Frank,
Will you share the serial number of your gun with us. I have a twelve gauge serial number 4054 which is identical to yours in all details except condition. 4054 isn't nearly as pretty, but I like it. My barrels are "Stub Twist", which I'm thinking are what is referred to as "Fine English Twist" on the 1874 price list. According to that description I always thought it was a $75.00 gun. Are your barrels marked Twist or Stub Twist?

Dave

Dave,

Ser. # 4071 completed April 6, 1874. Stub twist two barrel set. Maybe we both have 110 dollar grade guns since they were made before this May 1st price change?

If I am not mistaken Stub Twist Parker barrels were forged from discarded horseshoe nails

Best Regards, George

Frank,

Thanks, that is very interesting, but confusing. My letter states that 4054 was completed October 28, 1875. So, what does that mean?


George,

That is my understanding too. Do you know what Decarbonized Steel was? Goes to show, those Parker Boys could sell anything.

Dave

I'm no expert on the history of steel metallurgy, but I remember Muderlak in one of his books had quite a bit on the transition from cast iron barrels, which had carbon occlusions, to modern compressed fluid steel barrels, like the famous Whitworth barrels. Damascus barrels were a way to beat out the carbon occlusions and minute air pockets and provide a thinner and stronger metal composition until fluid compressed steel with moly, chromium,( Cro-Moly) and various additives came along. Kind of a fascinating subject in itself. In the late 1800's there were various metal manufacturers and various processes, each claiming to be superior, so its understandable that Parker and other gun barrel users were listening to the vendors and using various barrel steels.

I've been fascinated by the Parker penchant for using various barrel steels, Vulcan, Acme, Titanic, etc, and why they did that. We know that Parker and all the gun makers were approached by the barrel vendors who each claimed to have the superior product ( secret formula of course) and each of whom claimed that they had solved barrel bursting problems. Interesting issues, and as Muderlak pointed out, we never had reliable engines for automobiles and airplanes until the metallurgy issues were solved. Considering as how I had to replace a prematurely worn camshaft on an engine a few years ago, maybe those issues are still not fixed.