Parker Stock Comb Terminology -- Survey

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

Garry I have a recently written letter that does address the comb. I was going to mention it to you at the HOF Banquet but with all of the activity and eye candy that Louis had there it totally escaped me. The attached letter is one of the more detailed I have.

Thanks, Randy. What an extraordinary gun.

Your 1900 gun stock terminology states, "extra thick comb." My two 1918 guns (both 20s) are termed "medium full comb."

I've located two more guns, a VH and BH that have thick nosed combs, but neither has any reference in the records (and I'm as positive as I can be that they are both original). One is a 12, the other (mine) a 16. They both have the fluting typical of Parker stocks.

Does your gun have this fluting?

(Top photo is a 1918 DHE 20. "Medium Full Comb" and no fluting.
Bottom photo is a 1924 BHE 16. There are no records for this gun, but another member has a similar era gun with the same style comb, and it's not mentioned in the records.)

[Randy Roberts]

Garry in its present state this gun does not possess the typical trap comb that it apparently began life with. It appears to me that the stock was altered at some point.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

Garry in its present state this gun does not possess the typical trap comb that it apparently began life with. It appears to me that the stock was altered at some point.

Too bad, but I hear that you trap shooters can be pretty persnickety about your stocks.

I wish we could have seen the original configuration. I think this special comb "thing" must have been somewhat idiosyncratic to specific eras and workers, just like engraving; but it would be nice to see more documented examples.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Too bad, but I hear that you trap shooters can be pretty persnickety about your stocks.

I wish we could have seen the original configuration. I think this special comb "thing" must have been somewhat idiosyncratic to specific eras and workers, just like engraving; but it would be nice to see more documented examples.

Actually I am not a trap shooter

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

Actually I am not a trap shooter

Are clays shooters persnickety about their stocks? Just trying to learn.

BTW, thanks for keeping this thread going. I still think there are more documented comb designations out there.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Are clays shooters persnickety about their stocks? Just trying to learn.

BTW, thanks for keeping this thread going. I still think there are more documented comb designations out there.

Some are downright fussy in that everything has to be perfect right down to 1/64", some are constantly making adjustments which usually occur after a poor round. I would guess that the percentage who pay little attention to stock dimensions is small. Most likely the more serious a person is the more attention to detail, the weekend warrior probably not so much.