1895 12 GAUGE PARKER..DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

[RON SCORES]

IT IS HARD TO FIND AN EXPERT WHO STAYS HONEST WHEN HE THINKS HE CAN GET SOMETHING AT A GOOD PRICE. I HAD THIS EXPERICE WITH A NEPTUNE KREIGOFF DRILLING THE ONLY GUN I EVER SOLD AND KICK MY SELF EVERYDAY ABOUT IT...A FEW EXPERTS AT ORVIS HERE IN NY WHEN THE DID THE ANNUAL SHOOT. VALUED IT LOW AND TURNS OUT I SOLD IT FOR A THIRD OF ITS VALUE. BUT EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE AND I AM NOT SAYING THE GUN IS FOR SALE BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS WITH TAXES CLIMBING FUEL COSTS AND I HAVE TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS I AM WORKING ON THERE FUTURE. BUT YES MY QUEST IF TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN ABOUT THIS PARKER. AS WE CAN ALL AGREE IT IS DIFFERENT? WHO KNOWS WHO IT BELONGED TO AND WHY IT HAS BEEN ALTERED SO MUCH. MIGHT OF BEEN SOMEONE OF HIGH STATUS OR WEALTH. IT COMES FROM A PART OF NY WHERE MANY WEALTHY AND NOTABLE MEN WALKED OR SHOULD WE SAY HUNTED AT ONE TIME.

[edgarspencer]

Many more qualified guys than me, have politely commented on your gun, and while I may be relatively new to the forum, I'm not new to Parkers.
First off, let me say you have a very pretty gun, That said, an original Parker can only be original once, but it can be embellished, altered, upgraded and modified as many times as there are people wanting to do it,and willing to spend the money.
I think from your album, it's apparent that the gun was originally a Grade 2, or, G grade, and was most likely a Damascus barreled gun when it left Meriden. The lack of rib inscription, and other markings would seem to suggest it was re-barreled by Remington at a much later date.
Whether the butt stock is original to the gun might be able to be determined if it were removed, but it doesn't mater that much. In my most unqualified opinion, the upgraded checkering, checkered side panels and fleur-de-lis do not resemble those on grade 6 or 7 guns done at Meriden, but that doesn't mean it wasn't done by Remington. The same holds true for the engraving. Add to your album some pictures of the fore-end so that we can see if that matches the style, or grade, that the gunsmith had in mind when doing the stock and engraving. It's really unfortunate that Remington repair work can't be documented.
While your gun is unique, and quite nice, I'm not certain it would command much more than a good Grade 2 from a purist Parker collector, but might well from the many who appreciate good workmanship on it's own merit. Whats nice is that the work wasn't done to misrepresent it as a much higher grade, or, bluntly, a fake.

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by RON SCORES

IT IS HARD TO FIND AN EXPERT WHO STAYS HONEST WHEN HE THINKS HE CAN GET SOMETHING AT A GOOD PRICE. I HAD THIS EXPERICE WITH A NEPTUNE KREIGOFF DRILLING THE ONLY GUN I EVER SOLD AND KICK MY SELF EVERYDAY ABOUT IT...A FEW EXPERTS AT ORVIS HERE IN NY WHEN THE DID THE ANNUAL SHOOT. VALUED IT LOW AND TURNS OUT I SOLD IT FOR A THIRD OF ITS VALUE. BUT EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE AND I AM NOT SAYING THE GUN IS FOR SALE BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS WITH TAXES CLIMBING FUEL COSTS AND I HAVE TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS I AM WORKING ON THERE FUTURE. BUT YES MY QUEST IF TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN ABOUT THIS PARKER. AS WE CAN ALL AGREE IT IS DIFFERENT? WHO KNOWS WHO IT BELONGED TO AND WHY IT HAS BEEN ALTERED SO MUCH. MIGHT OF BEEN SOMEONE OF HIGH STATUS OR WEALTH. IT COMES FROM A PART OF NY WHERE MANY WEALTHY AND NOTABLE MEN WALKED OR SHOULD WE SAY HUNTED AT ONE TIME.

Please use the lower case. All caps is hard to read. Also all caps is translated as shouting, and you are not shouting. Thanks.