What do you think of this one?

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Wouldn't genuine Whitworth tubes be individually serialized just forward of the barrel flats?

Edgar, early on as in pre 1900 there was a time when PB did stamp the order number on barrels. This number was not the same as the serial number per TPS. I am not aware of individually serialized barrel serial numbers on Whitworth barrels, maybe someone has such a specimen. I have 3 sets of Whitworth, all are post 1900. Going from memory none have numbers stamped forward of the flats, 1 has what I presumed was an order number on each flat, 1 has an order number on 1 flat, and the last has no numbers at all. These presumably order numbers differ from the serial numbers.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

Edgar, early on as in pre 1900 there was a time when PB did stamp the order number on barrels. This number was not the same as the serial number per TPS. I am not aware of individually serialized barrel serial numbers on Whitworth barrels, maybe someone has such a specimen. I have 3 sets of Whitworth, all are post 1900. Going from memory none have numbers stamped forward of the flats, 1 has what I presumed was an order number on each flat, 1 has an order number on 1 flat, and the last has no numbers at all. These presumably order numbers differ from the serial numbers.

Randy, There is a photograph of John Allen's AAH 28 ga, SN 178209, shown on page 332 in the Parker Story, and references Whitworth tube serial numbers 49131 and 49132, shown stamped on the barrel flats. The bottom of page 334, it states "Many Parker guns that we have seen with Whitworth steel barrels have the serial number of the Whitworth tube stamped on the flats of each tube." I guess the key word is 'Many', as opposed to all. I am familiar with one particular AAH 12 ga, where the Whitworth serial numbers (consecutive, not the same as an order number might be) stamped well forward of the barrel flats.
Interestingly, the Parker Story states that Whitworth Barrels were replaced by Peerless barrels prior to 1920.

[Bill Murphy]

Whitworth tube numbers and Parker order numbers are two entirely different things. This gun is way too late to have Parker order numbers. I assume that Whitworth tube numbers are often ground off when striking the barrels. I don't know about the pre 1920 date for Whitworth barrels on Parkers. Are the barrels on Leroy's gun really in doubt? I don't understand Edgar's statement about these numbers being consecutive, as order numbers might be. Order numbers are consecutive to what?

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

(consecutive, not the same as an order number might be)

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

I don't understand Edgar's statement about these numbers being consecutive, as order numbers might be. Order numbers are consecutive to what?

Bill, notice the comma, as I was attempting to say Whitworth SNs would be consecutive. I never said a gun this late would have an order number stamped.

[Bill Murphy]

Whitworth tube numbers are either there or not. The Whitworth wheat sheaves are either there or not. I have guns that fit any and all of these possibilities. Leroy's little Parker has none of the above, and apparently its originality as a Whitworth barrel gun is in dispute. Not by me.