Remington Parker or Meriden gun?

[Christian Gish]

I have SN 237758, a 20 gauge VH. It has the PARKER inscription on bottom of the frame, but the rib insciption is PARKER BROS. MAKERS MERIDEN CT. U.S.A. VULCAN STEEL. According to the PGCA letter it was noted in Stock Book NO. 82 as being completed Oct. 23, 1935 and shipped Nov. 15, 1935. The Remington IBM Card describes it as a VH hammerless 20 gauge on the 0 frame with 28 inch Vulcan steel barrels. Do you think the gun was assembled at Remington from Meriden parts?

[Dean Romig]

Hi Fred,

Your Parker was made by original Parker Bros. employees and 'contractors' in Meriden after the Parker Gun Works was purchased by Remington but before the operation was moved to the Remington plant in Ilion, NY. Remington had purchased all of the Parker Bros. inventory of parts, tools, machinery and remaining guns hence the Meriden rib and probably the grip cap and possibly the buttplate too.

[George M. Purtill]

What Dean said.
It is what I call a Remington-Meriden Parker as opposed to a Remington-Ilion Parker.
Still a Parker.

[Brian Dudley]

Meriden Parkers made adter the remington 1934 take over will have the "Parker" on the bottom since that was Remington's new way of marking them. But, parts like the barrels which would have been kept in inventory would have the typical Meriden marks on them. Meriden barrels were used on the guns all the way up to after the move to ilion.
It was not until after 1937 that you would see all of the Remington features come to be. Such as, unmarked rib, ilion stamped water table, ilion grip cap, etc...
The frame engraving would have been one of the last things done, thus it was one of the first to transition.

[Peter Clark]

I have SN 237758, a 20 gauge VH. It has the PARKER inscription on bottom of the frame, but the rib insciption is PARKER BROS. MAKERS MERIDEN CT. U.S.A. VULCAN STEEL. According to the PGCA letter it was noted in Stock Book NO. 82 as being completed Oct. 23, 1935 and shipped Nov. 15, 1935. The Remington IBM Card describes it as a VH hammerless 20 gauge on the 0 frame with 28 inch Vulcan steel barrels. Do you think the gun was assembled at Remington from Meriden parts?

Hi Fred,
Here is a 12 ga. I have and I bet our guns know each other. Look at the serial number.
-plc-

[George M. Purtill]

That is totally cool. 8 guns away.

[George M. Purtill]

Fred
Show us a picture if you can.

[Eric Grims]

I just bought a remington gun I talked about on a recent post titled "choke" Is there a serial number that indicates the complete change over to new york? My trojan ser. # is 238737. Anyone have any info on this?
Thanks

[George M. Purtill]

At what point did Remington start marking the chokes on barrel flats?
I should know this but I don't or forgot.

[Eric Grims]

The barrels on my gun are Meriden marked.

[Christian Gish]

Thanks to all for your comments. My gun has the PARKER BROS. MERIDEN CONN grip cap and 28 inch barrels. A previous owner installed an after-market black spacer and recoil pad making a 14 inch length of pull to the front trigger. I shot 23/25 from 16 yard line with 7/8 oz. #8 (my best with this gun). I will send pictures if I learn how to do it.

[Brian Dudley]

Posting pics are very easy here. Just like attaching to an email.
What kind of pad is on your gun? How thick? Chances are it was cut short at one time for someone small and the spacer plus pad was needed to get it back out to a respectable LOP. If the pad is not really period correct, it would be a good option to put on a new silvers pad. They are made in up to 1.5" thicknesses, so you may not need the spacer anymore.

[Christian Gish]

Hi Fred,

Your Parker was made by original Parker Bros. employees and 'contractors' in Meriden after the Parker Gun Works was purchased by Remington but before the operation was moved to the Remington plant in Ilion, NY. Remington had purchased all of the Parker Bros. inventory of parts, tools, machinery and remaining guns hence the Meriden rib and probably the grip cap and possibly the buttplate too.

Dean,
I appreciate the info you gave in answer to my question about the origin of my gun.
Fred

[Christian Gish]

Posting pics are very easy here. Just like attaching to an email.
What kind of pad is on your gun? How thick? Chances are it was cut short at one time for someone small and the spacer plus pad was needed to get it back out to a respectable LOP. If the pad is not really period correct, it would be a good option to put on a new silvers pad. They are made in up to 1.5" thicknesses, so you may not need the spacer anymore.

Brian,
Thanks for the info. The pad on my gun is a DECELERATOR, one and a half inches thick counting the spacers.

Fred

[Brian Dudley]

A 1.5" thick silvers pad would be a good option if you wanted to loose the spacers.