Parker Identification/Value

[Rheinmetall44]

I recently came upon (what I believe to be) a parker shotgun. I am not a shotgun guy by any means and after doing some research I am finding myself overwhelmed. So I figured I'd turn to the experts for some wisdom.

From my limited research I believe this to be a 12ga, 1901, DH, size 2 frame, Titanic steel gun.

However, this shotgun seems way too nice, like it was definitely refinished, or maybe is a reproduction. One of the previous owners was a wealthy avid sportsman, and messed with it, like adding an engraved silver grip cap, as well as maybe adding a new stock? This shotgun doesn't look like anything else I've seen.

I was wondering what your guy's thought on it are, and what you think it'd be worth. Most likely not as much as a more period correct parker I'd imagine.

A full album can be found here: https://imgur.com/a/duLQOmk

Thanks!

[B. Dudley]

The gun is a DH grade (grade 3 hammerless).
And you are correct. None of the finishes are original, or correct. The barrels are re-blued, the frame has been buffed. The engine turning (jeweling) on the frame and barrels are not correct in any way. And the wood on the gun is not factory original (aftermarket replacements not of proper form or from the proper species of wood).
As far as value, it would be pretty low compared to unaltered examples. Maybe $500-700 to most who know what they are looking at. But if it goes bang and breaks targets, there is some value in that.

[Harry Collins]

Conner,

We have a book that list many Parkers by serial number. Unfortunately yours was one of the serial numbers that was not included. The three serial numbers in the book that followed your Parker were all DH guns with Titanic Steel Barrels. 105975 had 30" barrels. 105977 & 978 sported 32" barrels. I was wondering what the length of you barrels? Brian is a wealth of knowledge and I trust his assessment on value, condition, etc. A friend of mines grandfather ordered an AH with Whitworth Steel barrels in 1897. He was a live bird shot and had sent the gun back to the factory five times for minor adjustments to stock and additional sets of barrels with minor changes in pattern. I suspect your Parker was used as a trap or live bird gun with the stock and frond changed to shoot a higher pattern. I can't tell from the pictures on my small computer screen, but it appears the checkering is skip line. Makes me think the work was done in the 1970's.

Kindest,
Harry

[Bill Murphy]

Aftermarket non selective Miller trigger. Gun was reassembled with no thought given to proper screw placement or alignment. A good gunsmith could fix the screw problem and probably end up with a good working shotgun with no collector value. The lack of automatic ejectors and the presence of the Miller trigger probably are signs that the gun will work.

[Phil Yearout]

Looks like it's restocked to pretty modern dimensions - not much DAH etc. Could be a great shooter and ain't nothin' wrong with that!

[Researcher]

Nice that whoever did the rework used a Model 21 style yoke in the beavertail forearm. What is the barrel length? Hopefully the barrels haven't been cut.

The RESEARCH LETTER pick on the home page shows the PGCA has information on this gun to do a letter on how it left the factory.

Also, it is of the time period when the Titanic Steel barrel guns have a K in the barrel steel location on the barrel flats --

105974 02 K in barrel steel location.jpg

instead of the more familiar T in a circle --

151999 03 T in circle barrel steel.jpg

[Rheinmetall44]

Ok, thanks for all the info!

Shame about the value, but it's still an beautiful gun regardless. And yeah, 1970's-ish would be about the timeframe where this gun saw the most use, so it would make sense that the modifications were done then.

It has 30" barrels, although the muzzle end seems to look a little sloppy, to my untrained eye.

And if I were to take this out to shoot clays, would it be safe to run modern 2 3/4 target loads through it?

[Randy Roberts]

[QUOTE=Dave Noreen;313609]Nice that whoever did the rework used a Model 21 style yoke in the beavertail forearm. /QUOTE]

Dick Washburn was known to do the same at least in some of his upgrades.

[Dean Romig]

Veeery interesting reinforcing layout inside that forend Randy. And a very interesting forend iron engraving and sculpting for strength.





.

[Dean Romig]

The wall thickness on the muzzles would seem to indicate some serious choke!!

And the termination of the matting is factory finished... keels in place and all. Ribs may have been re-layed at some point in time.





.