Bruce, thanks for starting a great thread. Addressing this detailed information on the rib matting is an asset to the Parker collecting community. Again, thanks.

My BHE has the termination line in front of the matting then a small band of engraving, were B's and above all finish this way?? Craig

Craig, the vast majority of Parkers, from Trojan on up, were matted and the matting termination was done as yours is. A few slipped by that missed the termination line and the blank.

Dean: What I was asking about was the decorative engraved band in front of the termination line

Oh... yes, just Grade 5 and above, that I am aware of.

Thanks-----I learn something new almost every days Thanks again.

Just to qualify my post above - Parker Bros. would fill any request, within reason and good taste, to any gun... for a modest fee, of course. So if you see a Parker with a feature normally seen only on a higher grade it was likely a specially ordered feature.

Craig,
I for one would like to see a picture of the rib end of your B grade. The picture below is an example of a little extra engraving on the end of an uncut 30" set of Titanic barrels from a 1906 D grade.

This is the rib end of the 1896 BH that is for sale. As usual there is no standard I'm afraid.

Larry: Here is a picture of my BHE, you can see the little band of engraving just in front of the termination line. Craig
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps1f64b75d.jpg