Original Meriden Charcoal Case Colors

[Bruce Day]

Here are some Parkers with high original condition charcoal case colors, dating from the 1910's through the early 1930's. After the Parker production move to Ilion in 1936, a different process was used and the colors became brighter, less subtle, and often striped.

The photos of the near new 20 ga Trojan is interesting, because the highly engraved surfaces of high grade guns usually do not show case hardening colors as distinctly as non engraved surfaces.

Sharp eyed viewers will notice that the floor plate screws on the last photo, a 16ga CHE Bernard, have rotated. I'll correct that this winter.