Austin W Hogan |
09-14-2011 10:43 AM |
Parker Frame Case Color
This is based on 50 years of living in the Mohawk Valley where I shot smallbore and benchrest at Pine Tree with many Remington custom shop people, and did business with Lefever Arms until Mr Bob Lefever's retirement. This has been followed by 20 + years of visits to DelGrego's.
Frank Lefever was Superintendent of Ilion Remington until he opened his shop a short distance away in Frankfort. He was frequently recalled as a consultant when production problems occurred at Remington. His shop was complete and he had jigs to maintain alignment of frames that they case hardened. I have an Ithaca Lefever A restored by Lefever in the 1970's which matches Parker case color, blue, and stock finish. The Lefevers and the DelGregos were good friends and they exchanged work.
The original DelGrego shop was in the basement of the DelGrego home. It had no facilities for forging, blueing or case hardening. Most of this work was done by Lefever until Bob Lefever's move in the early 1980's. Runge then carried frames polished by DelGrego to Remington (where he was still active in the custom shop) to be case hardened. Mike Walker did similar favors for the Harts.
I might speculate that some Ilion Parkers were blued and case hardened by Lefever. Others may have been case hardened at the Arms, as similar cyanide colors are found on Remington rifle bolts of that era.
Best, Austin
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