New addition to my gun safe
 

Hello I am new to this forum as I just inherited this Parker shotgun from my father-in-law Who recently passed away. I am not sure what I have here so looking for any insight on what this shotgun Is about. Is it shootable? possible value ? Serial # is 10963 all parts are matching numbers and it is 30" 12 gauge with Damascus barrels. Thanks in advance

A fairly high condition lifter model hammer Parker. About one in thirty lifter guns show the condition that yours does. Of course, there could be hidden "warts", like bad bores or cracked wood that would change this unofficial appraisal.

That's a nice lifter you have inherited. You should be proud to be the keeper of it. As per value. We would need barrel measurements to make any assessments of shootably and value.

That is a pretty honest grade 2 lifter. Mostly original looking and well taken care of. The stock looks to have had some heavier wear and maybe some finish added to it at one time. A nice piece of wood on it for sure.

Shootable, it would depend on barrel condition, likely so with the proper loads.

That is one to be proud of

Nice!! Get it checked out and shoot it!

Looks like a double stamp on the water table. 10963 then 10948. Anyone??

Lifters are a joy to shoot. Once you've determined the gun is sound, be cautious on your cartridge selection. Guns made prior to the mid 13,000 range have a sharp 90 degree angle between the breech face and water table, which is known to be a crack prone spot. The change involved a slight female radius in this spot, a corresponding male radius on the bottom corner of the barrel flat/breech face, and a reinforcing bolster added to the frame. If you go to the home page and look at pictures of lifters you will see what I'm referring to.
RST loads some nice light, low pressure cartridges which will be just fine.

Yes, it is hard to tell when is going on there. The style of the numbers in the faded stamping is completely wrong to be factory. All I can make out is it looks like it ends in a 4 and 6. It looks to me like someone later on tried to stamp something different there and was having a hard time given the hardened surface. Who knows.

Thanks for the info everyone ! Bores look very clean no pitting and sense of a value ?