Barrel flat markings -1923 AAHE

[LtCol Henderson Marriott]

Remington repair codes on this 3rd generation Grade 7 Parker
on bbl flats are XE 3-indicating return to Remington-Parker for service
in December of 1936 by my grandfather.

Above the Remington-Parker codes 1/3 inch, in different stamping, are two numerals: 22

Since the shotgun was made in 1923, could those barrels have been
made earlier in late 1922? And so stamped?
Or is that an inspector's codes-OR?- on the flats?

Thanks in advance;

Ridge Marriott
LtCol-USA-R

[Researcher]

I don't know the answer, but I have recorded at least a dozen guns with a one-, two- or three-digit number stamped in this area on the left barrel flat, as this 153 on my big 20-gauge --

56213 11 153 Annotated.jpg

[LtCol Henderson Marriott]

Dave:
The jury will remain out, but my thinking is a date or Parker Inspector's codes.
Did your 20 GA ever have service work, as far as you know?

As to this Grade 7- 12 Ga shotgun, it was returned for at least an extra stock and BT forend.
The ventilated rib on this gun appears to be original, early for a 1923 Parker.
In addition to appearance, the rib is marked Peerless Steel, of which only 70 Parker barrels were so marked/made. My thinking remains that the barrels were Parker Brothers, while the return Remington-Parker service in 1936 was extra stock & forend with possible action work and tuning.
Without the original service work card, the barrel stamping tells only that it was returned for 1936 service. Further evidence on details not found. Close examination by a
few Parker specialists at the Southern this year pronounced the AAHE "all Parker".
Thanks in advance;

Ridge Marriott
Lt Col-USA-R

[Researcher]

Those barrels and forearm were added sometime after the rib legend was changed to CT, U.S.A. but before the introduction of the use of the PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED stamp. No surviving record.

[LtCol Henderson Marriott]

Thanks again, Dave:

You are correct in that the ventilated rib is marked :
" Parker Bros. Makers Meriden CT. USA Peerless Steel"

Based on that, do you think that the rib was added in 1936-or before-in Meriden as 1923 manuf. date ?
In other words, could it have been done by Parker Bros. or later
done by Remington-Parker and roll stamped accordingly with the Parker Bros
inscriptions?

The SN on this AAHE is 203418, placing it built in 1923. The puzzlement is WHAT exactly was done during the return 1936 service?
{Wish my camera work was better suited, but photos are in the Summer 2003 edition of the Double Gun Journal}.


Ridge Marriott

[Dean Weber]

The picture is of a 1925 gun which seems to show a "21" stamped in similar fashion. No Remington repair codes. There also is a 1919 gun pictured (Fig. 14.10, pg 579) in The Parker Story which has a "12" stamped similarly. TPS does not describe this stamp as they were describing the barrel lug gauge stamp.

[charlie cleveland]

is this big 20 ga a 2 frame.....charlie

[Researcher]

Looking at the pictures of the AAHE in the DGJ, the vent rib exhibits the concave ramp to match a regular frame with the concave top of the standing breech, which I would attribute to a retrofit vent rib.

Some vent ribs with the flat-topped standing breech and the flat surface ramp which I would consider guns built from the ground up as vent rib guns --

227370 02.jpg

230737 04.jpg

232169 02.jpg

236958 12.jpg

[Bruce P Bruner]

Example of factory 1938 rib without nomenclature.

[Researcher]

The late Remington vent rib guns eliminated the "notch" in the rib ramp that Parker Bros. were proud of.

Rib Extension Notch.jpeg