C grade engraving error

[Fishtail]

I think that quality meant something different then, and values were different, too.

Quality meant a gun that worked right and looked right - but it didn't mean computer generated precision engraving. Don't forget, no one in 1920 had ever seen computer generated precision.

Values? In today's world it would be considered a triumph to throw that receiver out and have the CNC machine spit out another in 3 minutes. In 1920, it would have been considered a damn fool thing to do.

Plus, you never know - that gun could have found its way out of the factory in the shop foreman's overcoat.

[Twoatlow8]

I never saw anything like that on a Fox.

[ahfoxman]

Scott, how do you account for Fox's famous (or infamous?) flying footballs??? Many early American engravings can't stand close critical scrutiny, but some can. We recently found an early killer A1S whose engraving isn't perfect either, but I don't know anyone with a half a brain who would throw it under a bus. One just has to remember what was the norm for the day. Now, this should stir the pot a bit and get the vital fluids flowing!! Remember: Life is Good, Treat it With Respect!

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by greg conomos

I think that quality meant something different then, and values were different, too.

I work for a company that manufactures a Glazed Porcelain product that has it's roots in the late 1890's. We have a very large collection of ours and our competitor's product dating back to the beginning. And it is amazing how finishes looked back then vs. today. Today customers whine about even the smallest cosmetic flaw where the material back then was on the absolute other end of the spectrum.

And I think it was not uncommon for different skill levels of engravers to work on different areas of the gun. ie: Game scenes, scroll, line borders, etc...

[Bill Murphy]

Parker took guns in trade, refinished them, and sold them as new. They put used barrels on guns and sold them as new. They used "old tips" on guns and sold them as new. I guess they put up with some engraving errors also.