How likely to find documentation for replacement barrels?

[John Havard]

I'm considering the purchase of a D-grade Parker that originally left the factory with damascus barrels in 1906 but now has factory Titanic steel barrels with proper serial numbers matching. Other than the barrels it checks out perfectly with the serialization book.

Based on the much greater cumulative experience of my fellow Parker owners on this board, how likely is it that a research letter on this shotgun will yield a record of the barrel replacement? 10% chance? 50% chance? For obvious reasons, finding documentation for the barrel replacement would increase the appeal of this shotgun to me. I'm buying it for me and not with any specific expectations that it is overly collectible.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Dean Romig]

John, there is a 50/50 chance that a research letter would show the barrel replacement. It depends on what year the barrels were replaced and if, in fact, Parker Bros. did the replacing.

[Bill Murphy]

If your barrels are stamped with the Parker Overload Proof stamp, your chances go down to zero.

[John Havard]

I'm attempting to get photos of the barrel flats from the seller but prior to receiving them he says they are marked with a "WK" along with the serial number. WK indicates August 1941 if that's indeed what the marking says. Shouldn't there be a "2" beside the WK to indicate that the barrels were replaced on that date?

[Brush Buster]

I have owned three " Two Barrel Sets " with matching serial numbers and none of mine have had the second forend for the second set of barrels ,and none of the three had the second set of barrels mentioned in the PGCA Letter Russ

[Dean Romig]

WK is the stamp of Walter King, barrel maker and later superintendant of the Parker Bros. Gun Works after his father, Charles A. King, stepped down sometime after 1910. The WK stamp is usually seen inside a circle.

[John Havard]

The barrels are an uncut 31" which makes them unusual. As Dean has said, the initials WK on the barrel flats mean that Walter King did the barrels. Walter King was promoted in the 1908 time frame (been reading my books), that suggests that the barrels were done prior to his promotion. The serial number of the gun dates it to 1906. I wonder (as a gentleman named Patrick suggested via e-mail) if the serialization book might have recorded the barrels incorrectly?

[Dean Romig]

The "WK" stamp is seen on barrels as long as Walter King was superintendant of the gun works I believe.

[John Havard]

Hmmm, then that doesn't tie down the timing after all. Oh well, a letter will hopefully provide the info. Thanks to all.

John

[John Havard]

Dean, I just did a bit more reading and on page 582 (as I recall) it sounds like after Mr. King became superintendent he was replaced by the gentleman (whose name I can't recall) but his initials were "JG" and replaced "WK" as common stamps on the flats. WK's work was found "around the 1900's" and in all guns dating past 1910 or so I think it says that JG's initials are found.

Perhaps I'm not reading it correctly but maybe having the initials "WK" on the flats might narrow down the date after all.