New to forum, seeking advice

[Mark Bullinger]

Greetings Parker forum members. This old timer has been in the family for many many years. I remember it as a kid in the closet of my grandparents CT farmhouse. Found it a while back while cleaning my father's house. I've looked around on the forum and I think this gun predates the serial number system. Any thoughts on what I have here? Would appreciate any insight. Thank you.. Mark

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Thanks for the photos!!!

It is definitely not from Parker Brothers. The proof marks look European. The best information may be found on doublegunshop.com

Mark

[Mark Bullinger]

Is there/was there more than one Parker shotgun? The name on the side plate says C. Parker (then it does say Belgium).

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

There were perhaps several "Parker" shotguns made in Belgium. One could guess that this was to cash in on the popularity of America's premier shotgun made by Parker Brothers on Meridian Connecticut.

This website and forum is devote to Parker Brothers shotguns. Many of the members including me appreciate other fine shotguns. There were however many, many companies at the turn of the last century making shotguns such as the one that you posted. Often, we know little about some of those small companies and their guns. Sorry.

While not a Parker Brothers shotgun, you gun is a family heirloom that should be cleaned up and preserved for future generations. I am not recommending shooting it for I do not know of the gun's strength or quality.

I which I had a 'wallhanger" of which I could say, "That shotgun belonged to my grandfather".

Mark

[Mark Bullinger]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like this is a humble farmer's shotgun, which would fit with the original ownership; my great grandfather who had a small dairy herd in CT from the late 1800 to around 1930. While I have the attention of an expert, what is the appropriate level of cleaning for a gun like this? I would like to clean it up, but don't want to do anything that would mess up the integrity of it as an antique. Thanks again for the good info and sorry to write in about an imitation.

[Dennis]

Mark, I agree with the posters above. The gun is definitely not Parker Brothers from Meriden, CT. It is a knock off of Parker Brothers. If the proof mark at the top right is of an E over LG then the gun is Belgian. For cleaning it may I suggest using some 0000 steel wool soaked with some light oil. Any good oil will work and it needn't be expensive. Rub the metal parts vigorously with the steel wool. You won't take off any good finish and will remove lots of gunk built up over the years. I would do this on all of the metal surfaces. They will end up still looking old but will be smoother by far. I would then get an appropriate bore brush and scrub the inside of the barrels to clean them. At this point I would put a thin coat of oil on the metal and inside the barrels and leave it alone. It is impossible to tell from here about the barrel wall thickness, length of chambers, what gauge it is etc. but I recommend not firing that gun. I hope this helps.

Dennis

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Mark Ouellette

made by Parker Brothers on Meridian Connecticut.

Sorry, but it really bugs me when the correct spelling (and pronunciation) of the town is so often incorrectly written.
Meridian is in Mississippi. MERIDEN is in Connecticut.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Edgar,

I stand corrected.

Mark