Underlifter $80 grade what do you think? .

[B. Dudley]

Allow me to clarify what I was thinking in regards to the bolsters. They are similar to a grade 2, but seem a bit more defined than the typical grade 2 gun. But not as much as a typical grade 3. Given the period this gun was made, I could imagine there being a good amount of variation in details like this from grade to grade at times.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Given the period this gun was made, I could imagine there being a good amount of variation in details like this from grade to grade at times.

Agreed. There were no specific grades at the time, (pre-1882) and few defining features - just "dollar grades", and if a customer wished to spend more money he would get more embellishments. There are several features on this gun which tend to defy 'grade' identification but which support the 'dollar' theory of embellishments.

According to The Parker Story and the Ser. & ID Book, the U stamped on the water table is "not understood", but it does not represent a grade.... it might even represent "Underlifter" for all we know.

[Gunner]

I'm bad and Dean's correct that "U" wasn't a alpha grade until 1882 and then it was a 0 grade twist gun.
In my defense I made a quick reference to Parker grades on our website and got sucked in by the lifter frame photo labeled "u grade frame". I should have known better.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...809490&thumb=1
Maybe the photo title can be corrected for future researchers
Erick