New Parker :)

[Mark]

I just purchased a Parker 12 gauge, serial 191029. On the flat part of the barrels is PH with a smaller HT over an A. There is also a 3 with a superscript 12. On the center lug is a 12 with a dot above the 12 and a 1 1/2 below the 12. The other side has a 4. The barrel rib says Parker Special Steel. It has the serial number stamped on the water table with a 2 underneath. It has an english stock which appears to have been cut since the LOP to the butt plate is 13 7/8" and the butt plate and screws are not correct. The chokes seem to measure Full/Full. I paid $600. My questions are:

1) What do I have?
2) Is it worth restoring?
3) What should the restoration consist of?
4) Is it worth $600?
5) Would changing the chokes hurt the value?

Mark

[David Noble]

It sounds like you have a PH model 12 ga Parker shotgun with Parker Special Steel barrels on a 1 1/2 frame. Pictures might help to make the comment on whether it should be restored.
But I think a good clean up and some selective refinishing may be more practical. A full restoration to factory fit and finish will cost you about 4 times what you've got in it. You do not mention the barrel length but I assume it is 30 inches. If the chokes are very tight you could have them professionally opened a bit but a combination of full and imp cyl would be nice and wouldn't affect the value as bad as Skeet chokes would. If the gun is tight and the stock solid $600 was a fair price.

[David Noble]

Post pictures please.

[B. Dudley]

A 2 grade with special steel barrels would be a GH. Not a PH.

I would say that a straight grip GH with fluid steel barrels is worth $600 all day long.

And worth putting a little something into it.

The lop sounds like it can easily be corrected with a pad.

But without seeing pics to know current condition, i cannot advise farther.

[Mills]

What Brian said

[Gerald McPherson]

Go to home page and you can id you gun easily. Don't do anything until you do the research.

[David Noble]

After re-reading your post l think Brian is right about the grade. I had seen that you put PH in your description and went with that. I wondered about the Special Steel barrels also but I was too sleepy to make the connection. This is why you should always post pictures when asking specifics about a gun.

[Dean Romig]

Sounds like a pretty decent gun and it sounds like "Grand Theft Shotgun" at only $600






.

[Brush Buster]

Mark,congrats on your new Parker ! When I hear about a $600.00 Parker ,I imagine a gun with many issues ,pinned stock , off face cracked forend etc. ! If your gun is tight unpinned and the Barrels haven't been shortened you did quite well on your purchase would be my first opinion sight unseen ! Just a suggestion for you to consider , before I did any thing with the chokes on the gun ,I would shoot it a bit and if it shot too tight of pattern I would buy a couple of boxes of " Spreader Loads " and this should help your pattern immensely ! Again , Just My Personal Opinion !

[Mills]

Yes, I would leave the chokes alone.