conflicting information

[garyjoy]

I am having trouble identifying my Parker. serial number(54489) according to this site was made in 1888, however it has 28 in damascus barrels, and I was told by someone else it should have 30's? I have also been told by another "expert" that it was made in 28? how do I tell who to believe?... also. the barrels look brand new inside? clean and shiny....could this be a reproduction?

[Kurt Densmore]

If the identification book is correct (and the 54489 serial number) then it was shipped as a 30" damascus barrel, grade 2, top lever, hammer gun in 14 gauge with capped pistol grip stock and no extras, mfg 1888. There are 4 grade 2, 14 gauges built in sequential order, 2 with 28" and 2 with 30" bbls.

Kurt

[garyjoy]

Thanks for your response, I look at this gun and it looks like a 12 gauge?
...so then how could this gun have 28 in barrels? was it cut? because it really doesn't look like that happened. Again, how could a gun made in 1888 have such shiny clean and almost perfect inside tubes??? I am at a loss about this gun, and its driving me crazy...

[Linn Matthews]

What info is stamped on the water table and barrel flats? What info is stamped on the barrel and/or rib?

[garyjoy]

What info is stamped on the water table and barrel flats? What info is stamped on the barrel and/or rib?on the barrel flats looks like T and a 4 and a C, and the serial number is 54469, not 54489
, sorry..

[Austin W Hogan]

Parker Pages carried an article about a 14 ga lifter gun purchased by a Civil War veteran from Rhode Island. This gun was returned for alterations several times over 30 years, and returned to the owner with no charge for the work in each instance. One of the alterations was conversion from 14 to 12 gauge.
It will be necessary to determine gauge by measuring chamber diameter.

Best, Austin

[garyjoy]

also, the gun has a "shield" emblem in the stock right behind the lever to open the breach?The diameter is .75 in. and length is 28.5 end to end.....

[garyjoy]

I have to retire but wanted to thank you all for your help. I will check back tomorrow, thanks again to all, and sorry for giving the wrong serial number at first, eyes are failing.....

[garyjoy]

What does it mean when I see VHE, BHE, etc in some articles? What do these notations stand for?

[calvin humburg]

Go to homepaige and look up parker grades that will explain vhe for you.

[James T. Kucaba]

Grayjoy, check your personal messages

Jim Kucaba ... AriZOOna Cactus Patch ... Email: JimKucaba@aol.com

[Larry Frey]

on the barrel flats looks like T and a 4 and a C, and the serial number is 54469, not 54489
, sorry..

Gary,
54469 is listed as a 0 grade 30" 12 gage with a pistol grip stock and plain twist barrels. If you gun measures 28.5" it was most likely cut at some time.

[garyjoy]

Thanks for your effort, I appreciate it. Do you by chance know anything about the shield emblem on the stock behind the hammers?

[calvin humburg]

All I know is most hammer guns have one one way to tell its a parker. Hammerless guns have it behind the pistol grip shield or circle. Beware, info from newbe in the parker smarts catagorie. ch