Mullered borders
 

Does anyone know about when Parker started doing mullered borders? The border on the early hammer guns have just a narrow border line very close to the end of the checkering. I am restoring a couple of hammer guns now and will do the checkering the way Parker did them sans mullered borders.

Tom,Do you have a picture of a mullered border?would like to see one.J.J.

Unfortunately, I don't have one handy. But I'm sure others can post a picture for you. I will post pictures of a stock I have finished with Timberluxe when I complete the checkering. It is a Trojan and will have mullered borders.

The checkering on Parker No. B2505 looks nicely mullered to me. The gun is completely unmolested.

Incidently, notice the "knotted bowtie" checkering pattern of the forend on early forerunners of the Grade 2 lifters as compared to the Grade 1 and 2 double diamond pattern.


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That's very interesting Dean. Incredible gun also. I have two hammer guns in hand and both have very narrow un-mullered borders. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that the checkering was ever re-done on these guns. It is almost worn off but I believe if the borders were mullered, I would be able to see it. And the lines of the border are too close to the end of the checkering for mullering.


Maybe someone can help me if they have a picture of an early gun with un-mullered original checkering. If no one comes up with something, I'll assume I'm mistaken and will cut mullered borders on these guns when I do the checkering. It's important to me to have the checkering look like it did when it left the factory.


That is one hell of a gun and case Dean. I hope you shoot it from time to time.

Unfortunately the gun is not mine. I had a chance to buy it from Yonnie Hansen about a decade or more ago but it was a bit out of my reach at the time.





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Parker borders were mullered since the beginning.

What looks like a fine line may just be a very worn mullered border. Original mullered borders were not cut super deep and they are the first thing to wear down.

I see it now we engravers know that border as nick & dot,never heard the term mullered.Thanks for the pictures Dean. J.J.

Checkering. Not engraving.

Thanks Brian. I will do the mullered borders on the two guns thin and lightly cut. Pretty much like those on the gun that Dean showed. I appreciate your help. I like to get it right according to the period of manufacture when I cut the checkering on a Parker.

One of the advantages of using a small bent needle file to cut the muller in is that you can make the width of the muller any size you want. I can't do that with a concave cutter. Those are one size fits all.

A quick internet search titled "what is a mullered border" turned up many relevant hits including one from none other than Brian Dudley (from his web site, it appears) on the subject. It was an interesting and informative read on Parker checkering with mullered borders and includes clear, detailed photos.