1877 Parker Question
 

Just picked this 12ga 1877 Parker up at a gun show yesterday--it has a chrome trigger guard, triggers and butt plate--the questions is did the Parker factory offer of produce these type of changes??? Thanks

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no, i really doubt it

That looks like nickel, not chrome, but sale difference I suppose for sake of argument.

There have been some documented examples of odd parts being plated bu the factory on request. But it is very rare.

Likely yours was NOT factory.

Try a letter

Can't tell by the photos but perhaps silver plated as opposed to chrome? Chrome is a three layer plating with copper, nickel, and chrome. Silver is not. The steel butt plate looks as if it was silver plated and was worn off or flaked off.

I have a Parker D with factory letter documented nickle skeleton butt, so a letter will tell you.

Tom, I would definitely order a PGCA letter on that gun.

I'm in the silver plating camp.

The finish looks very similar to silver plated utensils. I imagine it would have been fairly easy to send the parts over to the factory that made utensils to have them plated on a customers request. After all Parker was in both businesses and both factories were in the same town.

A letter would be interesting for sure.

The Charles Parker Company had a few financial connections with silver and silver plating companies in Meriden around the time your gun was made.






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What did the guy you bought it from say it was? The frame and little we can see of the wood looks looks really good. Post more pics for us please.