Carrying serial number 85429, this 12 gauge shotgun left the Parker factory in 1897. Metal Condition 65%, minor pitting, shows traces of original c.Click for more info Seller: Turnbull Restoration Co., Inc. Parker-shotguns FDA Approved Pharmacy. Priority Next Day Shipping. Track Your Order Status Online! Instant Delivery. 2684 Rose Street. Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3Y2, Canada. Phone: 306-529-0791. Jun 03, 2017 Have come across a Parker VH 20 gauge-26 inch barrel in excellent condition. The case colors are 95 percent and the bluing on the barrels is 99%. It has a dogs head buttplate. The seller will guarantee the gun is original and also will let me get it checked out by Parker experts before purchase. Seller wants around $10,000. Going price or too much?
Year of Manufacture: 1897 (http://www.parker-shotguns.com/parker-shotguns-serial-numbers-and-year-of-production/)
Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4” Shells
Action Type: Side by Side, Double Non-Selective Trigger Shotgun with Ejectors
Markings: The barrel rib is marked “PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CONN. DAMASCUS STEEL STEEL”, with two arrows pointing away from the lettering. The underside of the barrel set flat is marked “+” twice at the breach of each barrel, with D / C / 46 / PAT’D APR 12 1876″, the underside of the lug is marked “7 / 1”, the left is marked with the serial number. The top of the forend bracket has the serial number and the lever is marked “PAT’D MAR. 26. 1878”. The flanks of the frame are marked “PARKER BROS”, with open scroll engraving and game scenes. The water table is marked with the serial number “2” and “G”, it is also marked “PAT’D JAN. 18, AUG. 16. 1887 / MAY 1-OCT 8 1889. The top of the trigger plate is marked “571”. The lower tang is serialized to the receiver, the butt plate has an embossed dog with a bird in its mouth along with “PARKER / BROTHERS”.
Barrel Length: 30”, with solid, concave rib, which tapers from 0.539″ at the breech to 0.392″ at the muzzles.
Choke: Bore diameter: Right .731, Left .732. Bore restrictions: right -.027″ left -.034″.
Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a small front bead, set into the concave solid rib; the top of the rib is milled in a wave-like pattern for glare reduction, the details are still highly formed.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece walnut set with an old varnished finish. The splinter forend has checkering and a metal nose tip; the wood has a nice fit to the metal, most of the checkers are still defined, a few areas have heavy scraping, the surfaces have several old bruises with minimal newer marks. The buttstock has a black-capped and checkered pistol grip, leading to a fluted comb, there is a small shield-shaped metal insert on the belly. The top of the wrist at the upper tang shows several splinter losses and a small crack. The wood generally meets the wood flush, the heel has light sanding through the finish, the grip cap fits completely flush, the other areas may have experienced some shrinkage, given this shotgun’s age. The lower tang sits just proud of the wood, there are dark losses along the edges. The buttstock has several handling marks, most are old. The grain and tone are very pleasing. Drop at comb is 1 3/4”, drop at heel is 2 1/2”, the cast is about neutral. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the rear trigger and 14″ from the front of the forward trigger to the back of the black hard rubber butt plate; the plate retains most of its details, there is a chip loss on the upper left, please see our pictures; the plate is in Very Good condition. The stocks rate in about Very Good Plus to a Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued & Case Colored
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are light gray, there are spots of moderate pitting near the muzzles, the erosion trails back becoming less frequent with a few spots of dark surface erosion about mid bore. Barrel wall thickness is acceptable.
Overall Condition: The Damascus barrel set has beautiful spiral twist patterns and high retention of their browned finish. The receiver and its components appear to have been case colored, some tone is still left on top of the forend bracket and upper tang. The bare metal surfaces have a silvered patina and rubbing marks, though the engraved scenes still have crisp features. The lower tang was cleaned at some point, though in the distant past, as the metal has a return to a light patina. The metal to metal fit is spot on, the construction is rigid without play in the furniture with the action open or closed. The barrel set has a few dark spots of oxidation, though overall, we are impressed with the rib matting and markings, especially in protected areas. The screw head slots are lightly tooled but are all serviceable. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The shotgun features double triggers and extractor; the tang mounted safety returns to ‘safe’ when the action is opened. The shotgun weighs 7lbs 12oz with no play in the frame to barrel fit. The hammers fall with authority and the triggers are crisp. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Parker Brothers Double Barrel Shotgun Serial Numbers
Our Assessment: This Fine condition Parker Brothers GH Grade 2 Hammerless comes to us from 1897, when America’s most famous gun makers stunned the world with their craftsmanship and ability to rival established firms in Europe. This shotgun has elegant stocks and browned Damascus fine twist barrels. A bit of case coloring is still visible, the engravings are highly defined and the stocks are free of major damages. It would have changed a lot of hands in its 120-year life, it has been taken care of and is simply beautiful.
