A rare patent stamping?

[B. Dudley]

Consider yourself fourtunate to have such a seldom seen feature on your Parker. I do not think it is clear if all guns with this reinforcement dowel are marked. or if the marking is something that was just not used much on guns that had the rod.
I wonder what the manufacture dates are on the few marked stocks that are known to exist???

I do find it interesting that your gun is a P grade (low grade) and that it has this rod. The rod was intended to be used on higher grade guns where fancier wood figure might compromise the strength of the wrist.

Does your P have higher than typical wood figure?

If you can, please post pics of your P grade. I am sure that we would all like to see.

[Robt. Harris]

Brian,

Believe me, I do feel fortunate!

As to stock figure, it is not overly fancy, yet somewhat removed from just straight-grained. Truth is, the lay-out is probably not the best through the wrist, and I can see why a stocker might decide for the hickory insert.

The stock retains all of its original finish which has a reddish stain component that might make wood grain photos a bit difficult, but will try in the next few days with the help of a friend's digit camera. Will also try to get out a viewable picture of the patent stamp though it is not quite as distinct as the one shown in TPS, pg. 127. The gutta percha Parker grip cap and early-style dog's head buttplate are probably also worth looking at, as they are very pristine without so much as a nick. Will see what I can do....meanwhile 'Thanks' for your thoughts.

Rob

P.S. FWIW, might make more sense if relating the buttstock is slab-sawn black walnut with the grain running on an oblique through the wrist - which is why I mentioned not the best of lay-outs.

[Pa SxS]

My 1924 P grade 12ga has the stamp. It's in the Parkers Found section of the Parker Pages. Just to rehash, the reinforcing rod didn't prevent the stock from cracking behind the top tang and on each side of the grip however it may have prevented further cracking or breaking completely.

I sent the stock to Bob Fulton at Stockfixers. When he got the stock he asked me about the reinforcing rod, I guess he had never seen one in a Parker stock before. I think it's been said that the stamp, if found, was on early hammerless guns and I think it a little odd that it's on my 1924 gun. Perhaps using up old inventory.