My back action lifter with Decarbonized steel barrels has checkering (or the remnants of checkering) and it must have been equivalent to a 0 grade

My theory is that before grades, there was a lot of variation among the different "grades" or price points and one reason they introduced standardized grades was to cut down on the confusion. Just my thought though

Mills, Backaction guns with factory checkering were considered "delux" grade guns in the 1869 catalog.

Thanks for that info.

I had #29218 for a while. It was found, literally in pieces and in paper bags, in a garage. It had been heavily sanded and very sloppily painted with shellac, but I'm certain there was never any checkering.

It is a grade 1 10 gauge top lever hammer gun. I no longer have this gun.

Two photos of its found condition, and two of its cleaned and reassembled condition.

nice save Patrick

Patrick,
That gun likely originally had checkering since it is a grade 1. All of it has either been worn or sanded off. Since the forend is all below metal and wrist is very thin.

Hi, Brian. That's interesting to know. When I first saw the gun I was pretty ignorant about Parkers (the truth is, I still am). I just accepted it as an uncheckered stock. I wondered about the checkering later. I'm not disputing what you're saying, but there isn't even a hint of checkering on the stock now. Yes, the fore end is WELL below metal. It's a shame. I couldn't have judged the stock wrist, because it's such a massive shotgun anyway. But, yes, the trigger guard is proud of the wood, too. Thanks for pointing that out.

I once owned an 1877 vintage 0 Grade 12 gauge, serial 10250, that exhibited no checkering on the forend and stock. The barrels were 32" 'Plain Twist'.

For what it's worth I have an 1884(letter) hammer gun with "Stub Twist" 32" barrels and it has checkering. The stub twist was the most basic of twist steels. I truly believe there may have been general rules, but nothing was hard and fast.
A bad segue, but my barrels are in good shape and I've read the reports on the strength of Damascus vs. steel, but does anyone know where I can research the strength differences between the fine english damascus down through the different grades to include my stub twist?

No. 12465, 10ga, Plain Twist, never saw a checking tool.