Wrong Checkering Pattern ?
 

I recently purchased a 12ga GH damascus with 26 in barrels at a local gunshop. The checkering is worn smooth but is still visable. The woodgrade and stock serial number (100XXX) are correct for the G. The gripcap is the old style, plain with the center oval raised and checkered. When I looked at the checkering pattern, the pattern was wrong ! The pistolgrip pattern looks more like a V grade with more coverage down to the pg cap and the forend checkering has the 2 diamond patterns but narrower in coverage and there is no uncheckered border around the release latch. It does not appear that it was recheckered. Could someone have requested the change in pattern ? I havent requested a letter on it as yet. Any thoughts ?

i think a picture would help :)

Yeah. Hard to tell without photos.

But you seem to accurately describe typical V/P checkering.

I cannot imagine it would have been done on special request since there is really no point and the average person would not have really known the difference ahead of time.

IF it is original and untouched, i would just call it a factory error.

pictures of the checkering
 

PicturesAttachment 66399

Attachment 66400

Checkering looks original to me.

Factory mistake ?
 

Do you think it might be reflected in a letter ? It appears that there is info available on the serial number . I might have it checked out. Thanks for the input.

By all means, order a letter and support the organization, but I do not expect that there will be any info on the checkering in it.

In the first post he said this is a G Grade ,the forend checkering is not a G Grade pattern for sure ,the stock appears alright to me ,although quite worn ???

The “bow tie” or “two point” forend checkering pattern is that of a Grade 1 or Grade 0. Grade 2 guns had the “three point” checkering pattern.

That said, where’s the mullered borders on the wrist checkering?....not to mention that it also should be a three point pattern at the head of the checkering.

Something’s fishy here........





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Don't you think the borders are just wore off Dean ,that is what I was thinking but the forend for sure is fishy ! In my Opinion !

Probably Russ, but I cant even see anything at all that would indicate there were any borders.





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A little food for thought ????

The original owner purchased the gun with NO checkering and it became a kitchen table project to checker the gun. Mystery solved !!!

The proper borders are on the wrist. VERY worn, but visible in a couple areas. I can see it at the bottom of the grip above the cap and also at the rear spur. When you recut enough worn original checkering you get pretty well versed in finding such things.

Everything about the wrist and forend look completely right to me by way of how original Parker checkering will wear over 100 years of use.

The only thing that strikes me as a little odd is the noticable difference in wear between the wrist and forend. I woukd expect it to be the other way around.

What the OP stated is correct, it is a grade 2 gun with grade 0/1 checkering on it. I personally just chalk it up as a factory oddity.

While most, including me Dean, agree the checkering appears original to the wood, there's always the possibility the wood isn't original to the gun.

but in the original post - he said the stock was numbered to the gun

" The woodgrade and stock serial number (100XXX) are correct for the G"

unless it was replaced at the factory at some point

Yup. I missed that part Rick.

Just going to have to Order The Letter ! :corn:

I think Allan Swanson already gave us the information from the letter.





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It looks right to me. Not the right pattern but it could have certainly been shipped that way. The mullered borders are the first to go. You could take the forend iron off and look for the serial number on the wood and remove the trigger guard and do the same to make sure the wood wasn't replaced with lower grade Parker wood. I think there is a good chance that the wood is original to the gun despite the lower grade checkering pattern.

Tom

he does say the wood is numbered to the gun

I have a 1 frame 12 gauge G grade with V/P checkering pattern on the wrist. I looked under the trigger guard when I brought it home years ago and the serial number matched the gun. There was also an 0 separate from the sn to indicate grade. I got a letter but it made no mention of stock replacement or checkering. I'll have to dig it out of the safe and check the forend pattern.

Wrong Checkering Pattern ?
 

Thank you all for your comments and observations ! While I checked the serial number on the butt stock ( matched the action,barrels and forend iron) I didnt check the forend wood serial number. I will check it this evening

The serial number on the forend wood is the same as the other parts !

Errors were made. I have a CHE that has the same serial number on all parts. Even the underside of the trigger guard but the top of the trigger guard is engraved off by one thousand. The gun is 173xxx but the outside of the trigger guard is 172xxx.

We have seen similar “typos” in Parker serial number stamps.





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