The Mershon Co., Inc. Recoil Pad

[Herb]

Saw a straight stock DH (1902 made) with a - The Mershon Co., Inc. White Line recoil pad. Did Parker use these pads.

[Dean Romig]

Not in 1902 to the best of my knowledge. I believe the "White Line" pad was first introduced in the thirties.

[Dan May]

Last week a customer brought in a double and a NOS Mershon red rubber white line pad (in the original box) to fit to it. That was some of the nicest grinding rubber I've yet encountered. Pretty neat, almost hated to fit it to the gun, though I don't think they're all that rare.

[Drew Hause]

The first Parker fitted with a "Silvers Recoil Butt" was in 1891, and would be period appropriate. Other c. 1902 pads included the Funkes and the American Silver pad (sometimes called Grieb.)
The 'White Line' Recoil Pad was patented by Frank Pachmayr 1-28-35 #2091010, but made by Fray-Mershon of Los Angeles. It was offered by Hunter Arms in the 40s. Pachmayr manufactured the pad after about 1950.

[Bill Murphy]

We have talked about very late Remington Parkers that seem to be equipped with factory installed Mershon pads. Charlie Green's Joan Bennett DHE 20 may be an example, as well as a fully optioned, minty VHE 20 in my collection. Some day I will remove the pad on my VHE to see how many screw holes it has. A Remington Model 31 TC in the factory museum collection also seems to be equipped with the Mershon pad.

[Bruce Day]

The Mershon White Line recoil pad came out in 1934-35. Too bad the Parker records for this period are so lacking for gun order/production , but as Bill says, some Parkers with White Line Mershon/Pachmayr pads appear to be original. Those Parkers would have to be post 1934-35. If a person wanted to replace a crushed or hardened pad on a post 34-35 gun, a White Line Mershon or Pachmayr would be period correct. Some people find them attractive, others don't.

However, I think I will put off, for at least now, chopping off the skeleton butt plate on my 1939 C and installing a Mershon pad.

Bruce Day, Parker beginer/novice third class

[Austin W Hogan]

Several distinguished Parkers including Invincible 200000 were found wearing White Line Pads.
I have the gun Drew cites. It is a DH 10, 56553, one of the first 150 DH guns. It was returned to Parker several times. The second owner returned it in 1891 to have the butt recontoured and the pad fitted. A match weight 12 ga barrel was later fitted, and the 10 ga barrels re blued. The pad is still in place and the 10 ga barrel looks seldom used.

Best, Austin

[Bill Murphy]

Several thousand Parkers have Mershon pads and they got them the same way that Invincible #200,000 got hers, at some corner gunsmith shop. When #200,000 was in the hands of a couple of ATA shooters for many years, it's a wonder that the Mershon pad was the only damage done. It could have been equipped with an adjustable comb. Just joking, of course. Both previous owners were/are nice guys. But #200,000 was made much too early to have been equipped with the Mershon from the factory.

[Austin W Hogan]

Sorry - I didn't mean to infer that the Invincible or any other Parker was factory fitted with a white line- only that the white line was the choice for good quality guns from the 30's to the 60's.

Best, Austin

[Bill Murphy]

Austin, do we have any pictures of #200,000 with the White Line pad? It seems to have a Silvers type pad on it now.