New...and confused

[Robert Brush]

Hi and Thank you for welcoming me to your site! From what I am seeing, there seems to be a number of very knowledgeable folks here....which brings me to my state of confusion.

I have an old Parker which I haven't been able to find much info on other than the ser. no is 17043 and made in 1879. I cannot for the life of me figure how to separate the barrels from the reciever so that I can get a better look at the insides. There is no actual beaver tail to remove, but rather a metal handle which moves sideways to allow opening of the breech. It appears that it is pinned in place. I am attaching only 1 photo as I tried attaching several, but I guess they are too big a file or something...I am not real computer saavy either.

My wife has had the gun passed down to her and she has no history on it, other than it's old. Can anyone shed any light on this gun? Is it valuable or should I not worry about keeping it in a safe?

Thank you in advance for any assistance/info you can give.

[Dean Romig]

Sorry Robert, we can't tell you much about your gun other than it is not a Parker Bros. shotgun which is what this organization is all about. I hope you find the information you're looking for.

[John Farrell, Charter Member #33]

Here is some information about the name Parker. In the late 1700s to the mid 1800s the person in charge of the Royal Navy's armoury of ships cannons and supplies was known as the Parker. Ships captains, gunnery officers, and gunnery mates went to the shipyard to fit out their ships with necessary cannon and ammunition to carry out the orders of the Royal Navy High Command while asea. The Parker had a master list of ships and the size of the guns he was authorized to fit them with. He also had a table of what and how much shot, cannon balls, fuse and slow match each ship was authorized to be issued. The Parker was an important position in the Royal Navy. (Source - Patrick O'Brien, author of 22 books on the English navy 1790 - 1815)

The name was also given to the keeper of private parks on estates in the 1500s and later. They were said to have a Parkership, a highly coveted title, and were responsible for arresting or otherwise dealing with poachers. If a poacher killed a deer the Parker was held responsible and could lose his Parkership as a result. (Source - O.E.D.) For that reason the Parker was particularly vicious in dealing with rural folks looking for an easy meal. Mantraps, booby trap shotguns, snares etc. were regularly used to catch and hold poachers for the application of justice.

The common rabbit was called a warrener, parker, sweetheart and hedgehog. They were plentiful in the countryside, and in gentlemen's pleasure grounds. (Source - O.E.D.) Rabbits were fair game for Sunday dinner. It would not be unreasonable to consider that the name on the gun was indicative of what it was intended to harvest - parkers.

[Drew Hause]

This might help
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/...=161874&page=1

[Robert Brush]

I apologize to the group as I had no idea my gun was not a Parker "Bros". I saw Parker engraved on each side of the reciever and just supposed it to be a Parker Bros. Thanks to John Farrell for the insight on the word "Parker" The ser. # must not be the actual age then because I found that date via this website.
Photo attached to show how I made the error...but sadly I still don't know how to dissassemble and now I don't even know what kind of gun it is....

[David Noble]

Robert, if you could post a picture of the hinge pin area and the forearm, whatever it might be, we could probably tell you how to get the barrels off.
Don't fret, there are quite a few old Parker shotguns out there that are not Parker Bros shotguns. Many are fooled by this. Either way, you we be welcomed here, and will find many willing to help you.
By the way, I have a Belgium SxS shotgun that has the lever like yours to open it. Under that lever there is another smaller lever that swings in the other direction that allows the barrels to be removed.

[Robert Brush]

I have alot more info now thanks to the members of this board as well as the Doublegun BBS site...Thanks everyone!
The markings on the gun appear that it is a LeFaucheux and I assume the name Parker on the receiver denotes a model or ?. As info, the markings are: On left side of receiver bed is a capital L, and on the underside if the left barrel is an oval with an E above LG and a star below them. There is also a symbol that resembles a plumb bob or maybe a maul over a M and a star below. The right side receiver bed has the same symbol above a star with an M below.

I am still at a loss as to how/if the barrels detach from the reciever easily or at least without removing a pin to dissassemble. Here's a photo showing the "hinge". I have removed the screw in the hinge thinking it would release it from the lugs, but nothing budged using normal pressure. Any thoughts?

[Robert Brush]

Thanks to all who contributed help in helping me figure out what gun I have here , and I am thinking I may never know for sure other than a cheap Belgian manufactored gun. I have also gained alot of knowledge of what a really fine double looks like and maybe one day I will get a real "Parker".

[Richard Flanders]

Have you removed the screw in the bottom of the wedge shaped 'forearm' under the barrels? I've not seen this system before; just guessing.

[Robert Brush]

Thanks to everyone for the help on this post. I have found everyone to be very helpful.

The screw on the hinge was removed and with some shaking, finally turned loose the barrels. The determination on the guns history is not complete, and I may never know the manufactor, however with help from this and other forums, it is Belgium made (the mark ELG over a star in an Oval). This gun was produced in a mass introduction of low priced guns and has no real $ value, and was for blackpowder use and is not to be used with modern ammo.

Thanks again everyone for all the feedback.