Parker hammer gun question

[Michael rivers]

Hi guys I’m looking at a gun and it has XU above the serial number on the table do you know what grade that is ?

[Dean Romig]

If it is a gun prodeced by Parker Bros. Meriden, CT I haven’t seen one with XU but have seen lote with just the U. Those are the Lifter action Parkers. Stamps also seen are such things as F.9.R.


Maybe others have seen the XU stamp.


What is the serial number please?





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[Michael rivers]

Thanks mate it’s 13464

[Michael rivers]

It’s a lifter with Damascus barrels

[Michael rivers]

What does the U mean?

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Michael rivers

What does the U mean?

Under lifter would seem plausible.

[Dean Romig]

Okay, on page 576 of The Parker Story there is a picture of the water table of Parker No. 13900 with the UX stamp.
I have always thought the U represents Underlifter too and according to The Parker Story, pg. 590 states the meaning of the U stamped on the water table of guns approximately manufactured in the 1870’s is unknown.

For myself anyway, until something surfacees proving the U has a different meaning, I’ll continue to presume it represents “Underlifter.”






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[Bruce Day]

So what is the source of your belief that Parker ever called the action in issue an “underlifter” ?

[Dean Romig]

The Serialization book lists a Parker’s basic features in 6 distinct columns, the second of which, after the serial number is the A column which represents action type, the first column is GRA for Grade. From the very first serial number listed up to S/N 24821 they all show a U in column #2, the Action column. S/N 24822 begins the T designation in column #2 for Top Action.

I think we can conclude that the U is not the grade of the gun but rather the action type, “Underlifter.”





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[edgarspencer]

Does anyone have an actual letter for their gun, quoting from the order book, that Parker wrote in the term "Underlifter" ? The letters which I have state "Lifter Action". Seems to me the records would say 'Under Lifter Action' if the U was used by Parker brothers to signify the action type.