[Austin W Hogan]

This applies to the adjacent post re 0177 as well.

Several years ago, we put together a multi author article about the Parker serialization process. We found a first hand source in the form of a sketch by a Parker Bros employee that showed the serial number was stamped on the frame, barrels and fore end iron at the time that soft fitters initiated a gun by mating those three parts. This process was probably begun by King on his arrival at Parker Bros but we cannot uniquely establish the first gun so marked. ( This would be a good entry to send to Josh for Parkers Found).

There are some obvious deviations from this process found in TSP and the archives. We must also remember that the Federal Firearms Acts of 1934 and 1938 took effect after Parker Bros manufacture at Meriden had essentially ceased; serial numbers were not regulated in Parker Bros era.

As I remember there is a two frame two barrel set shown in TSP with a single s/n

Parker refitted and reconfigured returned guns, both new and used for resale.

There were many guns in the 4 and early 5 digit serial range that were returned from dealers and distributers and refitted with later production components; rebounding locks and fore end latches are most common. It was not necessary to put the serial on a finished and blued part if the gun remained intact until shipment.

We found, in doing the lock and hammer story a few issues ago, that many high grade guns have hammer and lock numbers that vary side to side, as well as with respect to frame

Remember that early Parker gun production was by employees or contractors who worked on a per gun piecework basis. If an assembler had twelve guns waiting, and saw the paymaster approaching, he was very likely to install a part that fit from another gun to quickly raise his total for the day or week.

Best, Austin