Rib with no "matting"
 

A couple months ago I looked a friend's gun, a early 20 ga VH, and the barrels had no matting at all (totally smooth) on the top of the rib. The barrels were no question parker barrels with the typical parker inspector stamps, etc on the flats, etc. and were serialized to the gun.

I have seen Remington era guns without the roll stamp on the barrel rib but they had matting.

I have seen a few mentions that some Remington rebarrel jobs have no matting on the rib? I've also heard of some NOS barrels being fitted by Lefever? But if it was the later would they be serialized to the gun with no matting?

Can anyone confirm this?

I know there was a good article on rib matting in a 2013 parker pages issue but apparently I misplaced that issue...

Pictures would be helpful.

Serial number would give us a clue.

Sorry didnt take any pictures or jot serial # but I could ask - i know the gun isn't in the serialization book. He's not a collector and I had more interest in the gun than he did.

All I can say is the barrels are very nice just no rib matting.

I thought it was very strange.

I have a hammer gun that has Twist barrels and no rib matting, # 47005



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I have a CHE 12 with no rib matting # 129528. It has a lot of weird attributes, the least of which is an almost bead blasted rib.

Well that might be because rib matting did not begin until 1885.

Special order gun, George.

That was how they were made back then. I don't know the year or serial number when Parker Bros. started matting the ribs but it was obviously after yours was made.






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I was wondering what year 47005 would have been made?




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There's a table accessible from our Home page that gives all that serial No./year of mfg. data.





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It wasn't too much later. I have 48795, and that gun has a matted rib

If I remember correctly, I believe the gun I am referencing with no matting is around 1907. It, however, does have what i think are remington date code for the 1950s but the letters were hard to read (stamped very close together). Im getting up with my friend to see if he can give me some more info.

Personally I dont think the barrels were bead blasted or poorly refinished...

Thank you Dean, I have never used that feature.
Edgar the 2 guns are close, both made in 1886.


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That would make a good "Parker's Found" category. Last unmatted rib and first matted rib found.

Likely sent out by Remington to the Lefever shop for finishing. These guns surface every once in a while. Lefever ended up with the rib matting machine, but the chronology of the transition in the 1950's is not known, at least to me. Bill may know.

TPS in the barrels chapter provides information on the rib matting machine and its start. TPS is an invaluable resource for any Parker collector.

We would like to see pictures of the rib and the water table markings on this unusual 20 gauge.

What year was 72041 made. I was wondering when the first year Parker produced there shot guns just curious. Is there a reason for matting or is it cosmetic.