A gift Parker

[Elk Hunter]

Many years ago my barber found out I liked Parkers and told me he had an old one. I asked if it was for sale and he said it was in poor shape and he would just give it to me. Some time later I went back in his shop and he gave me this gem. The only marks on the frame flat is the serial # T4578 and what appears to be three very small marks that look like E.9.? there is a patent date on the trigger bar "patentedNov13,1866". There are no marks on the barrel flats but, there is T 4 on the bottom of the right barrel in front of the barrel flat and a small shield with the initials GB ? on the bottom of the right barrel. I have no clue what the marks mean and they are indistinct so I may not seeing them as they really are. There is no dolls head barrel extension and it has the usual steel butt plate and a wedge to hold the forearm on. It must have seen a lot of use as it is very very loose. The stock had been cracked through the wrist and was held together with friction tape. I put a couple of threaded brass pins through the wrist to keep it together. It's not a shooter but I still treasure it.

[OH Osthaus]

Nice. All my barber ever gave me was razor burn.

Looks a little off face, how are the bores

Could you post some close up of the markings and the wrist repair

[Dean Romig]

Nice of your barber to gift you a Parker.

The letters in the shield should be P.B. and on the water table above the serial number should be F9R.

On the barrel flat the T is for Twist Steel barrels and the 4 should be the pre-struck weight of the barrels... apparently 4 lbs. no oz.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Dennis
That was a nice gesture of your barber.
I recommend that you join the PGCA and take advantage of the member rates and order a research letter. You may find out some fabulous provenance information.
Since you "like Parkers", you might have some other guns that you want research letters on.
A research letter is like a lottery ticket. Sometimes you hit the jackpot.

[Elk Hunter]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

Nice. All my barber ever gave me was razor burn.

Looks a little off face, how are the bores

Could you post some close up of the markings and the wrist repair

Saying it looks a little off face is like saying the Pope looks a little Catholic. It is way loose. The bores are pitted, the top rib came loose for about 16" from the muzzle back and someone put it back but wow what a soldering job. After removing the friction tape and several small nails I did put threaded brass pins in from the top and bottom of the wrist just to keep the parts in the same neighborhood. Since it was a gift I really do treasure it even if it isn't a shooter.

[Pa SxS]

What does the top rib say for barrel steel? Plain twist or just twist?

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Originally Posted by Dennis E. Jones

Since it was a gift I really do treasure it even if it isn't a shooter.

Not a Shooter?
Don't dismiss an old Parker's shoot- ability. Not that we would give you ballistic advice, but there are esteemed members who would have already loaded up some light loads and fired it off.
Ask Eight Bore Charlie.

[Mills]

Old Parkers can be and look in really bad shape and still be salvageable. I have a few that prove that point. It is worth having a reputable gunsmith look it over, measure wall thickness on the barrels and see if it is cost effective to bring up to shooting condition.

[Brush Buster]

Dennis ,Great Early Parker and a very nice gift ,all anyone ever gives me is Grief !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Elk Hunter]

Originally Posted by Chuck Bishop

What does the top rib say for barrel steel? Plain twist or just twist?

I can't read the rib marking. It is very indistinct.

As for making it into a shooter I could probably get it tight enough and the pitting probably isn't so bad the barrels would fail. I could even make up another set of barrels or make a sub gauge set for it but, I'm sure the stock would fail at the wrist. I really think it has earned a rest. Besides, I have other shotguns I can shoot even more Parker hammer guns so it isn't like I have to make this one a shooter. I just love it for what it is, an ancient Parker and a gift from a friend.