Antique Parker Brothers Shotguns
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Shotgun can be transferred in California.
Parker Shotguns Identification and Marks.
Parker shotguns have three basic identification marks that will help you identify your Parker.
Frame Size: Parker used different frames for their shotguns. Normally the 12 gauge was a 1, 1 1/2 or 2 frame While the 20 gauge was an 0 or a 00 frame. The frame sizes included 7 which was the largest down to a 000 the smallest for a 410. The frame size and serial number are found on the rear barrel lug.
Grade: The grade is marked on the flat of the action; Parker used a number in the early days and later used an alpha designation. The grades are as follows with the highest grade first. A1 grade 8, AAH grade 7, AH grade 6, BH grade 5, CH grade 4, DH grade 3, GH grade 2, PH or VH grade 1 and Trojan grade.
Barrel Rib: Parker put the grade of steel on the rib along with Parker Brothers, Meridian CT. The early Damascus barrels were usually marked Damascus on the rib. Trojan grade was marked Trojan Steel, the VH grade was marked Vulcan Steel, B grade usually was marked Acme Steel. This can change as orders could be placed for any type steel or damascus barrel you desired.
This is not a complete description by any means, but is intended to be a tool to help with preliminary investigation and identification. You should always consult a knowledgeable person to clarify the many variations that Parker enthusiast uncover all the time. This is the reason there are so many books written about the Parker Shotguns.
For more information please call me.I do not charge for this service as this is MY HOBBY. My goal is to help people find information about their SXS. I tell clients I was helped by many collectors and this is how I try to repay them for the time they spent with helping me learn about SXS.
Sean Winder Says:
Morning, I have a family Parker SxS that I am trying to find out a value for. I took this to local gun shop and the employee was baffled. I have many pics of the underside markings but none of them are familiar to the gun shop employee. It is clearly marked Parker, says laminated but we couldn’t find any reference based on being a top hammer. I didn’t see anything that resembled a serial number. I hope you can be of some help. I can send you the pics I have for further investigation.
The gun shop did say that it was an 80% grade and a very nice gun but other than that he had no idea.
Thank you, Sean Winder 215-859-2756
Jeffery Leppien Says:
I just picked up a Parker Bros. SxS hammered shotgun lifter model. The serial number is 13773 which indicates it was manufactured in 1879. The only mark I can find on the watertable for Grade is the letter “U” above the serial number. On the bottom of the barrel lug is an S1 and on the bottom of the barrel flats is ST38. Any idea what grade this is? I can’t seem to match it up. Thanks, Jeffery Leppien
Michael Reed Says:
Hello
Is there any record of Wells Fargo marked Parker shotguns? Thank you. Michael Reed
Matt Jester Says:
I have a Parker Bros 12 ga. V 4 Vulcan steel sxs. Serial # places the gun being made in 1900. Any help with values is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Matt
bradshaw Says:
I need photos of Parker engraving grades. I am on a project for a client upgrading and restoration of a Parker. Can you direct me to a site to see good photos? Bruce [email protected] A B Bradshaw Engraving Toronto.
bradshaw Says:
I need photos of Parker engraving grades. I am on a project for a client upgrading and restoration of a Parker. Can you direct me to a site to see good photos? Bruce [email protected] A B Bradshaw Engraving Toronto.
Amy Neel Says:
Hi there, I inherited a Parker shotgun. Don’t know much about shotguns. Want to know if it is safe to use. Serial number 185,366 Other markings: Vulcan Steel. 28 gauge, 00. Also: inside a circle, the letters JG, with number 62 nearby. Also, inside a circle V, with HT/A and 3, nearby. I have no idea what these markings mean. Should I take it to gunsmith to determine safety? Thank you for any help.
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