Real or redone case colors??
 

This is on the 16 gauge forum. Someone advises this gun with the broken stock was found in a closet. Story was it had a broken stock and essentially never saw the light of day. So folks, real case colors or redone. Here are the pictures that were posted there:

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...tx/parker4.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...tx/parker3.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...tx/parker2.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...tx/parker5.jpg

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...tx/parker1.jpg

Gun looks new. What's the serial number?

Unfortunately the fellow who posted it didn't provide the serial number. The story is the gun was purchased in 1930.

If it really was made in 1930 and in original condition it will shake to the core all the previously held beliefs about Parker case coloring methods of that era.Very pretty anyway.

Well I will be the one to go out on a limb, I do not think they are original case colors, looks like subdued cyanide to me, but hell I could be wrong!

Here is the link on the 16Ga forum on the gun:

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic....er=asc&start=0

I'll take the position that for a 1930 gun those colors are right-as-rain!!!

Those are Cyanide colors which wouldn't have been used by Parker in Mariden.

It doesn't look to be a Remington era gun so I would bet the colors are redone. They look close to DelGrego in both color and pattern.
JJV

Here's a gun redone by Delgreco some years ago. It wasn't fired after the restoration:

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../357820203.jpg

It would surprise me to learn that those cyanide colors would be original to a 1930 Meriden Parker. It would not surprise me to learn that the gun was made of the parts Remingtom bought along with the entire inventory of the Parker Gun Works and subsequently case colored it by their methods... or it went back to Remington for a refinish at some point... or it was redone by DelGrego.

It is entirely possible that the cyanide case colors were done by Parker Bros. but...
We have seen many examples of Parker shotguns made well after 1930 and even well after the June 15, 1934 purchase by Remington of the Parker Gun Works that have been color case hardened by the bone charcoal method, and... on page 160 of The Parker Story we are informed that Remington continued to develop and refine the bone charcoal method and "After World War II, Remington replaced the bone and wood charcoal process with a cyanide process for all of its case hardening work." Has this information been absolutely disproved since the publication of TPS in 1998?

Question: Did Remington-era V-grades have "Parker Bros." engraved on the sides of the frame?

Just my $.02 but I don't believe they are original Meriden colors and they don't look like Remington era colors or DelGrego colors.

No, Remington Parkers would just have "Parker" on the bottom of the action. I am sure there may have been a handfull of transition guns that might have had them on the side.

What about the barrel color?

Is the above statment a oxymoron?:)

I would say they are the real deal. Very typical Remington cyanide colors and pattern. I have an original skeet gun that is a perfect match.

Someone has to explain to me how, if the gun was purchased around 1930, broken shortly after purchase, then put in a closet and never touched until the early 2000's, how did it get Remington (or anyone's) cyanide colors?

It could be just a family lore, not factual.

A serial number would be a start.

I agree completely Chuck.

I asked for a serial number on the other site. I don't know whether he posted it or not. The serial number is a must before we decide on the originality.

Maybe it was broken and put in a closet, but just not for as long as it is made out to be.

Bill Muphy is correct. We do NOT know that this Parker was produced in 1930 because the serial number has not been provide. Do not speculate any further!

Without knowing the serial number one indicator about date of manufacture would be that the gun has "Parker Bros" on the frame sides and not "Parker" the bottom of the frame.

Exactly. Which is why I ask that question.

Aw, Mark. Speculation is half the fun of these forms. Where else can people know know very little but what's in front of them have the power to speak to the masses. Everyone's an expert on the Internet.:rotf:

Okay, I think that I understand…

WEBSTER’S NINTH NEW COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY;

Babble, verb, 1. to utter in an incoherently or meaningless manner.

The owner will not provide the serial number or range of serial numbers. Just got a PM from him on the original forum he had it listed on. He said a little mystery in life is good. :(

Ah, a comedian with a broken Parker. I have a few minty Parkers, both Remington and Parker Brothers and this gun does not look like any of them. It does look like later DelGrego colors, but it also looks like others I have seen, not DelGrego.

There is no mystery. The colors are not original.
JJV