I have an 1878 10 ga that is marked Damascus on the rib and books as a Damascus (supported by a letter) but is obviously a Parker made Laminate and is stamped with the P on the flats. I think Dean is correct that there were more than the roughly 180 tabulated in TPS for the simple reason that Parker was proud of the barrels and sometimes labeled them Damascus for the simple reason that they were installed on the intermediate grades of guns that were normally spec'd with Damascus barrels. It is further clouded as pointed out by the fact that they resemble the Toncin style of Damascus made in Europe. I think they are one of the most attractive forms of welded barrels. I have also always admired the laminate patterns similar to the top picture. I own quite a few high grade English guns from the mid 1870 era that have that style of laminate and they are incredibly beautiful.They also were considered very strong barrels at the time.

I just bought a Grade 2 Lifter with what I consider to be about the prettiest, most perfectly made Parker-made Laminated Steel barrels I have ever seen. I haven’t received the gun yet but I think I’ll be VERY happy with it.

Nice find Dean,

They are beautiful!!

That is the most amazing banding pattern I have ever seen on those barrels. They look like a form of inlaid mosaic pattern.

I thought so too Art.





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Our mutual friend Keavin Nelson went to a gun show and notified me of the gun he saw there. I asked him to go back and buy it for me.





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Very nice barrels Dean, and it shows clearly the P mark to look for on Parker made barrels.

Congratulations, Dean. Tell us more when you get it.

I will definitely share what I find.





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I see the radiused breech face which would put it towards the end of the Parker laminated period. Serial number probably in the high teens, low twenties? Condition, condition condition!