That’s correct Bill,
the barrel currently on the Curtis Try gun is not the original, it is on face but was never fitted properly. I’ve tried different Flues barrels on it and I was surprised how the contour of where the barrel meets the action varies very much from one gun to the next.

I’ve included a few pictures of a Grade 6 Flues with some close pictures of the engraving and the different inlays. This gun was restocked and recase colored as it was pretty poor condition when I bought it.
The white/silver inlay seems to be much lighter than my other guns with Silver inlay, could it be white Gold?

At Grade 6, I would think the inlays are yellow and white gold, similar to the combination used on the Sousa. Also, to answer your question about straight grip try guns, my Curtis GH try gun is a pistol grip, all wood from the original gun.

The inlays on my 5E Knick are silver I guess. According to Walt Snyder it went to Phil Bekheart in San Francisco in 1929.

https://i.imgur.com/da8wvGLl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VtB28mWl.jpg

Here are some pictures of my 7E.
 

Thought I would post some pictures of my 7E while I try and cool off from the heat.

Knick 5E’s w/ Silver Inlays
 

I snapped a few pictures of my 2 Knicks with Silver inlaid birds. Your 5E looks very similar Phil, are we close on serial #?

Upper one is serial #401718
Lower one is serial #401700

Stan, mine's 401852

By the way, I was noticing the difference in trigger guard shapes on your two 5E's. Anything about that you'd care to share?

Good eye Phil,
I missed the shape of the trigger guard completely. I do know I was intrigued how the trigger on the upper gun is engraved/knurled from edge to edge, perhaps requested by the original owner, or changed by a later owner?

I was too busy comparing the engraving and the shapes of the birds, I’ve found subtle differences but they look to be by the same engraver.

The one difference I picked up on is in the border, was this perhaps done by an apprentice or junior engraver and then the birds done by a senior engraver?

Stan

Mr Hoover, VERY cool gun. I’m no expert, but have never seen a similar grip on an Ithaca SBT. Another beautiful custom job from Fall Creek! Enjoy. I just picked up a 4E NID from a collector (not shooter) that is in beautiful condition. Nice picture of you and my friend Craig Larter on the Parker pages!
Best, john Wayman

Walt Snyder informed me that a soft pencil eraser will shine up the gold and silver inlays without damaging them. I tried that on my 7E Flues SBT and was amazed how the inlays really popped afterward!!