Sharptails are depicted with pointy engraved tails, if they have squarish tails they are meant to depict Prairie Chickens -- at least that's been my understanding.

Parker Bros. guns were made in America and were used primarily in America, so why would many thousands of GH guns be engraved with an African or non-indigenous bird?





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I didn't mean they 'were' engraved with a non-indigenous bird, I was only suggesting that the depiction of the engraving leaves something to (mis) interpet as I have not seen any birds in N. America that resemble them. I spent my youth and much of my adult years shooting sharptail (as that was the primary upland bird in my neighborhood) and the engraving is open to interpretation, in my opinion.

As for sharptail or prairie chicken, where I come from there are one in the same as we do not have any 'real prairie chicken'.

My 1920 GH 12 ga has looking back birds on the right side panel. It has Damascus barrels on a 1 frame.

Fred ,What is the engraving on the other side ? Just Curious as they are not all the same !

My GH manufactured 1891 has two birds on each panel. One looking forward and one looking back

Just checked my 1896 12 gauge GH #85571, it has them on the left side and the bottom. Each has 1 of 2 birds looking back.

Brush Buster,
The left side panel has 2 waterfowl flying toward the butt end. Fred

And here's my rendition of the "Looking Back" cloud this weekend in Vermont.


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Thanks.