New Member Looking for Parker Assistance

[BrandinHeidbreder]

I have had the pleasure of meeting a local gentleman that is to a point where he is selling his collection. I have acquired a handful of guns from his already, but he has a Parker that keeps getting my attention. His asking price is not low, but has said he is willing to work with it. I tried to obtain photos to hopefully allow some experts like those in this community to give some insight. From what I gathered it was built in 1907. Any additional information and assistance on a value range would be amazingly appreciated. To cap it all off, my son's name is Parker and would love to pass something like this down to him if it makes sense. Thank you in advance!

[Steven Gray]

Whats he asking for the gun? Is it lose in any way any cracks in the stock or forend? Whats the chamber length? What choking is in the barrels?

[Dean H Hanson]

Brandon, the gun should be a VH grade, 30" barrel, capped pistol grip, 12 gauge. Looks to be in very good condition. That said, this gun is the working person's 12 gauge. Usually beat ta bits and shot ta snot. This gun, IMHO, is rare to the condition. I would value it from $1250-$1650. They are readily available and several in great condition. Good luck with your endeavor.

[Dave Noreen]

While a 2-frame, Quality VH, 12-gauge with 30-inch barrels is the most common Parker Bros. gun, this one looks in pretty good condition. From the picture of the open breech, we can see it has the 1910 bolt and bolt-plate, so it was back to Parker at some time. Look on the left barrel flat close to the lug for a Remington repair code. Area blocked by the lug in the picture provided. Checking the PGCA home page under the Research Letters section shows there are surviving records for the gun so you could get a letter.

[Dave Noreen]

The red arrow points to the 1910 bolt-plate --

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What does the pin at the blue arrow indicate? I haven't observed that previously.

[Brian Dudley]

The gun has had its frame and forend metalwork restored at some point in the past. And not totally accurately. The wood and barrels appear to be original.
It is a relatively common grade and configuration.

All that makes it not worth a terribly high amount.

[BrandinHeidbreder]

While a 2-frame, Quality VH, 12-gauge with 30-inch barrels is the most common Parker Bros. gun, this one looks in pretty good condition. From the picture of the open breech, we can see it has the 1910 bolt and bolt-plate, so it was back to Parker at some time. Look on the left barrel flat close to the lug for a Remington repair code. Area blocked by the lug in the picture provided. Checking the PGCA home page under the Research Letters section shows there are surviving records for the gun so you could get a letter.

Is the "WK" the mark you were seeking on the left barrel flat?

[BrandinHeidbreder]

Brandon, the gun should be a VH grade, 30" barrel, capped pistol grip, 12 gauge. Looks to be in very good condition. That said, this gun is the working person's 12 gauge. Usually beat ta bits and shot ta snot. This gun, IMHO, is rare to the condition. I would value it from $1250-$1650. They are readily available and several in great condition. Good luck with your endeavor.

Thank you for the info. He is asking about double the higher end. Neat to see a piece of history, but don't think the price is going be right. So appreciate the knowledge everyone passed along so quickly!

[Dean Romig]

The forend checkering looks to be original Parker factory work… but we can’t see the checkering on the grip area of the stock to be able to comment on it.





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[Dave Noreen]

Is the "WK" the mark you were seeking on the left barrel flat?

No. W.K. in the oval is the mark of Walter King foreman of the barrel department at the time the gun was made. I was just wondering if there might be a Remington repair code, two- or three-letters and a numeral 3 in the area blocked in the original picture.

[John Davis]

What about the pin marked by Dave’s blue arrow? Anybody know what that is?

[Bill Murphy]

Double the higher end? Do you mean double the $1650 that Mr. Hanson estimated? I think his estimate did not include the fact that the gun has been incorrectly refinished. $3300 is about three times what the gun should sell for. Not a bad gun for the right price. We need a better look at the sides and bottom of the receiver to determine the quality of the redone case colors.

[Daryl Corona]

Seems to be too much "straw" color in the receiver.

[Reggie Bishop]

Metal has been re-done.

[edgarspencer]

The red arrow points to the 1910 bolt-plate --

142162

What does the pin at the blue arrow indicate? I haven't observed that previously.

What about the pin marked by Dave’s blue arrow? Anybody know what that is?

It is identical in appearance, and location, to an Austrian, or German gun with cocking indicators. It appears aligned with the center-line of the hammer on the right side, and when the hammer is back, it presses upon the bottom of the pin, extending it up. Why there isn't on on the left side, I haven't a clue.

[Dave Noreen]

I'll bet it is in no way a cocking indicator.

I wondered if it might have something to do with an older gun being converted to the new-style coil top-lever spring at the same time it got the 1910 bolt and bolt-plate?

Speaking of the top-lever, it should have been color case hardened, not that nice nitre blue what would look great on a B or higher grade Remington Hammerless Double!

[Phil Yearout]

Could be a nice shooter if the seller was realistic on his pricing.