Accuracy Of Parker Order Book Records
I received my letter for Parker 23243 today, and it confirmed what I feared; that the barrels had been cut down. The letter indicates that the order book showed this gun to have left the factory July 19th, 1882, with 28" barrels. I'm sure I'm shorter than I used to be, but I doubt the barrels shrank 4" on their own.
However, what I was convinced of, after spending a long time studying the pictures of the various grades, was that my gun was a quality grade 0. See my picture, and compare to the pictures on the PGCA main page for Grade 0 Lifter guns, and see if you agree with my assessment. What I am perplexed about is that the letter says the order book (Book No.11) indicates the gun as a quality grade 1, 16 ga. (it is a 16)
It seems pretty clear that a grade 1 had border engraving around the lock plate edge, a small bit of scroll work beneath the forward edge of the hammer, as well as simple bordering of the hammer.
This gun is a transition model with screw-retained firing pins, and there is a small rosette surrounding those screws.
What are the thought of the experts?
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