DH grade guns with chequered side panels

[neill mcinnis]

I have been looking at several nice 12 ga DH grade guns. Sharp engraving and nice Damascus pattern barrels. The question I have is most of the time I encounter checquered side panels. I have referenced the parker story and it doesn't appear these guns should have the checqured side panels. I would like your opinion about this.

[Paul Stafford III]

I believe it was an option? Any comments?

[Hammer Gun]

Neill, Yes it was an option and sometimes the checkering can hide a repair! D grade guns are the best bang for the buck in Parkers this is just my opinion, I have owned many nice D grades wish I had a couple of them back! oh well you can not keep them all. Gary

[Kensal Rise]

Although D Grades were made with English walnut stocks, Parkers are notorious for splitting stock heads. Especially with overloaded US ammunition. I would suspect any D with checquered "cheeks" has had a split stock head repaired at one time in the past.

Best, Kensal

[Bill Murphy]

Spend forty bucks, get a letter. I only own one checker cheek D and the cheeks were on the order.

[Harold Pickens]

I have an o frame DHE16 with checkered side panels also. I have tried hard to find evidence of repair, even with a magnifying glass, but cant find any irregularities. I would probably have to remove the stock to really find out. The factory letter does not mention it as a special order in 1905, but it was returned to the factory in 1910 and the letter states the stock was "redressed", whatever that means. Ihave had differing opinions on it from knowledgable Parker people--some said it was as right as rain, but others felt it might not be Parker factory work. One of these days I will take it to one of the sxs shoots or PGCA meetings and get an opinion from people far more knowledgable than me.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Gary Carmichael Sr

oh well you can not keep them all.

where'd you here that

on the internet

they can't put anything thats not true on the internet

uh - Bonjour

[Bruce Day]

Neill, D grades were not standard with checkered side panels, however they were about a $3 option. I have seen a few, but not many, that I believe are likely Parker side panels. Early ones were inletted with a beveled edge, later ones not necessarily inletted and beveled.

Of course posters above mentioned that checkered side panels often hide a cross stock head repair pin. Another reason is that during the 1960's and into the 70's before preservation of Parker originality became as important , it was in vogue to fancy up these old fashioned Parkers with checkered side panels like the high grade ones, and even to chop off the skeleton butt plates and add white line recoil pads. Many were done that way in upstate New York. In Kansas City, Simmons would even strip off the Parker inscribed top rib and install their special wide, flat topped ventilated rib .

Parker catalogs provide that D grades were made with "Circassian" ( Juglas regia) walnut, while late 1920's catalogs and thereafter state J. regia or black walnut ( J. nigra). The black walnut came from Parker's usual supplier in St Joseph, Missouri, now American Walnut Company.

Attached is a photo of a C with Parker inletted and beveled stock cheek panels. Notice that the checkering is fine and even. Coarse and uneven checkering would be an indicator of non Parker work.

Records do not necessarily tell all details on a Parker. A person needs to be able to tell through a variety of indicators what is correct and not. Additionally, many guns went back, records may or may not exist of that work or if existing, may be incomplete.

[Bruce Day]

The second photo is a Parker original on a D , inletted but not beveled, courtesy of Billy Bob in the hills. Notice the quality of the checkering.

[OH Osthaus]

very neat work - and nice picture

thank Billy Bob from us for sharing