Parker restoration marks? - Page 3

Autumn Daze · 08-08-2010, 10:44 PM

Thanks Austin..I will post pictures tomorrow of my two beavertail gun's forend iron.

Jerry,I am just making observation's your's is a great gun..

Jerry Andrews · 08-09-2010, 06:45 AM

Dave, I appreciate you taking the time to try & help me with this, as well as everyone else that responded. It's funny how these old guns take on such an interesting history to the current owner, and at one time they were simply another gun rolling out of the various factories, regardless of a VH 12 gauge or a VH .410, just another gun! I think we've latched on to these guns for a more important reason than money also. These guns are the showcase/highlight of American workmanship. Made by men and women who had pride in their work, not just another paycheck. It shows. Most of these old guns are fitted so tightly it appears as if the wood was " poured " around the metal. It's what I strive for when I restock or make a fly rod. I hear the word " acceptable " glue lines in the rods. I just don't think a gap filled with glue is acceptable. It's why I still handplane, I can control what happens. Thanks again for ya'll taking the time to look at my gun and help. Most appreciated, Jerry

Austin W Hogan · 08-09-2010, 07:30 AM

Jerry; I agree with you and Dave that it is a fine piece of work; just trying to determine why the breech end of that barrel was so heavily buffed.

Best, Austin

Jerry Andrews · 08-09-2010, 07:49 AM

Austin, it had to have been pitted, no other reason would you guess? Jerry

Autumn Daze · 08-09-2010, 09:03 PM

Jerry,As promised here are a couple of photos showing the beavertail forend iron and the proper forend loop for a beavertail equipped gun.1st photo VHE 16 gauge skeet and second photo DHE vent rib double trap 12 gauge.

Dean Romig · 08-09-2010, 09:08 PM

Very cool - an extractor skeet gun!

Autumn Daze · 08-09-2010, 09:19 PM

Actually an extractor trap gun.....

Austin W Hogan · 08-10-2010, 10:08 AM

Jerry, Dave, Dean,et al;

This has been a great discussion. I think it could be a worthwhile research article for Parker Pages. I'll post that more formally.

First; this is a little more than speculation on my part; let's call it reasoned speculation. I am sure that if that gun were delivered to Babe and Lawrence, the full story would be known in minutes. I need to visit them and get up to date on several things.

There are some outstanding features present; the GH like grain in the butt; the large trap fore end with screw, but not with trap fore end loup; the bright cyananide case hardening; and the "Parker" butt plate. I speculate that this gun was reworked by Larry Sr and the former Parker employees perhaps at Remington, or in the early years of the original Del Grego cellar shop.
Remington case hardening is very resistant; I have a 513T that I recieved for my 16th birthday in 1952 that is still bright after many years of gallery shooting. I would speculate the case hardening of this gun was done about then. (I also speculate that Lefever (three miles away in Frankfort, and former Remington shop superintendent) hardened some Ilion Parkers before cessation of the operation, and most of those re cased during reconditioning by Del Grego prior to Bob Lefever's retirement. The Remington collectors newsletter cites Runge bringing Parker frames that he had engraved to Remington for case hardening between that time and the ending of the cyanide case process.)
The GH grain on VH guns is noted prior to close of production; those butts and the "Parker" butt plates may have remained in stock in the 1950's
The trap forend thread in the old style fore end loup is interesting. Did someone note that the new style loup wasn't really necessary? Is that the reason those I bought were left over?
The machine buffing of the barrel is unusual to say the least. Could the gun have rusted in a case and the barrels reblued at a later date?

Best, Austin

Jerry Andrews · 08-10-2010, 12:37 PM

I would think that's all a very good and fair assesment Austin. I'd guess the barrels would never have been allowed to leave anyone's should with the superb work on the rest of the gun. It might be absolutely killing the sale of this gun on GB. Not sure how to ever make them correct now, as I doubt if anyone has the ability to redo the rib. Jerry

Dean Romig · 08-10-2010, 12:51 PM

The rib would need to be filed smooth and engraved. I don't know who has the Parker matting machine but it would require removing the rib, matting it, engraving the legend and relaying the rib.... probably more expensive than filing and engraving it.