Reverse Chokes

[Adam Steinquist]

Can anyone speak to how obvious tooling marks are from chokes being altered? I’ve had a German SxS worked on to open chokes by Mike Orlen and the tooling marks were very clear to see, but not sure how time affects things, and if choke work done 75 years ago would start to blend in with the rest of the barrels.

The right barrel also has a few small dents at the end of the barrel and maybe that is impacting the constriction of the pattern.

Is it possible that the order records that specify stock measurements and weight would have been logged separately from requests related to choke? I’m not trying to have anyone tell me, “Your gun is original” just looking to learn more about how/what Parker recorded these details.

I have two VH guns (1911 and 1928) and neither of those mention choke/patterning. One of my GH guns (1906) doesn’t mention original choking, but says it was returned to the factory to have the right choke opened up. My other GH (1897) does mention the choke boring when it was made.

Did the recording of choking/patterning happen more consistently during a particular era or above a certain grade gun?

[Pa SxS]

Adam, I'm glad I read your thread and decided to look at the records again. At the very bottom of the order and at the bottom of the page it does give the requested chokes as RH full, LH imp cylinder. I just didn't see it. I'm sending you a revised letter.

It's not rare to see reversed chokes. I always include chokes (except when I screw up!) in a letter if they are listed. The reason someone may get a letter without mentioning chokes is if the order doesn't specify how the gun is to be choked and the stock book, when copied, wasn't placed on the copier properly thereby cutting off the choke pattern information. The stock ledger books are greater than 17" long but the copier is only 17". The patterning info and other info is past the 17" mark. If the ledger book is put on the copier as far to the left as possible, the patterning info is readable. This also assumes that the stock book isn't missing.