Extra Screw Parker
 

Looking at this Parker for sale. Does anyone have a clue what that extra screw in the frame is?

My guess is that the hammers can't be cocked if that screw (and presuming there is also one on the right side) protrudes beyond the inside wall of the frame. The frame is only about 1/8" thick in that spot.
It is probably an early 'Massachusetts compliant' gun and that "hammer stop screw" is the predecessor to the trigger lock which is now mandatory in MA.

Very interesting. There is another screw on the reverse as you have guessed.

That is interesting as to what that is all about. If each screw does go through into the frame cavity, then the hammers operation would be interfered with as Dean suggests. And if they do not, then I can image the purpose of them. Not that I an think of one either way. Would be interesting to get into that Gun and see what is going on.

Almost appears to have been restocked in Europe or at least with a bit of European style. I wonder if its not a screw at all, rather somebody fit some type of cocking indicators to the frame?

Now there is a possibility I hadn't thought of, but they are in about the same location as the indicators on a Sauer box lock

That would be easy to check, release the sears and note the position of them - then open the gun and see if they move.

Is there anyway you could post a close up of just the receiver, so we could get a better look at it?

Eldon, are they cocking indicators as a poster suggested?

I can not get any other pictures. I have spoken to the seller and got him to determine it is a 2 frame and that the barrels were 30'' uncut. I would have liked to solve this mystery but the price of 1800 was just to steep for a 2 frame VH 12 gauge for me.

I think this is as good as it is going to get. Unless I ask the seller for another one but I think I already pushed my luck getting him to answer all my questions without making any kind of offer.

Here's a close up from the previous photo.

still looks like a cocking indicator with a washer as a bearing surface, wouldn't you love to know the how and why that got that way.

as for the seller- its his job to answer your questions, especially when there is an oddity with the gun. If you cannot get hands on - ask him to un-cock and re-cock it to see if the screw slot rotates 90 degrees.

It's just my opinion, but unless this mod can be documented to Parker or Remington, it's just an oddity that doesn't really add to the value. The quality of the workmanship is what will determine if it actually detracts from the value. If it's only marginally well done, it may have the effect of a carriage bolt through the head of the stock to fix a crack.
Most rotating cocking indicators I have seen on English or European guns have their slot fillet with gold.

I think that when the gun was restocked, they added a bit of metal that extends to the rear to stop the stock from spreading. Inletted in under the new stock. Probably to prevent the damage that occurred to the original.

How about that gun spent part of its life as an A.P. Curtis try-gun, and was then restocked in a normal fashon?

Definitely needs a research letter.

Researcher, Curtis try guns have no extra holes. Maybe a Parker try gun.

I'm in Kodiak, and I seem to remember some style of try-gun with a screw in that location. Maybe not an A.P. Curtis.

I think the original Parker try guns have a cut in that location.

On Parker try-guns wasn't there a boss and screw that projected into the stock from the rear of the frame?

like this?
http://www.csmcspecials.com/PARKER_T..._VH_p/7616.htm

Yup. Thanks Rick!

This is interesting. Did parker have a store front where people would get measured for a gun? Could any grade be ordered with specific dimensions?

I think CSMC has had that try gun for sale since before I started shaving....

Another try gun is coming up for sale at auction soon. Our former leader, Forrest Marshall, accumulated several try guns for his collection. When he divested, his try guns went both close to the surface, and deep in collections. It seems most are close to the surface and selling for less all the time. They are important Parker collectors' prizes, and soon we will not see them so often. I have owned my A.P. Curtis Parker try gun since about 1971 and have used it quite a bit for its intended purpose. They are quite useful for getting younger shooters used to the side by side concept without cutting down a good gun for them to use.