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Parker hammer shotgun

1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
edited April 2004 in Ask the Experts
Just came across a Parker 12 guage and am not nearly familiar enough with the mark to * its' value and could use some of your expert help! Overall condition would have to rate at about 80% with a few reblued parts that appear to have been done a long, long time ago. The patent date on the gun is 1875 and the serial number is 70xxx range. On the top rib it is marked with the legend " Parker Bros Merridian Conn., Twist". Has fine zig-zag engraving around the perimeter of the lock plates and double triggers and is an extracor, not ejector type. Additionally there is a pretty decent amount of fine line engaving on many of the metal parts but none of it is the type one would consider deep relief; just some serpentine line work that is pretty but not overly ornate. Barrel length is "32, Damascus, a bit pitted in front of the chamber but not "sad", and it has a bag type pistol grip type butt-stock that has hand cut checkering (fairly eroded,but still there) on a really nicely figured piece of Walnut. Has a cracked butt-plate with the Doghead inside Parker Bros. logo. Splinter fore-end(checkered) is very nice and tight and detaches with no effort at all. The locks are very crisp and trigger pull is nice, light and crisp. Has a brass shield about "1/2 diameter inletted into the top of the wrist. Original gold bead still on the barrels and the entire length of the rib is matte serpentine line engraved in what I assume is an antireflective pattern. Lock-up is pretty tight and by the by, don't worry...I have NO intention of shooting it! I realise pictures would help but I am looking for a quick and dirty general idea of what it might be worth. By the serial number I was told that it was made in 1892 but am not sure that is accurate. Thanks for your help folkes...as always I appreciate it!

"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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Comments

  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    70XXX would, indeed, place it in the 1892 year manufacture range.

    Here's a site that may help you: http://www.parkergun.org/
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  • 101AIRBORNE101AIRBORNE Member Posts: 1,252 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello 1KYDSTR,
    Look at the water table for a letter-that will be the grade of the
    Parker. The frame size will be a number or a number and a fraction
    stamped on the barrel lug. The weight of the barrels sans iron and wood will be stamped under the barrels. I will not assign a price w/o
    knowing the percent of original case colors on the side locks and original percent of barrel finish. In forty years of collecting
    and selling Parker's, I have never seen a brass shield. Either gold
    or German silver. I agree with the DOM within a year-+/-.
    Good description. 101
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  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys...I knew I came to the right people on this! 101Airborne; As to the sideplates, I believe they have been reblued as have the triggers and trigger guard. I believe all the rest to be original blue. There is one centrally located "4 x "1/4 wide age check in the middle of the rt. of the buttstock I failed to mention earlier as well. This gun surely saw some fairly heavy use in its' day but looks to not have been abused. I will check back in tomorrow after looking for the different various markings you mentioned that may help determine the grade of gun I have. The shield I would assume to be heavily tarnished German silver although it looks to me like mustardy brass.

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Got some additional information on the Parker that will hopefully help in identifying it. On the underside of the chambers; right barrel has a "T" inside a broken circle, to it's right and a little above is a "C", five o'clock to the "C" is a "14". The left barrel just shows an "A" and a patent date. Serial numbers show on the receiver, barrel, fore stock, trigger guard and extractor and they all match. Any ideas on what I recently inherited and what it's worth?

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • 101AIRBORNE101AIRBORNE Member Posts: 1,252 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    1KYDSTR,
    Mail sent through your profile.
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  • 101AIRBORNE101AIRBORNE Member Posts: 1,252 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    1KYDSTR,
    You have mail again-hopefully[:)]
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