In addition to their unique hinge pin, Parker shotguns also incorporated a square вЂdolls headвЂ™ barrel extension that locked the gunвЂ™s action closed. The large countersunk depression in the action, with visible screw head, sets Parker shotguns apart from other boxlock guns of the same period.

Parker shotguns are one of the most easily recognizable American-made boxlock shotguns due to the fact that their hinge pin was not hidden, but rather made prominent by design. Models, grades and options of the Parker shotguns Production of the Parker shotgun slowed and eventually stopped in 1947 when the final gun left the Remington factory. Parker was acquired by Remington Arms in 1934, though manufacturing continued in the Meridian factory until 1938 when production was fully moved to Ilion, N.Y. was under significant financial strain as a result of the Great Depression, and pressure from repeating shotguns that were becoming increasingly popular in the market. During those years, new features like single triggers, Beavertail forend, and vent ribs were introduced as options on Parker guns. Production continued in Meridian until 1934. The Parker shotgun around the turn of the century would remain essentially the same, except for a notable reworking of the mechanism in 1910, for the remainder of production years. Between 18, the forearm latch was developed, hammer gun production slowed in favor of hammerless guns, and the ejector system was developed. Formerly of Smith & Wesson, King was largely responsible for the technological advances with the design of the Parker shotgun. Additionally, these guns incorporated a вЂlifterвЂ™ mechanism for opening, rather than the top lever that most folks are familiar with. They were Damascus steel barreled, pinfire, hammer guns that utilized the transitional cartridges of the late 1800s. These were not the Parker guns we are most familiar with. After the war, ParkerвЂ™s entrepreneurial spirit and manufacturing background led him to a vision of a gun with manufactured parts but hand assembled to ensure quality.Д¬harles and his sons developed and perfected the early Parker shotgun design, and began manufacturing the first guns off their line in 1868.

One of a myriad of entrepreneurial endeavors of Charles Parker, the Parker Gun Company began as a wartime effort, manufacturing repeating rifles during the Civil War. Small and large purveyors of the shooting sports, gunsmiths and even some manufacturers still call Connecticut home, though many more have gone the way of the passenger pigeon, as is the case with the subject of this article - the Parker shotgun. The state of Connecticut has a storied history of firearms manufacturing and to this day is still home to some of the biggest names in the gun business. Roughly halfway between the coastal town of New Haven, Conn., and the capital of Hartford lies the city of Meriden, the one-time home to the illustrious, fabled and renowned Parker Brothers Manufacturing Company. A look into the famous American classic, the вЂњOld ReliableвЂќ Parker shotguns

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