10 ga.

[Tony Mandile]

Several years ago, I inherited a 10 ga. from my grandfather when he pased away. Although it all seems to be original with matching SNs on the barrels, forearm and receiver, it's unfortunately not in pristine shape.

It was likely rusty at some point because it appears the outer metal was perhaps polished clean with maybe a wire brush or steel wool. There are no actual scratches but there is some pitting left. The hammers, firing pins and triggers are intact and work just fine, as does the lifter release.

Here's a quick description:

Exposed hammers, lifter-type action and 35 1/2" (36"??) Damascus barrels. It has a small silver shield behind the tang and minimal engraving -- just scroll work, no birds and such. So I guess it's one of the lower grades produced.

The buttstock is walnut with a very nice figure to it. It has a silver metal butt plate. Slight crack between tang and the shield and the checkering has been worn down a bit. Forend also is cracked along the entire length except for about an inch at the front. It is still in one piece, however.

The SN is 18884. Other numbers I can find are a Patent of April 19 (or 12), 1876 and the number 9761 under the barrel. There are also a 4-1 and 3 stamped where the barrels fits to the action. The Patent on the buttstock is March 16, 1875.

I looked at the list of SNs here and see it was seemingly made in 1880.

I've pretty much resigned myself to continue using it has a decoration in my trophy room because of the sentimental value but wonder as to the real worth of it. Any guesses?

[Bill Murphy]

According to the Serialization Book compiled from Parker Brothers stock books, your gun appears to be a rare Grade 2 36" Damascus steel barrel ten gauge lifter action Parker with straight grip stock, unfortunately in abused condition.

[TARNATION !!!]

We would enjoy viewing some pictures of your family lifter.
Cheers,
Jack

[Tony Mandile]

Thanks for the info so far. So "rare" means what -- i.e. like how many were made?

Here's an older photo of it hanging in my trophy room. I'm under a couple tight article deadlines right now, so I'll take some detailed close-ups, etc. this weekend.

[Bill Murphy]

Yes, rare, like not many made in that configuration. It makes Parker guys like me just go crazy. There were 12 ten gauge Grade 2 lifter Parkers made with 36" Damascus steel barrels according to our Serialization Book reference. There were 13 ten gauge Grade 2 lifters of all barrel types made with 36" barrels from a total ten gauge lifter Grade 2 production of 1854. There were 21 Grade 2 36" barrel lifters made in all gauges. These totals were extrapolated by the authors, but not neccesarily accurately.

[Milton Starr]

How rare is a.hammerless parker 10 ga with 36" barrels q local.shop.has.one.for.15000$

[Bill Murphy]

Probably not rare enough to be worth $15,000. We need more details.

[Tony Mandile]

Originally Posted by Milton Starr

How rare is a.hammerless parker 10 ga with 36" barrels q local.shop.has.one.for.15000$

GULP!!!

BUT...that one looks nothing like mine.

It also appears to be in much better shape, while mine is probably older and maybe rarer if it fits into that only 12 made niche. Maybe we'll know more once I take some pics and post them.

[Bill Murphy]

That is a rare and wonderful gun. If it were priced at $5000, he would still have a bit of a time selling it. Yes, we need many pictures of your gun to evaluate it.

[Milton Starr]

http://www.kevinsguns.com/index.cfm?...tail&item=2683