Even on the "standard " GH's, no 2 are exactly alike. Similar, but not identical. One reason I like GH Parkers.

Wow dean, that gun is interesting. It looks like a gun that was a VH, and then got turned into a GH at the last minute.

Except that it has Damascus barrels, it does Brian.





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Well. . . Many of you know my affection for grade 2's. This gun arrived at my house today and I could not be more pleased. Gun is in great shape for its age. Heading over to shoot it at our gun club in just a few and then turkey hunting tomorrow morning. I will get some photos too.

Dean, on these early parkers, how much latitude did parker give their engravers. Was there a standard engraving per grade gun and only exceptions were on special orders?

The standard engraving 'patterns' or motifs were generally true to the grade up to the grade 4 guns. After that, grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 were often engraved to order, within reason and good taste.
Up to the early 1890's the engraving motifs through grade 3 and into grade 4, changed a few times from the beginning of the hammerless guns. The changes were often the decision of the chief engraver with the approval or direction of the superintendant of the gun works. But keep in mind that the chief engraver was rarely the one who worked on the lower grades but in some cases he would do the game scenes while the journeymen and apprentices would do the borders and simple scroll.






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Mills I am glad you got that and it was in good shape. I was surprised that lasted as long as it did on GunBroker. Hopefully, you had a good afternoon shooting it. That is a very nice gun and the unique engraving is icing on the cake.

Thanks, Jay. I am very pleased with it. It is one of the best condition grade 2's from this era that I have seen. Going turkey hunting with it next

Here are some pictures. I plan on bringing it to Sanford if there is room after all the other stuff I need.