Thanks. I think Dean and Brian have alluded something similar to your reply as well. It is never just one thing probably that would make someone make a change from a duplication to replacement. Sometimes price at the end of the day does matter.

My only other thought and not certain if any merit to it is that maybe some asked for new barrels based on new generation of barrels for modern powder use. Maybe its just me when I hear the word "cheaper" it has a sense of derogatory tone like it is something of less quality as opposed to just being less expensive. I get it may have less grade because it does not have scrollwork or inlay and hence less pricey.

I don't know maybe I was thinking someone asking for Vulcan barrels might have been folks that were early adopters of the change. But as dean alluded to some of the change was forced. I think I do recall a thought at the time that damascus was tried and proven and some were slow to adapt to new fangled fluid steel.

I guess it is somewhat the same as having barrels that are fixed choked as opposed to getting a gun with screw in chokes.

Some of them were. However, your grade of barrel as Brian mentioned was half the vost of the gun. Getting a Vulcan steel barrel was cheaper than a Damascus barrel or a fine damascus, or a bernard, or in fluid steel terms a parker special steel or titanic barrel etc but more expensive than Trojan steel which is sometimes seen as a replacement barrel.

At a certain point many did choose to exchange damascus for fluid steel. Some paid to get the appropriate steel others did not.

However, as gun writers of the time Askins etc, wrote many were reluctant to trade in for or trust the new fangled fluid steel barrels.

Thank you all for your responses and constructive discussion.

Allen,

Good stuff. I am a greenhorn to collecting Parker's. There are people on here that have forgotten more than I will probably ever know about em but it is fun and interesting to learn about em. My favorite saying is "If your not green, your not growing". I know one thing the next Parker I pick up I will be looking for that 44.

Thank you Todd. You are correct. There are some truly well informed members of the PGCA that you will find most helpful. There is some chaff here too and you will learn over time how to sift through everything that comes over the transom (it's an ex Navy term). But there is a tremendous amount of helpful info here in the main. Good luck on your Parker journey. Know that we have all been where you may be today.

I too have had or do have a
PARKER that has the 44 in a strange
Place on the flats, I will begin to
Look for it

Pat, that is interesting. What is the production year of the gun with those 44 marks

Dean. I guess the mark 44 will remain a mystery. Thank you all again for contributing to this discussion

I am going to check the gun, they are
In several locations

Does anyone know, or have a guess on, the manufacturing cost of the various barrel sets?