Rib legends.

[Dean Romig]

I can agree with all of that Edgar, with the exception that it may have been used on just one gun... Or just twenty, or fifty guns. We know that Parker Bros. would simply engrave the ribs of just a small number of Parkers with special or unusual barrels or even just special ribs. Barrels with more standardized features would have been marked with a roll die - but here we have a roll die that may never have been used on more than a small handful of ribs. And so, the question remains, what was the purpose of this particular roll die?





.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I can agree with all of that Edgar, with the exception that it may have been used on just one gun...

I believe you're only disagreeing with me because you're an ornery cuss who just likes to wind me up. It was entirely speculative that it was used on one gun, just as it is equally speculative it was used on two, ten or fifty. Until someone produces one, I think it's much closer to none than 50.

During the absence of more important things, I examined the above two "Brothers" guns and despite being nearly 90,000 guns apart, I would feel confident in saying both ribs were impressed by the very same roll die. Austin and John's guns fall in between my two. I am sure they rolled up a mess of ribs at once, but can't guess whether the the Brothers were separated from the Bros.

Does anyone have a guess as to the life of the Meriden roll dies, i.e. how many ribs could be impressed before it was determined to be worn out (or as we have occasionally seen, broken)?

[edgarspencer]

I think Double O nailed it.

[Ralph English]

In 2007, I purchased an A1S Parker Reproduction "In the white" from Tony Galazan. Tony was kind and allowed me to buy the sample gun that he used in his advertisements.

I live a "stones throw" from a world class engraver named Lisa Tomlin. She designed the engraving for this gun in a traditional Parker style with SPRING GOBBLER SEASON IN VIRGINIA as the theme in the engraved scenes. As always, Lisa did a masterful job which involved 200 hours of work ( 2barrel set, 20 ga, english grip, sst and a beavertail foearm ).

I had Turnbull do the metal work and case color. I also requested that Doug take the existing stamp off the top barrel rib inscription and replace it with THE PARKER GUN designed stamp. The stamp was designed with Parker "arrows" on both sides.

Brian, I expect that stamp is what you saw at Doug's shop.

I hope I did not get in trouble!!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

I believe you're only disagreeing with me because you're an ornery cuss who just likes to wind me up.

Yeah, it is kinda fun...

It was entirely speculative that it was used on one gun, just as it is equally speculative it was used on two, ten or fifty. Until someone produces one, I think it's much closer to none than 50.

I agree with that. (for once.)

During the absence of more important things, I examined the above two "Brothers" guns and despite being nearly 90,000 guns apart, I would feel confident in saying both ribs were impressed by the very same roll die. Austin and John's guns fall in between my two. I am sure they rolled up a mess of ribs at once, but can't guess whether the the Brothers were separated from the Bros.

And up until this time we have only seen examples in VH or VHE with Vulcan Steel barrels.

Does anyone have a guess as to the life of the Meriden roll dies, i.e. how many ribs could be impressed before it was determined to be worn out (or as we have occasionally seen, broken)?

I don't know the answer to that but I'll speculate 'a long, long time. There are a great number of Parkers that have a barrel stamp weight of 4 lbs., and some ounces. The 4 has a chipped off diagonal line where the vertical and horizontal lines would be connected but instead it looks a bit like a strange "German Cross." I'm sure Parker Bros. knew about the chipped die that left that imperfect 4 but they chose, for whatever reason, not to replace it for the longest time.

But I do like crankin' you up





.

[Ralph English]

Brian, The stamp that Doug had built for me appears as follows: THE PARKER BROTHERS GUN. The arrows are pointed inward and have five veins in the fletching.