Keith, If you need more help with the pictures please let us know. Due to file size, sometimes you have to compress/reduce the size of a picture to post. I would be able to help if you need it...

Lifter!-
 

Jay if you post your email address I will email the pics to you and you could post them for me! Thanks KF

Hi Keith,

I sent a private message through the forum with my email address. Let me know if you received it. Happy to help with this! Jay

I received some pictures from Keith through email and I am excited! It doesn't get much earlier than #15. This gun has laminated steel barrels meaning it was a higher grade gun, which makes sense given the serial number.

I have Serial#037 and 46. The 0 prefix was for "0" grade guns if read that correctly from the Parker story and that matches the 2 guns I have. On mine #037 has Decarbonized Steel and my #46 has Laminated steel.

On Keith's gun the serial number is both on the side and top of the barrel lug. I haven't seen that before, usually just on the side. This gun is early enough that maybe Parker Bros was still deciding where they were going to mark the serial numbers. Another interesting thing is the proof mark on the barrel flats, I have not seen that before.

If only this Parker could talk...

Jay, can you make out what that proof mark is? Looks like an angel in a long dress or gown....





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Interesting pattern for Laminated. It looks very much like the pattern in the Twist barrels on 10165



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Dean, I can't really tell. I looked at the high resolution pictures that were too large to post and I can make it out. I almost see a "BP" in script, which may be a Birmingham Proof, but it doesn't match any Birmingham proof marks I could find.

Here is my #97 with laminated steel barrels. The pattern looks similar. I noticed that the serial# is on the top of this barrel lug too. I did not notice that previously, I probably I should look at my guns more often...

I do like that early laminated steel barrel pattern. It is definitely different than the Parker made Laminated Steel barrels.

On Keith's gun, the 1866 patent date is on the tang which is neat and there is some extra engraving which makes sense since this was a higher grade gun.

I'm inclined to think all three of the sets of barrels posted here are actually Laminated, even the one I posted that is marked Twist on the rib. I'll stick my neck out and suggest it was a factory error to engrave Twist on 10165 ... maybe.





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