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HunterTRW · January 14, 2005, 09:17 AM

According to Michael McIntosh in his book, Best Guns (ISBN 0-924357-02-9), "Parker offered barrels in various grades of Damascus twist, imported as rough blanks from Liege, Belgium. The quality of the finished barrels, more than anything else, ultimately determined the grade of the gun. Lowest-grade guns were barreled in plain twist, while the higher grades showed progressively better figure and density. The top grade was barreled in Bernard twist, an extremely strong, highly ornate Damascus."

Accordingly, this may offer a clue as to the grade of your heirloom.

Author McIntosh goes on to state, "By 1899, there were twenty-three Parker grades in all, nine hammerless and fourteen hammer guns. In some cases, grades differed from one another in only the smallest details. Grades now were identified by letter designations, and the 1899 catalogue shows the following: HAMMER GUNS
GRADE PRICE
AA Pigeon $400
A $300
B $200
C $150
D $100
E $85
F $80
G $80
H $75
I $70
R $60
S $55
T $55
U $50
(F,H,S, and U grades were identical to the next grades above them except for having straight-hand stocks)."

Hope this helps.

Good luck, and good shooting (but not with nitro loads in this gun)!

January 14, 2005, 09:17 AM	#3
HunterTRW Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2004 Location: The Lower Forty of Hill Country Posts: 177	According to Michael McIntosh in his book, Best Guns (ISBN 0-924357-02-9), "Parker offered barrels in various grades of Damascus twist, imported as rough blanks from Liege, Belgium. The quality of the finished barrels, more than anything else, ultimately determined the grade of the gun. Lowest-grade guns were barreled in plain twist, while the higher grades showed progressively better figure and density. The top grade was barreled in Bernard twist, an extremely strong, highly ornate Damascus." Accordingly, this may offer a clue as to the grade of your heirloom. Author McIntosh goes on to state, "By 1899, there were twenty-three Parker grades in all, nine hammerless and fourteen hammer guns. In some cases, grades differed from one another in only the smallest details. Grades now were identified by letter designations, and the 1899 catalogue shows the following: HAMMER GUNS GRADE PRICE AA Pigeon $400 A $300 B $200 C $150 D $100 E $85 F $80 G $80 H $75 I $70 R $60 S $55 T $55 U $50 (F,H,S, and U grades were identical to the next grades above them except for having straight-hand stocks)." Hope this helps. Good luck, and good shooting (but not with nitro loads in this gun)!