Question

[B. Dudley]

Any graded Parker (or graded Fox for that matter) that has seen any real use over the years will be somewhat loose on the hook when the gun is open. This is due to the style of the forends on these guns. The gun being tight on the hook when open relies on there being a very tight fit between the forend iron and the back of the forend lug. So that the forend iron has pressure against the knuckle of the frame to maintain tightness on the hook. As the gun is opened and closed thousands of times and with use, this surface between the iron and the back of the forend lug wears. It can be easily restored if the wear is minimal and I have observed many examples of how the factory did this. However, it is not something that HAS to be addressed unless it is very bad and is very worn. It is normal wear on these guns.

Back to what I originally said. I said GRADED parkers and foxes. This is because the Trojans and Sterlingworths used spring loaded plunger type snap-on forends. Though these are considered to be cheaper and not as attractive looking. They are actually superior in the fact that the spring plunger used maintains pressure on the forend against the knuckle of the frame. Thus minimizing movement on the hook when the gun is open. One will usually not notice looseness on the hook (or very minimal) on Trojans or Sterlingworths. Nearly all other American doubles (with a few exceptions) utilize some sort of spring to retain the forends on the guns.

On a Prototype Parker the I own which was James P. Hayes' experimental piece for new ideas on the Parker Gun. It actually has a plunger that he made and built into the graded forend to be able to solve this issue on graded guns. It is proof positive that he acknowledged the shortcomings in the Parker patent style forend latch.