Remington era fancy wood

[jeffery c]

I'm a new member that has been reading up on older posts and I've seen reference to the fact that Remington era Parkers had figured wood, above grade. What are the members' thoughts as to that?
Was Remington using up stocks that had been held in reserve for higher grades?
Does anyone have pictures that they can post?

[Researcher]

At about the same time as they moved Parker to Ilion, Remington switched from producing their B "Special" Grade guns with imported walnut to fitting them with Selected Figured American Walnut.

Selected Figured Walnut, February 15, 1939.jpg

For 1938 the Model 31B "Special" Grade with imported walnut had a dealer price of $62.40 and a retail price of $77.45.

For 1939 the Model 31B "Special" Grade with Selected Figured American Walnut had a dealer price of $39.95 and a retail price of $51.70.

So, Remington had a good supply of American Walnut on hand for the VHE and GHE Parkers.

[jeffery c]

Interesting! Thanks, Researcher. To that thought, pictures I've seen of the late GH/VH guns with fancy wood do seem to be feather or fiddleback figure black walnut. I had been wondering if, maybe there was a thought, "let's use up these already made stocks from the old Parker Company so we don't have to make more before the move".

[Kevin McCormack]

Yes, of course, because it made eminent business sense. There are many P and especially G-grade guns produced during that era that exhibit wood quality and figure way above their respective grades. At one time I owned a 20 ga. PHE and a 16 ga. GHE produced at that time and both of them had wood on them that would have done a D-grade proud. You'll recognize them when you see them in correlation to their SN range(s).

[Researcher]

Here are some examples. My 1930 vintage 20-gauge VH, 235178 --

235178 05 1930 20-ga VH-Grade stock right.jpg

A VH 16-gauge, 237521 of GI --

237521 02.jpg

My December 1941 vintage VHE 16-gauge --

241968 21.jpg

[Twoatlow8]

This is my 31B “Special “..... I think the wood upgrade was well worth the extra money.

[Researcher]

Is the receiver of your Model 31 marked B-GRADE? I've seen the Model 11 and Sportsman so marked --

B-Grade marking.jpg

but I've not seen a B-GRADE marking on a Model 31 or Model 17.

[Robert Brooks]

I had a 241 thousand VHE 20 about mint with checkered butt sst splinter pistol grip that i would put up against about any feather crotch stock.I hope somone on this site owns it now. Bobby

[Reggie B]

Originally Posted by Robert Brooks

I had a 241 thousand VHE 20 about mint with checkered butt sst splinter pistol grip that i would put up against about any feather crotch stock.I hope somone on this site owns it now. Bobby

Sounds like a nice, unusual VHE 20,,the kind I like!

[Twoatlow8]

No “B” grade marking on my 31, however there is no “T” or “TC” marking either, and the checkering And grip cap matches the pIctures in the catalog for B grade.