Please help determine value and condition of my Parker Brothers 16 gauge

[Bruce Hering]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

We have seen recent examples, and recent discussion on barrels touching at the muzzle. I remember several owners stating that their barrels were not touching and were known to be original length.

Conversely, barrels which touch is not definitive proof that barrels were NOT cut. This I know first hand as I handled a set of Titanic Barrels, known to have left the factory at 30", cut to 28", still touching, and keels still plainly visible. There is no termination line. Lack of a definite termination is occasionally seen on Uncut Vulcan barrels, but I have never seen it missing on Titanic barrels of original length. As one would expect, a 30" gun, often full choked in one, if not both barrels, and then cut to 28" will still have a measurable choke constriction. Believe this or don't: I have a set of barrels, NOW 24", which WERE 30", and they touch at the muzzle!

I don't think anyone can emphatically state that the keels were of a specific length. They could be an inch long, they could be 2-3" long. One thing about barrel construction I'm pretty sure of, is that the keels extended beyond the muzzle, at any random length, and were trimmed flush is the finishing operation. If they are NOT visible, it's an almost sure bet the barrels have been cut.
Lead and steel oxidize entirely differently, so I wouldn't place much in the idea they don't show because they've been sitting around.

It is my opinion (and yours may differ) that the keels serve no useful purpose AFTER the barrels have been completed. The solder bond to barrel, to the other barrel, to the keel, and to the rib isn't very likely to be any stronger because the random piece of steel used to fill the void and keep everything in place when it's wire bound and soldered.

Thank you Edgar....

[Bill Murphy]

We haven't heard from the OP since April 3, 2021. Good luck taking a look at the PGCA letter.

[ArtS]

I was looking through old threads and read this one today. I did look at the pictures, and realized that the gu (per the TG) is 141876 as stated. The forend iron, is marked 140876. The barrel number isn't visible. Seems strange to be off by exactly 1000, but also I would bet the forend, iron and stock were all switched at the same time. Neither gun appears in the serialization book, but both numbers indicate factory records are available.

This was a big year for Parker production (around 7000 guns) but they went through a period of almos 3000 serial numbers with no VH guns listed, but missing numbers may be in the majority durung that period. Immediately before and after. Vulcans were built in huge blocks.

Interesting, but this particular gun appears to have been put together aftermarket with bits and pieces.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer

This was a big year for Parker production (around 7000 guns) but they went through a period of almos 3000 serial numbers with no VH guns listed, but missing numbers may be in the majority durung that period. Immediately before and after. Vulcans were built in huge blocks.

You have made the observation that no Grade 0 guns appear in the Serialization book but that there are surviving records…

When the books were being transcribed there are ranges where guns of Grade 2, 1, 0 and OV were omitted. The only guns appearing in the Serialization within those ranges are Grade 3 and higher. The actual reason for this omission is still a puzzle and there are several ranges of serial numbers within which this is evident… but in many cases these records exist and are available for a research letter.





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[Bill Murphy]

I believe that the omission of gun below grade 3 from the serialization book is merely a time issue. The writers and their transcribers went on to more important work. Charlie or someone commented on that issue back when.

[Dean Romig]

That’s what I’ve heard too Bill but never have heard it from anyone involved in extracting the data and publishing the Serialization book.

Each time we omit data simply for convenience sake it becomes closer and closer to being non-existant for future generations.

Don’t ask me how I know this but recent private conversations have confirmed this.





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[Bill Murphy]

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