Need Expert Advice on What I Have

[Mike Franzen]

If it were mine and I knew very little about Parker Shotguns I would spend the time necessary to learn about what I actually have. You’re making a good start by asking questions here. You were lucky to inherit a high grade Parker. I would suggest you send it to Brian Dudley and have him evaluate its overall condition and let him make suggestions about the different avenues and options available to you. Please keep us posted about it. These kind of situations are fascinating to many here.

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by Mike Franzen

If it were mine and I knew very little about Parker Shotguns I would spend the time necessary to learn about what I actually have. You’re making a good start by asking questions here. You were lucky to inherit a high grade Parker. I would suggest you send it to Brian Dudley and have him evaluate its overall condition and let him make suggestions about the different avenues and options available to you. Please keep us posted about it. These kind of situations are fascinating to many here.

Yes I think Mike F is spot on! Many years ago I bought a real train wreck of a Parker that had suffered so many abuses (VH stock attempted to fit, hole drilled thru TG engraving to try to make it fit, split cheeks, amateur cold blued, left barrel stamped "Invincible Grade"!!) A real nightmare but some quick research and excellent help from some members here made me take the plunge. It was a really rare gun that deserved to be brought back to its original beauty. I invested a good bit of money in it and sent the required work out to the best gunsmiths referred at the time. Turned out to be an 1897 AH Grade Damascus 16 ga. 26" on a 0 frame, originally ordered by a real estate attorney in Tidewater VA. One of only 2 documented in Parker records as having been built in that configuration. Oh what quail tails it can tell!!