My research shows that during the years that Parker-made Laminated Steel barrels were manufactured (1877-1879) and likely used in production (and for about another 3 years after the years of their production) there were 166 Grade 2 guns with L in the GRA column in the Serialization book; 37 Grade 3; 5 Grade 4; 2 Grade 5; but only 1 Grade 1 with Laminated Steel barrels.

(Caveat: We do NOT know if all of the guns in this range with the L in the GRA column were Parker-made Laminated Steel but certainly the vast majority of them very likely were. Some may have had barrels of English Laminated.)

I had thought that Grades 3 and higher were the only guns to have the Parker-made Laminated Steel barrels but in the last few years have come to believe otherwise.

Regarding the Deeley & Edge style forend latching system, (from pgs. 99-100 of The Parker Story) this new Charles A. King design was first offered in the 1878 catalog at a $5 charge on guns below Grade 3 but it became a standard feature on all grades beginning in 1880 at no extra charge. The first gun recorded with this new latching system is serial number 11631 .

Further - a quote also from pg. 100 "Some early Parker doubles have been seen with the 1878 forend latch retrofitted, undoubtedly by the factory. These have the new forend latch, the original barrel loop altered, and the hole in the forend plugged where the original key had been." (We recently saw such a forend on the forum by a member who had questions about it.) The patent date is roll-stamped on the latch lever on the lower grades but is hand-engraved on D grades and higher.

Once again I will say that The Parker Story is a most valuable resource in these discussions!!





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It's a shame no one kept a record (or it is lost) of the number of Parker barrels actually made. I too believe the total number was likely in the 200 range, but I do believe that a significant part of the 211 listed were imports. I can't believe that Parker used up their entire supply of imported laminates and then used almost exclusively what were expensive barrels (to them) on most of the laminate production. I would rather think that they used up their supply of imports on the lower grades in an effort to convert over to their own. It is obvious from reading the Parker Story concerning their production method that they kept a good inventory of parts in stock. So I have to presume they had an inventory on hand when the Parker laminates became available. That would put the real number less than the 211. However, there are multiple occurances of Damascus graded guns that were sold as such with Parker laminated barrels. Counting Mike's gun and the one I bought recently. I have found records of 7 or eight in the last couple of months just by reading old posts here. All but one I found mentioned are Grade 3 or above. That is a significant number compared to the actual L graded guns reported in the records. This would add to the presumed numbers.

Whatever the true number, it is a small number.

Laminated Barrels
 

Does the rib legend signify if it was imported Laminated steel or Parker's own laminated Steel? Or how is the difference decided?

The legend on the rib says nothing about where they were sourced. The only ways to tell is by the laminate pattern and most of the Parker-made barrels have a P stamped in the forward area of right barrel flat. NOT to be mistaken with the P inside of a diamond.





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Another lifter to share...a late 32" Twist 3 frame 12 gauge, serial #77463 and weighs an even 10lbs. I had posted about it recently in another thread. It is one I should really shoot/hunt with more often. From all of my research, I believe it is the last straight stock Parker Lifter made...

a great no 3 frame just something special about these guns....I have a hammerless 3 frame....charlie

Lifter 10 gauge
 

This is my only lifter; a 10 gauge, 4559, with 30" Damascus barrels. I've posted it before, but not in a discussion specifically about lifters.
X
X

Larry, that’s a beautiful Parker!
The sculpting on the bolsters would seem to indicate a Grade 3 but the engraving would seem to indicare a higher grade. These were “dollar quality” guns in those serial number ranges so who knows? Do you have a research letter on it?

I love that engraving! It looks like the work of Jacob Glahn…





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Larry,
The forward ovals that have the dog in really look allot like my Grade 4 10 gauge lifter even though the sculpting on the bolsters favors a grade 3.

I really like the rear ovals with the hunter and the dog, yours is quite an early gun,
Thanks for sharing,
Stan

Unfortunately, the stock book is of no help for Larry's gun. Other than it was a 10ga. with 30" Damascus barrels, the rest of the data is faded away and not readable.

Yellow Shells
 

Jay,

I believe you mentioned a lifter that used yellow shells and possibly posting some pictures of it, how long must we wait:bowdown:

Stan

I will Stan, give me another few days and I promise I will post some good pictures when I take it out for some sporting clays on Monday.

As a teaser...it's a grade 2 with 29" Parker made Laminated barrels(letters that way).

