Originally Posted by Bruce Day (Post 96283)

Neill, D grades were not standard with checkered side panels, however they were about a $3 option. I have seen a few, but not many, that I believe are likely Parker side panels. Early ones were inletted with a beveled edge, later ones not necessarily inletted and beveled.

Of course posters above mentioned that checkered side panels often hide a cross stock head repair pin. Another reason is that during the 1960's and into the 70's before preservation of Parker originality became as important , it was in vogue to fancy up these old fashioned Parkers with checkered side panels like the high grade ones, and even to chop off the skeleton butt plates and add white line recoil pads. Many were done that way in upstate New York. In Kansas City, Simmons would even strip off the Parker inscribed top rib and install their special wide, flat topped ventilated rib .

Parker catalogs provide that D grades were made with "Circassian" ( Juglas regia) walnut, while late 1920's catalogs and thereafter state J. regia or black walnut ( J. nigra). The black walnut came from Parker's usual supplier in St Joseph, Missouri, now American Walnut Company.

Attached is a photo of a C with Parker inletted and beveled stock cheek panels. Notice that the checkering is fine and even. Coarse and uneven checkering would be an indicator of non Parker work.

Records do not necessarily tell all details on a Parker. A person needs to be able to tell through a variety of indicators what is correct and not. Additionally, many guns went back, records may or may not exist of that work or if existing, may be incomplete.