I received a 1937 Parker catalog for my birthday from a very good friend. It's stamped on the cover "Haskell G. Richardson", who, I believe, was a Parker salesman. My friend bought it from Mr. Richardson's daughter.
On page 3, it states: "All Parker guns are hand fitted, but naturally as the grades advance, a still higher quality of workmanship is demanded from the fitters and other highly specialized artisans whose handiwork is synonymous with PARKER QUALITY"
"The addition of fancy stocks and beautiful engraving is not alone responsible for the advance in prices from one grade to the next higher. More accurate hand fitting is of course to be expected........."
It has always been my belief that all grades embodied quality in their manufacture and finishing, but it surprises me somewhat that they made the distinction that 'quality' went up with the grades. My dad owned several guns in the top tier of grades, but, perhaps wisely, I never opened them up. I have opened up a few hammer guns to clean or inspect the locks, but it's been pretty much my conception that even my V grade guns were built to an exceedingly high level of quality. They close with the distinct Parker 'click', just as nicely as my BHE.
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