Old shooter
 

Man, my "old shooter" just looks old...

1885 old beater. A CP New York showroom gun.

Beautiful Bruce! Too bad about that horribly big gash/dent in the wrist wood. I'll bet a sharp turnip farmer could negotiate a significant price reduction with such a glaring defect!:)

You know these picky Parker people! They will try to find fault with everything to get a lower price.

Old Shooter
 

My junky old 1874 shooter.

That is Todd's A grade lifter. Rare, rare, rare., and that one is a great gun and a wonderful survivor.

For the person who is not familiar with these hammer Parkers, you might sometime just sit and fondle one, work the action, shoot it. They are works of art, and especially so with the high grade ones. The lifter action is particularly ergonomic and smooth .

They are hard to find in decent condition and most of us Parker collectors would strongly consider appropriately restoring a higher grade one if found in poor condition. However, nice ones, even small gauge ones, are out there.

Bruce,
For the sake of education what features on Todd's wonderful gun lead you to believe it's an A ($250.00) grade? I ask this because I have a near twin (3251) and have had different people suggest $250.00 and $200.00.

Todd said it was and it has the long middle point in the C of the bolsters.

Those years are dollar grades I believe and A is the later equivalent .

I agree, the long tear drop on the bolster is the key, but B grades have it too in later years. "I" lump all the long tear drop guns into the A grade category too. It's much to confusing to try to accurately ID a $200 or $250 or $300 (never saw one) grade that people reference. I think of them all as Parker's highest grade lifters of that period; but I do like some more than others.:whistle:

With a lot of the earlier (pre 5000 serial number) guns it is basically impossible to say for sure. I look at the bolster more than the engraving as the key but when it comes down to it I'm guessing based on input from knowledgable collectors, but still guessing. Larry, your gun is gorgeous and I'd guess it's a $250 gun.