hammer grades from lowest to highest pictorial?

[Austin W Hogan]

Thank you Drew for posting your hard work for all to see. We can all get our comments in and can put together a reference display for the FAQ on the homepage, based on this.
Thanks also for promoting my light 10 trap gun to Dam 3. I have always considered it to be a $135 grade based on the 1872 and 1869 price lists in the Parker Story, ( page 86 and 92) and the photo of a near identical gun there. I have some similar guns in the 3000 - 30000 serial range and have considered them as part of a $135 - grade 2 - Grade G continuum based on;

1) The $135, grade 2 and G were always the lowest priced damascus barreled gun

2) The $135, grade 2 and G all had three diamonds on the fore end checking

The $135, grade 2 and G have a remarkable evolution in engraving pattern through early top action times, but always appear to retain those two features. I noted in a DGJ story that this evolution in engraving might make an interesting collecting nich.

Thanks again, and Happy New Year

Austin