I will follow up soon...

I apologize for my impatience, that teaser raised my blood pressure just a little :):)

As promised, here are a few pictures of a 20 gauge Lifter I recently purchased from Josh L. I was going to post some nice outdoor pictures while shooting sporting clays tomorrow, but the weather isn't looking too good here in southern New England. These inside pictures do not do the gun justice, but I wanted to at least share a few.

This is a Grade 2 Equivalent with factory 29" Parker made Laminated Steel barrels. LOP is a 14 3/8" and it weighs 6lbs 5oz. The chokes are almost the same in both barrels at IC/IC. This gun was restored at some point, but not recently. I have shot it at some clays and hope to get out on a preserve hunt in the next week or two(where I will get some great pictures).

I will bring it to the shoot at Major Waldron's on 1/17.

What a beautiful gun!

Are you sure those barrels are original length, You could just send it my way since I doubt those barrels are original and I’m sure you don’t want it if it’s not original:rotf:

Sweet lifter there Jay, thanks for sharing,

Stan

An early 0 Frame 20 gauge Lifter!
I will be wandering around all day in stunned amazement after seeing that!
Jay, that's a beauty! Thanks for sharing.

Our favorite Parkers are lifters. We have some great wild turkey recipes, for both the guns and the dinner table.

Great pictures there Jim!

2 more pictures,
1 is the 8 gauge with some SD pheasants in 2020
2 is a photo op of the Lifter family

Here's a magnificent example of seller's remorse. I owned this beautiful D Lifter 12 gauge on the 1-frame for only 5 or 6 years and to this day I can't remember why I ever sold it... but I wish I hadn't. Magnificent engraving!!


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Very nice display, tell us about the salesman sample boat.

I can relate to plunking pheasents with the cannons ! But what you did has to be more difficult than what I did . I carried my cannon in a sporting clays cart and walked around a semi graded circle . You had to carry the big boy thru broom sage etc . :cool:

Dean,
That is a magnificent D grade, WOW! That has much more engraving than any of my D Grades, is it a later gun? And that wood, very nice!

Craig,
I don’t know much about the canoe, I thought it was pretty neat, it has a glass top, making it nice to display items on it. I picked that up at a DU Banquet.

Craig,
On carrying the big 8 for pheasant, I guess it makes it easier if you’re young and dumb:)

Stan, the serial number is 19114 and it was made before the days of rib matting and the doll's head extension. I loved the engraving!

Here's a few more.

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Anyone seen a Lifter with a single trigger? I will share more information after I have a look at it.

:corn::corn::corn:

When he was still in Illinois Dave Trevallion had a AA hammer gun with a single trigger but he converted it back to a double trigger. I believe it was a T/A though. I have pictures he gave me and will post a couple if there is any interest.





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I would like to see that single trigger lifter....charlie

I received my 16 Lifter back with the new stock, I’m quite pleased with the work. A before pic and after.

Yes that is very pleasing work!

When he was still in Illinois Dave Trevallion had a AA hammer gun with a single trigger but he converted it back to a double trigger. I believe it was a T/A though. I have pictures he gave me and will post a couple if there is any interest.

A hammer gun with a single trigger is something I've never seen, lifter or top action.

I have seen a few top action guns with a single trigger. But they of course were not factory. I know that Jim Hall has one that had a miller in it and he had it pit back to double triggers. I think he said that russ bickel put the single trigger in it. But I may be mistaken.

Here are a few pictures of the lifter. Records for a letter are available so I will
get one ordered today. Has some warts but it’s interesting. Has screws about ever 2 to 4”
On the top rib. Has a single selective trigger that appears to function. Has a crack in the wrist.
Bores are good and locks up tight.

Beautiful Stan - may we know who did that work?





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[QUOTE=Dean Romig;360863]Beautiful Stan - may we know who did that work?

Thanks Dean,

I would love too, but, the gentleman says he has too much work and doesn’t want new customers.
so out of respect, I do not give out his name without asking his permission first.

Stan

Trevallion's AA Hammer with single trigger and beavertail forend.



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Brian, you are correct.

Something about Parker hammer guns vs single triggers and beaver tail fore ends that just don't mix

Now Remington era . . . another story

That is a miller trigger.

Stan,
I assume you restocked it for shoot-ability and dimensions? The new comb does look a bit higher than the original one. The stock work looks perfect, great form!