Rebarreled VHE

[Dylan Rhodes]

After some self research....the barrel is rollstamped “ —> Parker Brothers Makers, Meriden, Conn. Vulcan steel <—“ so if the gun was rebarreled, it had to have been done shortly after it was made in mid 1917 due to the change in roll stamp after world war 1. It seems like there are only a few possibilities.

1. It never was supposed to have 26” barrels and the order book is wrong. Although the weight would have to be wrong also. Noted as 6.5 lb. Currently weighs just under 7. Further bolstering this theory is that the balance is exactly on the hinge pin, i imagine replacing 26 with 28 would knock that off a bit.

2. It had 26” barrels but was returned to be made with 28” barrels at the customers request shortly after manufacture.

3. The customer changed their mind after the order was placed and it was switched to 28” barrels. Similar to item 1, but in this case the order book was originally correct and just not updated.

In the case of possibility number 2, could that “11” on the barrel flats be a Roman numeral 2 for a second barrel at that serial number? Or would Parker reuse the serial number with no indication that the barrel was not the original?

Not sure how to rule out 1 or 3....

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Dylan Rhodes

In the case of possibility number 2, could that “11” on the barrel flats be a Roman numeral 2 for a second barrel at that serial number? Or would Parker reuse the serial number with no indication that the barrel was not the original?
.

my re-barrelled VH has the correct serial number and no #2 marking Roman or Arabic numeral

[Dylan Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

my re-barrelled VH has the correct serial number and no #2 marking Roman or Arabic numeral

Thanks for the input, just trying to understand this gun. How is the balance? Wondering if they added weight to the rear end to rebalance on the pin.

[Researcher]

A second set of barrels that was added to one of my guns in the late teens or early 20s, "CT, U.S.A." but before the "Overload Proved" stamp and they have a 153 in the same area where yours has the 11. Mine also have the oval with the JG for Jim Geary, same as yours.

Are the forearm loop and the forearm iron marked with a 2?

In thumbing through my barrel flat pictures I see several guns with a one, two or three digit number in that area.

[Dylan Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

A second set of barrels that was added to one of my guns in the late teens or early 20s, "CT, U.S.A." but before the "Overload Proved" stamp and they have a 153 in the same area where yours has the 11. Mine also have the oval with the JG for Jim Geary, same as yours.

Are the forearm loop and the forearm iron marked with a 2.

I am away on business but I can check tomorrow night. That seems like it would be the telltale sign it was a second set, and from the roll stamping we can narrow that down to pretty much immediately after it was manufactured correct?

Who is Jim Geary? Sounds like someone notable from Parker.

[Researcher]

Jim Geary was foreman of the barrel assembly shop. Earlier the oval had a WK in it for Walter King. The oval with the JG disappeared when the started using the PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED stamps.

[Dylan Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

Jim Geary was foreman of the barrel assembly shop. Earlier the oval had a WK in it for Walter King. The oval with the JG disappeared when the started using the PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED stamps.

Thanks Dave, and when was that? Sorry for all the questions but you have to learn somehow.