Parker restoration marks?

[Jerry Andrews]

This is a restored Parker I bought. Serial number is 124258. Do you think this work was done by Remington at Ilion? The chokes are marked on the barrels like a Remington gun also. I remember someone saying marks were put on the barrels to indicate work. Would this indicate stock work as well as case colors? Thanks much, Jerry

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[Ed Blake]

If Remington did any work on a gun it was marked on the barrel flats with its alpha numeric code, for instance LSS3 is February 1947. I doubt Remington would have buffed out the rib matting on any gun, as yours appears to have been done. I have a damascus GH from 1899 that has had the stock replaced. Under the trigger guard the serial number is stamped along with an "R". I've always wondered if the R was for Remington eventhough there are no repair codes on the watertable.

[Rod N. Gunn]

I agree, the barrels were probably not done by Remington and date codes would be the first clue if they were. I suppose the cyanide case colors could be Remington but they sure look fresh. Del Grego did cyanide jobs post-Remington. Nice gun, everything looks to have been carefully redone except maybe the rib matting.

[Autumn Daze]

This could be a Delgrego/Remington restoration.The stock has a Remington era butt plate and the fluting on the nose of the comb looks Remington.The barrels have been severely buffed and noticeable by the slightly rolled edges at the muzzle and breach ends. Also the rib looks to have been buffed. All in all a nice gun for shooting. Are there any Remington codes on the barrel flats? How are the stock dimensions?

[Jerry Andrews]

Yes, the rib is an abortion, which is too bad as the gun is really nice otherwise. I'll check the barrels for marks tomorrow and post the dimensions as well. Thanks all, I appreciate it. Once again, if you ever need help on the L.C. Smith guns, please ask . Jerry

[Austin W Hogan]

This gun; 124528, predates the first single barrel trap gun by about 50,000 serial numbers. Several of us have seen the first known SxS with a "large" or "trap" forend which has the note "fore end like trap" in the order book. The first V grades with trap forends and or vent ribs that show in the order books have serials well above 200000; however Parker advertised retrofitting of ejectors, trap forends and vent ribs during the 1920's. This gun has the trap forend showing the proper screw. These parts were available until the very end. I have a box with post mark 15 Mar 1987 that still contains trap forend irons and unfinished ssbps from Remington's parts disposal after sale by DuPont.
I have had some barrels reblued by Del Grego. They did not buff barrels; they were filed and emoried longitudinally, and sent to LeFever or other local shops for blueing. Frames were drawn over a gas stove, polished and re engraved in the Del Grego shop. They were sent to LeFever ( who had the proper straightening jigs) for case hardening until Bob Lefever's retirement. After that, Runge took them to Remington to be re cased after he recut the engraving. Reminton ceased re casing when the cyanide process was no longer grandfathered.
Ribs were not emoried; it appears that this rib was either severly pitted, or may have had a vent rib attached when the btfe was fitted, and the vent rib later removed.
With respect to an accompanying note; I visit Orvis frequently; as of my latest visit in spring of this year, they had only a small gunroom, and no gunsmithing facilities.

Best, Austin

[Ed Blake]

Jerry - Does your gun have the big forend "loop" for the BT?

[Bruce Day]

As an aside, Austin's response raises a significant issue about re color case hardening when he mentions that LeFever had the proper frame straightening jigs. Some shops attempt color case hardening without them and have caused frame warping such that the barrels do not lock properly, there is a gap, etc. That is one of the reasons why experienced Parker collectors have been reluctant to have frames redone. Frame warpage should be one of the questions asked when considering re casing.

[Jerry Andrews]

I've only had L.C. Smith guns recolored in the past and Color Case Company did all of them. Up to date, I think they did 32 for me for my shop. They never warped a single frame, even the dreaded Hunter One Trigger guns still worked but I usually had to fool with them, but then again, I usually have to fool with them anyway. A.E. Lard might have been into opiates when he invented that nightmare! I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Smith nut, but the trigger and ejectors should have stayed home.
Someone asked if my gun had the large loop? I'm not sure what that is, can someone help me with that? Thanks for all the replies and help, tons of really helpful and kind folks on this board. Jerry

[Autumn Daze]

Jerry,I believe Austin is referring to the forend lug. Is it one piece with a radius at the lug or is it the lug with a small piece of rib extending back to the barrel flats?