quick question
 

I am not near my books....what was the first year that Parker implemented the forend latch?

Thanks

I’ve got a circa 1881 I believe it is lifter that has the latch and the radiused corner between the water table and breech face . The one you just bought is an 81 or 82 isn’t it ?

Its an 1883....I just got a tad worried that the forend of the gun might not be original to the gun. But maybe I am over thinking this. If yours is an 1881 lifter with the forend latch and it is original to the gun, I should be ok.

If still in doubt take the forend apart the wood and the metal should have the serial number on them somewhere . I had thoughts of that gun myself , but I’m kinda hung up on the Grade 2 stuff . If it had been a G2 I mighta run you up a couple hundred LOL’s .

I haven't received the gun yet. Should be here this week.

I have a Grade 0 that was made in 1883 with the lever release and an 1884 Grade 2 . Those two however are not lifter but top lever guns .

Thanks for your responses. I think the gun is right. I just got a bit of post purchase paranoia. It looks like an old unmolested gun. The screws are good and everything looks right. I'll do the barrels in black and white and do a light touch on the rest of the gun. I'll refresh the finish and touch up the checkering a bit and then put some color in the checking to make it look in line with an old gun.

s

If you hadn't bid I most likely would have but I recognized your name and refrained . I didn't see anything to be worried about on that gun . Looks like most the finish is gone but for a 135 year old gun what do you expect . And the price was right or atleast I thought it was . But like I said earlier if it had been a Grade 2 I most likely woulda made you pay more to get it .

To answer your original question I believe Parker introduced the latch in 1878.

The patent date is marked (rolled or engraved) on the latch of most all Parker guns. March 26, 1878. And the implementation coincides with the patent.

Earlier guns would be upgraded to the deely latch on request.