Just Got It
 

5392 Lifter, uncut 28” damascus, at least $100 grade. Super tight, some case on action externally, bright case under forearm. Deep pellet ding, and smaller pellet ding in left barrel. Checkering pretty flat, tight as a drum, and locks function perfectly. Dog head on bottom, dog flushing bird on trigger bow, snipe on one side, prarie chicken on other. Barrels pretty brown, with damascus pattern visible but not bright. Bores are really decent. 1875 gun with 1875 patent. Letter ordered.

Candidate for total refresh? Or should i get dents raised, redinish barrels and leave the rest alone?

Fourth Parker, but first Parker hammer! Very happy with gun, but want to make good decisions!

Additional photos
 

More pics...the hammers are very plain, but the patina is similar to the rest of the external metal

More pics
 

A few more

That's a really nice one!

Another case where the Serialization Book is wrong... It is listed there as a PS which is a "lower grade with Plain Steel barrels."

This gun is obviously the Dollar Quality equivalent or predecessor to the Grade 3 or D-Grade gun. Everything about it is Grade 3. I would bet the hammers are replacements. They should be somewhat elaborately engraved judging by hammers we have seen on other Parker D's of that vintage.

I would enjoy it and shoot it for at least a year or two while deciding what to do with it. You may decide on the minimalist approach and decide to just correct the things that are necessary... like that barrel dent.

It's a nice gun as it is.





.

Thanks Dean, been a while since around here. In the meantime, got to go turkey hunting with and meet David Boyles...,great guy! what is your favorite way to "clean" an old double?

Effective, but not so draconian as to affect what finish is remaining? The gun is super straight, and much better than the sellers pics. There is a little surface rust on the action, thing ballistol and 0000 steel wool on action and barrels? As it is an 1875 gun, would a D grade equate to a $200 grade? Hopefully the letter will let us know. The barrels ring nicely. Is it a detractor to apply ink to the action and wipe down to make engraving stand out?

Glad to be back! Waiting to find something as cool as the GH 12 bore "3" frame I found a few months ago.

Personally I wouldn't use an abrasive on a nice gun and 0000 steel wool is an abrasive.

I use and recommend Big .45 Frontier Pads with a solvent. And I would first remove the stock from the action. Go slowly and be careful. Use the Frontier Pads on all metal parts - you'll be amazed.





.

Sounds like good advice to me. Im a Vizsla man these days, but spent most of my life hunting in the exhaust of a long string of orange and white setters, Polo, Belle, Freckles, Rambo, Daisy, Peaches, T-Bone, Angus and Bugs all shaped my life from junior high to my forties. Drought, fire ants, and change of hunting grounds, encouraged me to go to a utility breed, the lovely brick red Vizsla. As addictive as all my setters were, these insane red dogs will insert themselves so deeply into the fabric of your family!!

Will post "post cleanup" pics of the lifter when done!

Here's my 5949 Grade 3 and this is the style of hammers your gun should have had.


.

I think so too, the puzzler is that the hammer screw match, and are engraved, although difficult to see in the sellers pics, and the screws definitely match. As easy as hammers are to lose, makes me wonder if the buyer ordered a set of plain hammers for "while afield", so as not to lose a pretty on. Who knows, maybe the letter will shed light.

I am guessing sourcing graded hammers is going to be a daunting task!

You're absolutely right Mark, I've been looking for some for well over a year.
David Fjelline makes hammers at a very reasonable price and can have them engraved to your specifications.

You could be right about the possibility of extra 'field' hammers.






.