Need Help With an 1888 12 Gauge
 

Hello all, just joined and could use a bit of help. My father has an old Parker double barrel that we're trying to get more info on. I used the guide provided by the forum and was able to figure out a couple things.
Serial Number is 53953
Frame Size 1
Grade 2
Steel type Damascus
Barrel Weight 31

From what I can figure it's a Parker GH, but if I'm wrong on this please correct me. There is a DD stamp above the barrel weight that I can't find any info on. Also, at some point the barrel was cut down to 25" and has a small dent; along with pitting along the inside of the tubes.
The checkering has significant wear, in some places it's near worn off. And it appears that one of the hammer has been replaced along the way.
On the plus side, it does feature an ejector.
These pics won't be the best, but I'm no photographer. Any info on value and such would be greatly appreciated!
Here are links and thumbnails, sorry best I can do.

Here is that DD I was speaking of.
https://thumb.ibb.co/gS9f3G/IMG_20171110_152733787.jpg
https://thumb.ibb.co/ceZ2Hb/IMG_20171110_152807262.jpg

This is what I believe is the original hammer

https://thumb.ibb.co/cEOyOG/IMG_20171110_153053833.jpg

And here is what I think is the replacement.

https://thumb.ibb.co/d9Puxb/IMG_20171110_153115173.jpg

Serial and grade number

https://thumb.ibb.co/mVYq3G/IMG_20171110_152955271.jpg

Small dents in barrel

https://thumb.ibb.co/eYjNiG/IMG_20171110_153208529.jpg

Shot of the barrel type and condition; rough to say the least.

https://thumb.ibb.co/g1gA3G/IMG_20171110_152852496.jpg

Shield

https://thumb.ibb.co/j2Mk3G/IMG_20171110_153355617.jpg


Stock to show the wear on the checkering.

https://thumb.ibb.co/ckqpVw/IMG_20171110_153135543.jpg

And one last of the whole piece.
https://thumb.ibb.co/cUVsHb/IMG_20171110_152935084.jpg

Again, any help is greatly appreciated; glad I found y'all!

Looks like a grade 3 (or D grade) top action hammer gun. Yes, the right hammer is non oriignal. And finding the proper replacement with the “claw” on it would be a tough task.

Condition looks to be relatively fair to poor. That conbined with the cut barrels does effect the value significantly. But, it is a grade 3.

And, this is not an ejector gun as Parker did not offer that feature on hammer guns.

Mr Dudley, many thanks on the quick response. I do, however, want to ask about the ejector. I snapped another couple pics to show what I believed to be the ejector so we can discuss that aspect of the piece.

https://thumb.ibb.co/mQNNYG/IMG_20171110_175736158.jpg

https://thumb.ibb.co/gWT70w/IMG_20171110_175752226.jpg

Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos.

DD Damascus barrels were normally used (almost) exclusively on Grade 5 and higher Parkers. The DD designates 'Finest Damascus'. I have seen DD barrels once on a Grade 2 lifter but they were a second set of barrels added by Parker Bros. at a later date.
I have seen one set of DD barrels on a Grade 4 as well but I can't ever recall seeing them on any other guns lower than Grade 5.





.

That is an extractor. It extracts or lifts the shells from the chamber. It does not eject them clear of the gun.

What your pencil is pointing to is known as an extractor, not an ejector. I do not believe there was ever a Parker hammer gun with ejectors.

Ahhh, I understand now, makes total sense. I misunderstood, thanks for clarifying!

Ejectors are two pieces, extractors one. With ejectors, if only one barrel is fired, that shell will be thrown clear of the barrel and the other shell left in the barrel. With extractors, both shells are lifted up so the owner can pull one or both out by hand.

Thanks all for the clarification; can anyone provide a ballpark on the value?

I know you are hearing crickets on this last question. Kind of hard to put a range of numbers on a gun like that without touching and feeling it. Gut tells me with all the information you provided that it is a project gun at best. I don't know if it will ever be a shooter again unless a lot of work, and shooting again is where it will be able to achieve highest value, unless its just a rare gun that has a history. Like gun was owned by so and so and they were famous for so an so and loved their Parker, etc.

It could be cost prohibitive to do anything with gun to make it usable again, but I am no expert on it. It could just be a wall hanger now and those don't command much price.

I do like the grain in that old stock. I love history of old guns. Do you know anything about history or how your dad got possession.