Plain steel?

[Dean Romig]

Only 358 guns were made with Plain Steel barrels in 1874(?) and 1875. It was during a time of severe economic upheaval in the U.S. and Plain Twist would have been used under normal circumstances. Perhaps Parker's source for Plain Twist barrels dried up or....

It is explained on page 504 of The Parker Story.





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[Drew Hause]

Pages 503 & 504 of "The Parker Story" state that Parker changed the name from "Decarbonized" to "Plain Steel" as Remington was using the name "Decarbonized" on their newly introduced Model 1873 & 1875/1876 Hammer Lifter doubles. 889 Parker guns were made with the Decarbonized Steel barrel mark.



Decarbonized tensile strength is a bit more than pattern welded barrel steel and about the same as AISI 1018 Low Carbon (Mild) Steel. Winchester Standard Ordnance decarbonized steel was "cold rolled" to a slightly higher tensile strength.