Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Weber
I think this gun is too early to show the quality or grade on the water table. TPS page 110.
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Dean
I wasn't questioning the grade. It is obviously a grade 6. However, the Serialization book shows it as a D6, which I suspect is correct as to the official records. I own 18479 which is a 10 gauge listed as a D3 (and lettered as such). However it has Parker Laminate barrels like yours, also not marked D on the action. It was sold as a Damascus gun, not a Laminated gun. I have seen this reported on a number of higher graded Parkers. For whatever reason, I believe that during this period around 1878 to 1880, Parker was selling their made in house laminate barrels on higher grade Damascus guns with no differentiation between the two. My guess was that it was due to corporate pride or marketing. Given the very few higher grade lifters made, I have seen too many references to this situation to make it seem like an anomoly. I had never really tried to find out, but does anyone know of an actual factory L graded gun in this period that has Parker laminated barrels?