Beaver Tail Forearms
 

So, there appears to be at least a couple of different styles/sizes/shapes of Parker Beaver Tail Forearms. Is there a thread or PP article or some other reference source that exams this? I checked the Parker Story and didn't see anything, but my wife say's that is meaningless.

I consider there to be at least 3 distinct styles of BTFEs. One being more slim and thin, the other two being very wide.

Are there not a couple variations in the SBT’s as well ?

Bottom 2 are BH guns. Top is GH that has been slightly modified by shaving off the top corners of the breech end by a former owner. I would consider these to be a wider version. All are factory BT's.

The biggest difference being in the shape/contour of the wood at the rear.

There was an article, or several articles in fact, in earlier issues of Parker Pages covering beavertail forends. Look in your Parker Pages Digital Archive for these early articles.





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In each pic the gun on top is a DHE 20, middle is DHE 16 (Rem era), and bottom is GHE 20. All are different styles.

I believe I know where this is going John and I feel certain the BTFE on the gun in question is correct if my memory serves me correctly :) Congrats BTW!

Look at them vent rib small bore guns!!!!!

Is there any speculation that the different styles were purpose driven. IE, one style for trap, another for skeet and yet another for field? Or was it whatever the stocker felt like making or the customer requested?

I’m pretty sure the BT on my VHE trap and VHE skeet are the same . And if I remmember tonight I’ll take a couple pics side by side .

Craig, there at least two variations in the SBT's.

John there is an article in Parker Pages by Ron Kirby titled "Parker Forends, The Wedge, the Splinter, and the Trap model" that may shed some light on the topic. 2003, volume 10, issue 1, Jan/Feb. Thanks to a digital archive that can be searched.

IMO John, it had more to do with the period or Parker era in which they were made as regards the shape and contour of the BTFE that determined the different styles. But certainly a true Double Trap 12 gauge might have a different style of BTFE than a 20 gauge or 28 gauge Skeet gun might have had.
Here's a 1936 28 gauge Skeet gun.


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Not only vent rib but probably all 32" and over. Just sayin'.

.410 is different. We're up to about a dozen different beavertails so far.

True Bill... The .410 beavertail does not have the reinforcing rod/screw.

Here's one I used to have. I have no idea if it is original or after market.



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Dean, that's the one I wanted to buy from you, but it was GONE. I would still buy it if it were available.

I don't even remember who bought it...


But you bought the VH forend from me that was engraved by Gough, as I remember. He bought a half-dozen VH guns and engraved them elaborately and gave them to friends who were co-workers at Parker Bros.

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I took pics of a VHE Trap and a VHE Skeet both 12’s and both made after 1935 . I don’t really see much if any difference .

Here’s a new twist on the beavertail forend. Rudy Etchen’s high grade Parker Skeet gun with a schnabel beavertail… :shock:


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Another custom version on an upgrade.

Bent barrels too. :rotf:

Looks like Grits Gresham on the right in that photo.

Yes it is !

In the 1922, 1927 and 1930 catalogs it is called the "Trap Model Fore-end" and is listed as "12-Gauge only."

Attachment 107465

Attachment 107466

Attachment 107467

From the catalog pictures it appears Remington offered a more Model 21 --

Attachment 107472

or late Ithaca NID style --

Attachment 107473

beavertail fore-end --

Attachment 107474

For their Parker Double Trap Gun, it appears Remington slightly relieved the rear corners of the Parker Bros. Trap Model Fore-end.

Attachment 107475

[QUOTE=Dave Noreen;365783]In the 1922, 1927 and 1930 catalogs it is called the "Trap Model Fore-end" and is listed as "12-Gauge only."

And yet I have a 1930 DHE 20 that letters with a "Trap Modified Fore-end". It's actually in one of the earlier photos in this thread.

You probably just had to request it and pony up.

I have never seen a piece of A.H. Fox Gun Co. paper - catalog, retail price list, wholesale price list or jobber's price list - that offers a beavertail forearm, but a few such guns exist that the production cards support. So, I'm sure that if a Parker Bros. customer wanted something within the realm of possibility, the Brothers would build it.

John
If my memory is Correct, Ralph English from VA, was a BTFA collector----try asking him a few questions.

Was that the one you sent me the letter on that supposedly went to the PI originally ?

Yes Sir it was.

There was also a really short Trap Foreend that had the bolt. I owed one and saw a second one. Both were D grades and mine was a 30 inch gun. I do not have any pictures, sorry.

I have pictures somewhere in my "Other Peoples' Parkers" folder here on my PC of just such a short beavertail.

Hey - I found them...

Unfortunately there is no information at all for a research letter on this serial number range.


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my first time to see this...charlie