Album: Parker Damascus

Letters in the Nov. 1878 'The Chicago Field' from Parker Brothers included the statment that "We import largely both Laminated and Damascus, and also manufacture a very fine Laminated--as fine, we think, as any we have ever seen imported. We have made them about eighteen months." 'The Chicago Field' on March 8, 1879 reported "The Parker Bros., of Meriden, Conn., commenced making twisted barrels in the Spring of 1877." BARREL FLATS are stamped with a Plain T or Umbrella T indicating Twist Steel, D Damascus, and B Bernard. L may be present on Laminated steel barrels, and P on the flats or the barrels may indicate Parker Bros. made Twist or Laminated Steel barrels on c. 1877-1880 lifter guns. THE 1899 CATALOG lists "Fine English Twist" on Quality T, S, R, P & N (and later as an option on VH guns), "Fine Laminated Steel" on Quality I & H, "Fine Damascus" on Quality G, F, E, & D, "Fine Bernard" or "Fine Damascus" on Quality C, "Extra Fine Damascus" on Quality B, and "Finest Damascus" on Quality A. Leopold Bernard (1832-1867) was a well recognized canonier in Paris. His company continued to manufactured firearms and damascus barrels until 1890. In 1897 Heuse-Lemoine offered "Bernard" patterns in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades and Bernard I and II. The Parker "Fine Laminated" offered on Quality I and H hammer guns in the 1890s catalogs is a grade below the "Fine Damascus" used on Quality G, and referred to as Lam1 in the Parker stock books. The 1888 Colt Patent Firearms catalog also has a quality gradation from Twist to "Laminated" to Damascus, and Hunter Arms used "Laminated Steel" on Quality No. 1 L.C. Smith guns 1892-1898.

FROM THE 1899 CATALOG: "Some people imagine that the curly figures of the barrels are simply etched on the outside, when they are, in fact, the visible proof of a superior strength, both desirable and important to every shooter who cares for his personal safety. These fine barrels are not worked and twisted so neatly and nicely that they may look beautiful alone, but rather for the reason that greatest lightness, combined with greatest durability, may be produced." SPECIAL THANKS to Dave Miles, Dean Romig, Bob Valentine, John Davis, Charles A. Herzog Sr., and Bruce Day.