Yes, I remember it well from John's sight. Very nice peaple to do business with.

Only my opinion, but I think, unless there are records that say otherwise, that this gun was built the way it is by Parker. Point one would be the reason for the hand inletting for the stock. "Normal" Parker stocks were machine inletted using specialized jigs and routers. An offset stock would have to be hand fitted. Secondly, the lack of a serial number in the trigger guard channel is not damning because the number was placed there to easily reunite the stock to the proper receiver, after finishing. It is doubtful that more than one gun with this type of stock/receiver was going through PB at the same time. Thus, the number is not critical. Finally, bending the tangs, if not done by Parker, would require annealing and recasing of the tangs/receiver. A much more difficult task than making the stock. As I said at the outset, this is only my opinion, but, until proven otherwise, I am sticking to it.

Bill,
I had the same thoughts about the stock with the hand inletting and the serial number. I wonder if this modification would be reflected in any of the repair log books.

Today I christened the NH with four 1-1/8 ounce RSTs and six of my 1 ounce handloads. I am amazed at the deadly patterns these full choked 10s provide at 50 yards! It is definitely a long range waterfowl gun. I think I will keep her:cheers:

I think I shared the information with Mark that I had, long ago, gotten information on this gun from Mark Conrad on this gun that indicated that the gun was not a crossover gun when it left Parker Brothers. He also told me that there was no indication that the gun was sent back to Parker Brothers for a conversion. The stock does not resemble Parker Brothers work. When Mark gets the gun to his satisfaction, he will name a price and I will purchase it. He may get to own one of my prizes in return. This gun is turning out great.

There is no indication in the Order Book that this gun was anything other than your normal NH grade gun when originally sold. That does not mean that the gun couldn't have been returned for modification at a later date and that Order Book is missing.

Here are a few photos. I could not properly capture the dark red hue in the wood. I did not stain the wood, but only applied Tru Oil.

I now own the gun, will have it at the Southern, but I have not yet testfired it. I have three crossover Parkers, but this is the only one that I can shoot in the ten gauge events. It is a wonderful NH, one of more than a couple that I shoot, but the nicest. The barrels are outstanding. The English Walnut was obviously not selected by Parker Brothers for an NH grade. My opinion is that the crossover conversion and restock was done in Great Britain.