were assembled until the end of production. Enjoy your gun as much as you can, because it is not worth much where it is compared to "over here".

Hi Bill.
UK price £2500. US price $5000 to $6000 for rare 1/2 size frame.
All the best Dave.:bigbye: