Parker Gun Identification and Serialization

[stevecrea]

I have purchased the above book, and have realized that many of the serial numbers of old Parkers that I encounter are not listed in the book. If a particular gun is not listed in the book, what does this imply, if anything? And, why were so many guns omitted? If I request a research letter, are you able to access any additional information beyond what is in the book?

Thank you for any guidance that you can give me.

[Bindlestiff]

Some of the books that record the factory information were not available to the PGCA when the records were copied or are simply missing. The information in that book is based on those copies.

Yes, there is more information on some guns than found in the ID & Ser # book. There is a good amount of information on the PGCA Letters to be found in the FAQ section on this site. There are two FAQ pages on this site, one here in the forum section and one off the main page, the one you want to see is the one in the main parkerguns.org page. Read the 6 FAQ's in the "Research" section in the FAQ page. That should give you an idea of what is available.

Also, if you click on the "Research Letters" link on the main page, it will lead you to another link where you can input your serial number to learn if there is information in the collection for that gun.

[Gunner]

Also one compiler of part of the book didn't deem any Parker below D grade worthy of compilation of records apparently.
Yes you can receive additional information in a research letter, or not, depending on records available and the readability of records copied.
Erick

[Bill Murphy]

Erick gives us part of the answer. Here is the rest. 1. The Serialization Book is compiled from information found in the stock books, not the order books. 2. If the gun is listed in the order book but not the stock book, a PGCA letter is the place to look for further information. 3. What Erick says is partially right. The authors did, in fact, search out some higher grade guns in the order books to include in the Serialization Book database. However, they included all, yes, all guns from the stock books. 4. If a gun is missing from the Serialization Book, it is because it is missing from the stock books. There are many other sources available to the Research Committee other than the stock books.

[Pa SxS]

Bill is correct. The stock books were used to create a database which is what the ID and Serialization book was compiled from. We don't have all the stock books, many are missing. Before the ID and Serialization book database was completed, the authors got access to the order books. The order books were searched for all D grades and above that were in the missing stock books and added to the database, therefore those D's and above were included in the ID and Serialization Book.

[Gunner]

Thanks to Bill and Chuck for that fuller explanation of the D grade and above data. I knew part of the story but didn't know all or more probably forgot that the order books were the source of that additional serial # info that was selectively included. It was before my time. Grateful for the education.
Erick

[George Lander]

It is also my understanding that when the original compilers were given access to the Parker Bros. offices they found that a number of the original record books were on the floor being used as stepping stones in a flooded basement and were illegible.

Best Regards, George

[Pa SxS]

I could be wrong but I think that was at Remington.

[Autumn Daze]

It was at Remington Chuck.

[George Lander]

Originally Posted by Chuck Bishop

I could be wrong but I think that was at Remington.

I believe that it was at the original Parker Bros. office at Meridan, Conn at not at Ilion, NY. I could be wrong.

George