Parker Stock Comb Terminology -- Survey

[Pa SxS]

From the 1910 catalog

[Dean Weber]

Pursuant to Dean R.'s comments about "ball grips" as opposed to Mike's comments about ball grips.......ahem.

My lifters with true ball grips are called pistol grips within the letters. If we recognize grip structures changed over time (ball, capped, round) and yet pistol grip is used in my letters for most of these from the 1800s to 1940s (exception is where capped pistol grip is called out). Yet the grip styles/structure are very different.

We also know that styles of comb structure did change over time even within the lifter period. Whether the names changed with them seems not as clear. Further, I have never received a letter calling out the comb structure even though I have a couple which would be called full or trap comb.

Obviously, I don't have access to Parker records, but I suspect comb was not documented in the same manner/frequency as grip structure. No matter the singer performing the act.......

[Pa SxS]

I only put in the research letter what either the order book or stock book says. The order books only rarely will specify CPG, they only say p.g. or straight. The stock books do say either straight, pistol grip, or capped pistol grip so if there is no stock book for the gun, the letter will say pistol grip even though it's a capped pistol grip. I may have done a letter where a Monty Carlo stock was indicated but it would be extremely rare. You can assume a Monty Carlo stock by the 3 dimensions of drops if they are listed.

[Dean Weber]

Chuck,
After writing about 50 of my letters and likely 1000s by now, how often do you see the comb type called out? I suspect seldom, as the books are only non-standard combs and therefore no need to document regularly unless the comb is remarkable. I dunno. Just spitballin.

[Rino Grassa]

My 1903 16ga VH Letters the stock as " 1/2 Pistol Grip

[Steiner]

Originally Posted by Chuck Bishop

I looked thru my copies of Parker catalogs and prior to the 1910 catalog, Parker only listed straight or pistol grip. The pistol grip would include capped pistol grips, round knob pistol grips, and ball grips. Ball grips were on the early hammer guns and looked like a bulb. Parker did use the term "ball" on their later .410 guns. Starting with the 1910 catalog, they used the terms straight, pistol grip (includes both CPG and round), 1/2 pistol grip, and Monte Carlo.

VH 28 #234418

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[Dean Romig]

Thanks Chuck -
I wish Parker Bros. And Remington had been more consistant in identifying the style of grip and comb.






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[mobirdhunter]

Thanks to all who have contributed information here! The original question was concerning the Parker comb variations. Dean W.'s comments echo my own regarding the terminology used...on the apparently rare instances where it is used.

I think the only way to get any sense of what kinds of combs Parker would produce is linked to those few instances where it's mentioned in the records. I don't see references in the catalogs.

Dean shared with me a case where a gun had a larger comb, but it was not mentioned in the research letter (and so, the records). The comb on his mid-1920s gun is exactly like my 1924 gun (for which no records exist). Others have noted mention in their letters, and as I noted earlier, I have one that is specified as having a "medium full" comb.

So, if there are letters out there with mention of the comb, please consider responding to this thread. Short of going through all of the records, I can't see a better way of getting at this question.

Thanks!!

[Pa SxS]

Dan, your grip type in the stock book is listed as a 1/2 pistol grip. I was wrong about the ball grips on .410. In the last stock book I found ball grips listed for all the gauges. I'm guessing the word ball is the same as a 1/2 pistol grip or what we also call a "round grip". I know this is all confusing, but just know that I put in the research letter exactly what the records show.

[Dean Romig]

It seems, after all the examples shown here and the opinions expressed, that the description of the type of pistol grip a gun was made with really didn't have an official name as would have been dictated by the front office but rather were described by the stockmaker or the person actually recording the gun's manufacturing specs...

Would it were that were otherwise.





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