10 Gauge Parker

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by Kirk Allen

The bluing is pretty much worn off the barrels but other than that the gun is in perfect condition and very tight.

Kirk,

Damascus barrels were never blued they black and white showing the contrast between the iron and steel that were used to make the barrels. If you search through the threads on this board you will find plenty of pictures of what original and refinished damascus barrels should look like.

It appears to be a nice honest gun. If it were mine I would try to clean-up the receiver and other metal (CAREFULLY so as not to scratch the underlying steel) and do the same with the wood (probably start with Murphy's Oil Soap). Then decide whether or not to spend $300 +/- to have the barrels refinished but only after having someone who knows what they are doing measure the thickness of the barrels to determine whether or not it's safe to shoot. You will definitely need to know that before anyone can put a value on the gun.

JDG

[Kirk Allen]

So, does anyone have an idea of what this gun is worth? Some are saying its rare since its a 10 gauge, others have sent me messages that its not worth $500? I cant find a "G" grade in my Blue Book so not sure where to start to get real numbers.

[tom tutwiler]

Originally Posted by Kirk Allen

So, does anyone have an idea of what this gun is worth? Some are saying its rare since its a 10 gauge, others have sent me messages that its not worth $500? I cant find a "G" grade in my Blue Book so not sure where to start to get real numbers.

I think without knowing the condition of the bores (and I mean checking for pits/dents/whatever) as well as knowing what the true bore diameters is now, everything is speculation. Also, is the gun tight on face, lever to the right etc. etc. There's just too many variables without having measurements. I'd say take it a smith who has the right tools and check it out and get all those details. Then we might be able to give you an idea. I'll say if it was on one of he auction websites I wouldn't much on it without knowing some details first. This comes from being burnt in the past on those same websites. They made lots and lots of Parkers and condition is everything on the more common guns. PS. Barrels are everything on a Damascus gun. Everything else can be pretty much fixed. Barrels can't. My 2 cents.

[Kirk Allen]

Originally Posted by tom tutwiler

I think without knowing the condition of the bores (and I mean checking for pits/dents/whatever) as well as knowing what the true bore diameters is now, everything is speculation. Also, is the gun tight on face, lever to the right etc. etc. There's just too many variables without having measurements. I'd say take it a smith who has the right tools and check it out and get all those details. Then we might be able to give you an idea. I'll say if it was on one of he auction websites I wouldn't much on it without knowing some details first. This comes from being burnt in the past on those same websites. They made lots and lots of Parkers and condition is everything on the more common guns. PS. Barrels are everything on a Damascus gun. Everything else can be pretty much fixed. Barrels can't. My 2 cents.

My local FFL is a gunstock builder and gun smith and as far as the barrels go he said they are the cleanest damascus barrels internaly he has seen. They are mirror finish with no pitting at all and there are no dents anywhere on them. The gun is tight and fully functional! He did not check the bore measurements but I can do that. What are the specs?

I got the gun at an estate sale and the Grandson stated that the gun belonged to his grandfather who baught it new. He claimed his grandfather use to tell him stories about how that gun put food on the table during the depression. I picked it up in Oregon.

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by Kirk Allen

I got the gun at an estate sale and the Grandson stated that the gun belonged to his grandfather who baught it new. He claimed his grandfather use to tell him stories about how that gun put food on the table during the depression. I picked it up in Oregon.

Almost wish you had not shared that. If it were my grandfathers gun it would be priceless to me - no amount of money would induce me to sell it. Keep it, enjoy it and when the time comes pass it along to the next generation.

[Brush Buster]

Kirk ,Looks like a nice old G grade ,but looking by your last set of pics. the gun does not have ejectors but extractors ,that lift the shell up out of the chambers and must be plucked out by hand .

[Kirk Allen]

Thanks for all the input. I assumed they were ejectors but wasnt positive. I assume ejetors are spring loaded to toss the round out?

Being a 10 gauge grade 2 I was hoping it was worth more than some have suggsted. Might just hold on to it.

[Bruce Day]

Why don't you want the serial number known?


I've always been open about posting the serial numbers of my guns, many of them high grade and valuable guns. I don't figure any of them are stolen, nor do I think that the government has hired web site monitors to write down the serial numbers of old shotguns so that when guns are prohibited, the gun police will come in the middle of the night and demand all my guns by serial number.

Parker shotguns are listed in a Serialization Book or in the Order Books by serial number, so naturally when a person comes here and wants to know characteristics of a gun, some people try to help him by looking up the serial number in the books. All parts of a Parker are stamped with the serial number.

Mr. George Lander is a true southern gentleman and was trying to be helpful since you had come here to the Parker collector's website looking for information about a specific gun.

[Kirk Allen]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

Why don't you want the serial number known?

Because there are lots of people that will CLAIM they had their gun stolen and provide a serial number that they found online then try to take claim to it. You end up having to prove its yours instead of the dirtbags having to prove its theirs. Inocent people made out to be criminals.

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by Kirk Allen

Because there are lots of people that will CLAIM they had their gun stolen and provide a serial number that they found online then try to take claim to it. You end up having to prove its yours instead of the dirtbags having to prove its theirs. Inocent people made out to be criminals.

I think that's an old wives tale and it's just not true. Anyone who's going to make a claim like that is going to have to establish they owned the gun in the first place, i.e. a police report that was filed in the past listing that gun as being stolen. The police aren't going to get involved with any less evidence that a crime has been committed.