Aha! So it is simply an error in the Order Book then.

An error in the Oder Book or did the order change between the time it was given and the time the gun was made? It was ordered on May 28 and shipped Sep 6. I guess there was time to change the order, and if thats what happened, I wonder why the order book was not modified to reflect the change? Of course, that assumes that is what happened.

I just don't understand how this could have happened. If a particular gun was ordered and entered into the order book, isn't that was what was supposed to be put into production? How can it just change without any referrence?

Just a thought on how that could happen. If the order was taken and the process to make it was just starting, the work tag that travels with the work in progress may have simply been changed without corresponding changes made in "the book"?

Years ago I worked in a forge shop and thinks like that took place on parts moving through the shop.

It was probably easier to give the customer a Grade 2 than to build a Grade 1. Guns do not always correspond with the order book entry when they are delivered. The stock book is the final configuration of a Parker.

I just went through the stock book that Ray's gun is in. I looked for Lam barrels and the one's I saw were all Lam1's. The Parker story however does list 6 guns in top action grade 2 that had Laminated barrels. 210 in lifter actions and 6 in top action guns. Also of note, TPS lists 11 grade 0 hammer guns as having Dam0 barrels and 260 grade 1 hammer guns with Dam1 barrels. I guess it's not true that Damascus was only used on grade 2 and above.

There were different grades of Laminated Steel.

These are examples of the pattern of the later version or the lower grade of Laminated Steel.

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These are pictures of the earlier higher grade of Laminated Steel generally seen on Grade 3 and higher Parker Lifters.


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I wish I could say which serial number Parker Bros began using Damascus Steel only on Grade 2 and higher but there was a point at which this decision was made. It can probably best be determined by researching the various Parker Bros catalogs. And in speaking in general terms again there was a point at which the higher grade of Laminated Steel barrels were discontinued on the higher grades and the lower grade of Laminated Steel was used on Grade 1 guns almost exclusively.

Please excuse my not being able to specifically nail down a date or serial number at which these changes took place.

Sorry, guys. You are working on the assumption that Ray's gun has Laminated barrels. Ray has posted that it is a Grade 2, top to bottom, markings, Damascus barrels, and engraving. Yes, Laminated barrels are installed on Parkers above grade 1 and Damascus barrels are installed on guns below grade 2. However, those facts do not involve the gun in our discussion. As Chuck mentions, our discussion is covering some as yet uncovered research. See next post.

So Bill, you've never gone a little bit off topic on your replies:shock: