[Austin W Hogan]

Two barrel set gun collecting is a pretty advanced notch (or nich) in Parker collecting. I ceased chasing two barrel set guns because it required one to accept a pretty significant reduction in condition to obtain them. I have found a couple more interesting two barrel sets in decent condition in the last ten years, but they are seldom seen.

Analyzing Charlie Price's Serialization shows these two barrel sets in the 55000 - 70000
serial range ( ie early hammerless plus exposed hammer)
59 Twelve ga hammerless
5 Sixteen ga Hammerless
4 Twelve ga top action
0 Sixteen ga top action
This totals 68 two barrel sets among 15000 serial numbers, or 5 two barrel sets per 1000 guns. Note that the format used in the Serialization does not allow two gauge, two length or two steel two barrel sets to be identified. Also note that the great preponderance of Parker guns are in Grades 0,1,and 2 which are often missing from the serialization. It would seem that considerable knowledge or perhaps a seance with Mr King,is required to identify a two barrel set that left the factory in that form from this era.

Conversely, replacement Parker barrels were not available from an equivalent of NAPA at this time. A set of Parker barrels required a rib cut and roll marked on Parker's tooling, even if barrels from another supplier were used to make the set. Otherwise,a second set of barrels required breaking another Parker.
It is known that Parker and Remington supplied whole guns in unfinished form to custom gunsmiths for finishing. Parker may have sold barrel sets as well. Is it possible to identify file strokes made somewhere other than Meriden in fitting the replacement barrels?

Best, Austin