Hammer Guns Without Checkering

[Mills]

My back action lifter with Decarbonized steel barrels has checkering (or the remnants of checkering) and it must have been equivalent to a 0 grade

My theory is that before grades, there was a lot of variation among the different "grades" or price points and one reason they introduced standardized grades was to cut down on the confusion. Just my thought though

[Autumn Daze]

Mills, Backaction guns with factory checkering were considered "delux" grade guns in the 1869 catalog.

[Mills]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Mills, Backaction guns with factory checkering were considered "delux" grade guns in the 1869 catalog.

Thanks for that info.

[Patrick Hanna]

I had #29218 for a while. It was found, literally in pieces and in paper bags, in a garage. It had been heavily sanded and very sloppily painted with shellac, but I'm certain there was never any checkering.

It is a grade 1 10 gauge top lever hammer gun. I no longer have this gun.

Two photos of its found condition, and two of its cleaned and reassembled condition.

[OH Osthaus]

nice save Patrick

[B. Dudley]

Patrick,
That gun likely originally had checkering since it is a grade 1. All of it has either been worn or sanded off. Since the forend is all below metal and wrist is very thin.

[Patrick Hanna]

Hi, Brian. That's interesting to know. When I first saw the gun I was pretty ignorant about Parkers (the truth is, I still am). I just accepted it as an uncheckered stock. I wondered about the checkering later. I'm not disputing what you're saying, but there isn't even a hint of checkering on the stock now. Yes, the fore end is WELL below metal. It's a shame. I couldn't have judged the stock wrist, because it's such a massive shotgun anyway. But, yes, the trigger guard is proud of the wood, too. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Roundsworth]

I once owned an 1877 vintage 0 Grade 12 gauge, serial 10250, that exhibited no checkering on the forend and stock. The barrels were 32" 'Plain Twist'.

[Carl Baird]

For what it's worth I have an 1884(letter) hammer gun with "Stub Twist" 32" barrels and it has checkering. The stub twist was the most basic of twist steels. I truly believe there may have been general rules, but nothing was hard and fast.
A bad segue, but my barrels are in good shape and I've read the reports on the strength of Damascus vs. steel, but does anyone know where I can research the strength differences between the fine english damascus down through the different grades to include my stub twist?

[Blind Dog]

No. 12465, 10ga, Plain Twist, never saw a checking tool.