Trying to know more about Uncles Parker

[GeorgeMerrill]

My uncles has asked to help him know more about what he says was his fathers Parker.
Serial number seems to indicate a 1907 with Damascus barrel.
I have several pictures but not sure how to upload them since it seems to want a URL address...they are on my laptop.
Any advice?

[David Noble]

George, when making a post, you can select the "paper clip" icon on the top row of the message box. From there you select "Browse" to locate the pictures on your laptop. You can select five pictures and then hit upload. You can then repeat the process for as many pictures as you want to upload.

I hope that helps.

[GeorgeMerrill]

Here are some images...trying to identify the grade...it looks like a 3...

[GeorgeMerrill]

I have more if it helps...

[David Holes]

Yes its a grade 3 looks like a nice old gun

[GeorgeMerrill]

Thank you. I have been told that due to the age it should not be fired and that NEVER to use today's ammo under any circumstances. Does that sound right?

[Dean Romig]

Thank you. I have been told that due to the age it should not be fired and that NEVER to use today's ammo under any circumstances. Does that sound right?


That demands a lot of discussion, but if the barrels can be measured for wall thiskness, dents and pitting by an EXPERT in the field of 100+ year old shotguns and is deemed safe to shoot, there are modern shells that can be used in it. Chamber pressure should be kept below 8,000 PSI and less is better. And DON'T use steel shot.




.

[CraigThompson]

Thank you. I have been told that due to the age it should not be fired and that NEVER to use today's ammo under any circumstances. Does that sound right?

I’m screwed if that’s the case ! My #1 hammer gun was made in the early 1880’s . I’ve probably put a couple thousand of my handloads thru the gun 30 grains of SR7625 pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot . Works nicely on clay targets and tower pheasants .

[Steve Huffman]

Not sure if you stock has been repaired by the looks of the checkering on the cheeks there could be a repair there that the checkering was done to hide the repair; better picture of that area might help. Grade 3 guns did not normally have checkering there.

[Harry Collins]

George,

You have a very beautiful Parker. The "D" grades were often referred to as "Doctors" guns. The book indicates it came with 30" barrels. You have received sound advice on determining its shoot ability. I on the other hand have not had any of my Damascus and Twist Parkers barrel wall thickness checked. My thought is this, if the barrels appear not to have been tampered with they pass my test. I have two Parkers from 1881 with Twist Steel barrels. The 10 gauge I reload for. The 12 gauge and all other twist and Damascus 12 gauge shoot reloads or any off the shelf shotgun shells that are 1 oz or less at 1180 fps or less. The following are some of my choices: Federal Top Gun 12ga 2-3/4" 1oz #8 1180fps 25rd box, Winchester Super-Target Shotshells 12 ga 2-3/4" 1 oz 1150 fps #7.5 25/ct, and here is the one I love, Winchester AA Low Recoil/Low Noise Target Loads Shotshells 26 gram at 980 fps. They will break any target on a sporting clay range and cleanly take all small game birds. RST Shells are probably the best shells for our older guns. They are specifically tailored for appropriate pressure and shot payload.

Harry

[GeorgeMerrill]

Here are some more images that might help. One local dealer suggested that the extra checkering would have been an added special order item, would that make sense? I will get a few more that may help more.

[GeorgeMerrill]

I tried to "reply" and add more images, but alas something did not work...will try again

[Dean Romig]

Here are some more images that might help. One local dealer suggested that the extra checkering would have been an added special order item, would that make sense? I will get a few more that may help more.

You'll never know about the checkering on the cheeks unless you order a PGCA Research Letter... and that may not even answer your question.
I will say that it doesn't look like factory checkering.

Again, a better picture might be more definitive.





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[GeorgeMerrill]

Harry, thanks for the response. I had not seen anything that would have explained the "D", so appreciate the insight. Not sure I would ever try to shoot it, but happy to pass along the feedback to Uncle. Hhe is 94 and not sure he has any intent to fire it, about was very interested to know about the gun his father left him years ago.

[GeorgeMerrill]

Sorry, but it seems that quick responses will not allow for the attachment of images...this is the most archaic posting forum I have ever worked with...

[David Noble]

George, don't use the Quick Reply window if you are wanting to post a picture or other advanced feature. Use the NEW REPLY button just above the Quick Reply box. See the blue circled icon in my image below.
From there you can add pictures again just as you did before.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Seen quite a few D grade guns with checkered cheeks, including my little 1906 0frame DHE 16. Had alot of knowledgeable people look at it with out spotting a repair. Nice old Parker, George. Looks to be in good shape, how do the inside bores look, pitted or in good shape?

[Harry Collins]

George,

Sherman Bell wrote a series of articles for Double Gun Journal titled "Finding Out For Myself." The short and long of it is he debunked the dangers of Damascus. Standard 12 gauge loads are limited in pressure to about 12,000 psi. He took two Parkers both made in 1900. One was Damascus the other Vulcan Steel and both were on #2 frames. Each failed at the same spot at about 31,500 psi.

Some gunsmiths would hide repair to stocks with checkering. I have several with repairs in that area sans checkering.

Harry

[GeorgeMerrill]

Appreciate all the feedback...here are few more images, and have a few more to follow...I will also try to get a shot of the barrels, but they looked bright and shinny

[GeorgeMerrill]

I have uploaded several more images, but they do not seem to be presented. Is there a limit to the total number of images that I can be place in a thread?

[GeorgeMerrill]

Another attempt at loading images

[GeorgeMerrill]

The bores are bright and shinny! What is the best way to get a good picture for you?

[Steve Huffman]

As for the checkering on the cheeks use a magnifying glass to see if you can see a round doll rod looing spot in the checkering I sort of see something in your third picture not sure. It doesn't look factory to me but other may say different.

[GeorgeMerrill]

What does "round doll rod looing spot" mean? The local dealer in older firearms locally, seemed to think that the gun was ordered with several "options" that may have an impact. Is it possible that the additional Checkering was added by a different craftsman than the original stock? I can't see any indication of a repaired stock, but then I would not know how to tell. I do detect a difference in the checkering that you have identified, but unsure how that could have happened.

[Steve Huffman]

Sorry, that was supposed to read Doll rod looking spot, meaning a repair to the head of the stock and some would checker to hide the repair. Yes, someone could have just added the checkering, but I don't think its factory.

[GeorgeMerrill]

I do not believe the stock was repaired and has not been identified by a local collector and dealer, but thanks for your thoughts.

[Bruce P Bruner]

A “dowel” is sometimes used to repair a split head, when structural integrity has been compromised. The ends of the stabilizing dowel will be visible, adding checking on the cheeks make the repair less prominent.
The subject gun may have had no repair work, the owner may have just desired additional checking.