Never say never with Parkers
 

A very good friend and knowledgable collector called me from the Louisville gun show last weekend about a BH Parker he saw because he knows I love the B grades. He started describing the gun and after the parts about cyanide coloring and 29 3/16" Titanic barrels I told him I "probably wasn't interested. Then I asked him what the serial number was. He mistakenly told me it was 85,331. That number struck me immediately as a very early gun for Titanic barrels. I checked the Serialization book but there was no entry for the gun. I searched this site for information re: the introduction of Titanic Steel barrels and dicovered that "about" 1897 was when they were introduced. The gun, being a 1896 gun now had my interest. I asked my friend to verify the serial number only to find it was actually 84,331. I assumed it had be re-barreled and asked him to send some pictures of the barrels. To my novice eye they appeared a little unusual with limited markings and I told him if the gun seemed sound and he could buy it right, I'd take it. It was, he could and now I own it and couldn't be happier. Cyanide color, poorly recheckered and all. Here she is, the earliest documented Titanium Parker of any grade.
About the barrels, they measure 29 3/16 but don't appear to be cut. In the right barrel my Skeets gauge needle started moving at 4 1/2 inches from the muzzle, restriction was .010 at 1 5/8", .020 at 5/8' and .030 at the muzzle. The left barrel started moving at 4 3/4", .010 at 1 1/8", .020 at 5/8' and .030 at the muzzle.

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More picture
 

And WOW, what a letter!

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What a history! (and very cool gun). Congratulations!

Rick

What an awesome score Dan!! And what a fantastic letter too - That's got it all!!





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Very nice Dan, as we have discussed BHE's are a favorite of mine. Congratulations well done!

BH
 

What a cool gun congratulations.

Side note on Letter, I have a family gun that has George W Clay beautifully engraved on the trigger guard of a quality 4 LC Smith gun.

Clay family of Paris Ky area ( descendants of Henry Clay) is still huge in the area and were members on the Bourbon County Gun Club in Paris and they shot with the likes of Annie Oakley and others. My grandmothers brother ran with George and his brothers and have to assume that is how I ended up with the gun. My gun is a bird gun not a trap or pigeon gun.

Neat history.

Thanks Scott. Great history. We should talk off line. I’ll reach out when I have some time.

The BH is also my favorite. What a nice example. Congratulations!

Great score Dan! Your persistence paid off.

The B grades are my favorite too. Good find.