Simply as a point of discussion and to bring this to a conclusion for the rest of us, can you please post a sharper picture of the muzzle end of the rib?

Incidentally, the keels are definitely in place exactly as Parker Bros. did them. They look perfect. They are triangular pieces of steel beneath the top and bottom ribs to keep the ribs aligned as they were soldered in place.





.

Dean,

Yes I will do that as soon as I am able.

Parker barrel end rib terminations.

The miling machine was operator lifted from engagement . The amount of un milled rib remaining was dependent upon the operator . On a rare few , the operator ran the tool off the rib end before lifting. Also ,There are rare records of Parker factory cutting the barrel ends.

These are several examples of factory rib terminations. Any rib milled Parker without a milling termination line is highly suspect of having cut barrels . In the absence of production records to the contrary , other indicators such as keels and chokes may be sufficient to demonstrate original length.

Dean,

Sorry for the lengthy delay. In response to your request see the attached image.

Have you asked Chuck to check your serial number again this could simply be a case where the 6 should be a 8 .

I have not, but I find that unlikely considering the weight of the gun and the barrel length in the letter are both not matching. And it's by nearly a half pound. Griffin and Howe no longer employ the gentleman who used to do the digging through the records of V&L and have no current plans to renew that role. A Mystery it shall remain, which is fine. It's not an invincible, just your regular VHE


As a separate curiosity, is it possible to learn something about a set of barrels original length by comparing the weight today vs the weight noted on the water table?

No because the weight on the barrel flats is the unstruck or unfinished barrel weight.

Makes sense. Sorry for my lack of knowledge here, but what steps are performed on the barrel after they mark them?


We are way off topic now...

Some important questions haven't been asked. What is the serial number of the gun? Is the rib legend correct for the vintage of the gun? Conn. or CT, U.S.A.? Are the markings on the barrel flats commensurate with the vintage of the gun? WK in an oval? JG in an oval? PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED? The barrel steel marking? K or Kf? Letter in a circle? We need to see several more good pictures to know if those barrels are the ones that started life on that frame.

The barrels are "struck" and choke bored, both of which reduce weight. It is not uncommon for the weight differential between the finished barrels and the unstuck (stamped) barrel weight to be multiple ounces.