Parker Bros Cape Gun

[Jim Durchholz]

New to the Forum,
Can anyone give me information on a Parker Bros Cape Gun ?
Is it a factory gun etc.

[Drew Hause]

This is an old thread that discusses Parker cape guns
https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=printthread&Board=1&main=26481&type=thread
The gun shown clearly has a rifle barrel insert, which at the turn-of-the-century was a popular gunsmith modification.
There are a number of .45/70 gunsmith modified L.C. Smith guns

and
https://smith-wessonforum.com/threads/parker-brothers-double-rifle.678832/

We need full size high resolution images of the breech and muzzle ends of the barrels, and the barrel and action flats

If it is your gun it would definitely be worth requesting a Research Letter. Click on Research Letter on the Home Page
https://parkerguns.org/

[CraigThompson]

Some pictures would be nice !

[edgarspencer]

Look in The Parker Story, page 673.

[Dean Romig]

I saw this one at the Buffalo Bill Museum about twenty years ago.



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[Dean Romig]

Jim, give us the serial number so we can look for the information in the Serialization book,





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[edgarspencer]

I saw this one at the Buffalo Bill Museum about twenty years ago.

Dean, dust off the cobwebs and try to remember if the rifle barrel was original. or one of the almost-as-rare Rifle Barrel Insert Co. inserts.
A member sent me his gun to be cased many years ago,(an 0 frame 16ga TL, I think) and, low and behold, it had one of the aforementioned inserts in .25WCF (25-20 Win.) Maybe he'll post a picture here........

[Jim DiSpagno]

Yes Edgar, I sold that one and it was a grade 2 16 gauge that had the insert and rifle sights that folded bores were perfect and the full length insert tube was fully rifled and had its own well made extractor. Sorry I sold it.

[Dean Romig]

There was no information at all about it at the Buffalo Bill Museum... not even a serial number.





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[Jim Durchholz]

serial number of my cape gun:127,995
V grade, 24 in barrel Parker Bros On top rib
1 frame…. Thanks

[Dave Noreen]

Remington Arms Co. offered the rifle barrel insert for shotguns. From the 1901 Remington Arms Co. catalog --

141426

E. Remington & Sons actually made double rifles and cape guns on their Whitmore lifter doubles.

[Bill Murphy]

127,995 was a 28" 16 gauge, according to the Serialization Book.

[Chuck Bishop]

Nothing in the records for a rifled barrel, just a VH 16/28" barrels and CPG.

[Dave Noreen]

I saw this one at the Buffalo Bill Museum about twenty years ago.



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Dean, did you happen to get the serial number of the General Nelson A. Miles cape gun? That is the gun I saw when I first visited Cody in the summer of 1980 after the Navy dumped me as they cut back the bulge of Viet Nam era officers.

[Dean Romig]

Sorry Dave, I couldn't see the serial number on the gun or on the description plaques... and I never thought to ask museum personnel.





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[Mike Franzen]

A member sent me his gun to be cased many years ago,(an 0 frame 16ga TL, I think) and, low and behold, it had one of the aforementioned inserts in .25WCF (25-20 Win.) Maybe he'll post a picture here........

Here’s some pictures of the above mentioned gun I got from my first Parker mentor, Jim DeSpagno. He graciously allowed me take possession after he realized how infatuated I was with it. (As he has with several other guns). Edgar Spencer agreed to build the custom case just before he retired from that endeavor. It is a true work of art.
The gun is a 16gs TL hammer gun with 30” bbls. The rear sight folds and has two notches, so it can be used from either barrel. The rifled barrel insert works with both barrels. It slides in from the breech and has a locking nut nut which screws into the muzzle end.
(It’s only letting me post one at a time.)

[Mike Franzen]

Pic 2

[Mike Franzen]

Pic 3

[Mike Franzen]

Pic 4

[Mike Franzen]

Pic 5

[edgarspencer]

Mike, Thank you for posting those. Your gun was one of the most interesting guns to pass through my shop, not for least, the Rifle Barrel Insert Co. barrel. I love seeing bits of Connecticut manufacturing history, and more so when it pertains to the rich past in firearms making. Your insert was only the second I had seen in the flesh, and dispelled the hearsay that said they were only made in large caliber black powder chambering. I probably told you, but I'll say it again; it was a real temptation to take it out back and see what it could do.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Mike,thanks for the pics and Edgar, that's a beautiful case in every way. The only reason it's in your possession is that I know you'll take excellent care of it while in your stewardship. It is truly a great gun.

[Mike Franzen]

Thank you and I agree.