I've observed a number of all-original Parkers where the serial number on the barrel lug has numbers that are not in a perfectly straight line. They are all perfectly aligned 'north and south' but some are higher or lower than their neighbors.
On some of the earlier hammer guns with barrel weights of four lbs., X oz., the diagonal on the 4 die is broken and the stamp looks more like a Maltese Cross than a 4. A great many guns were stamped with that broken die.
In any case, I believe the serial number numeral dies were each stamped individually, but sometimes they are aligned so well that it would almost seem the serial number was stamped with a single die containing all of the digit dies.
.
__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
|