Interesting and confusing GH Parker at Pawn shop
 

I saw this Parker GH shotgun yesterday at a local pawn shop. It is serial
#76953 and all numbers match. The confusing part is the barrels are marked Vulcan Steel. It also has a different style than I have seen on the floorplate for a GH Model. Here are a few pics:

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The spacing of the serial numbers does not appear factory. The barrels were probably installed and numbered outside of the factory. However, its an interesting gun, worth owning at the right price.

They have it priced at $1699 which I felt was quite a bit too high. The barrels aren't in very good condition inside or out. Just haven't seen the same floorplate engraving before.

Very cool floor plate.

I like the different trigger-plate engraving. A good picture of the barrel flats might tell us something about the barrel replacement. A factory replacement done after 1910 would have included the 1910 bolt and bolt-plate.

The barrels appear to have been filed down in order to be made to fit the width and height of bolsters of a smaller frame size.






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The trigger plate engraving is VERY unique. That alone is almost a reason to buy the gun. But the barrels are a bit of a killer. With how early the gun is, when I first read your post, I would have thought maybe the barrels were later factory replacements, which would be ok, and make the gun a good buy. But as soon as I say the photos of the barrels, it is clear they were added by someone other than the factory and not done very well.

Not that things could not be saved and the barrels fitted better and made to look right. But at more expense. Worth it? Maybe not.


Years ago, I could have bought a GH locally that had very different trigger plate engraving and I kick myself to this day for not doing so when I had the chance.

I can go back tomorrow and get more pictures, assuming it's still there. The thing I noticed was that the top rib was very worn with wavey lines and the legend barely visible. I wondered if the barrels could have been original to the gun, but the top rib had been replaced off another gun. Has anyone looked in the Serialization book to see what length the barrels are supposed to be?

You can see where the barrel serial numbers were filed off & restamped. But the number fonts on the barrel don't match the receiver, or forend fonts.

After taking a closer look, the barrel numbers are totally different style.

We've all been there and I could find that place in the dark.

Even a G would have had 'wedding rings' so you're probably correct about filing to fit. That said, the annular rings around the firing pins on the breech face show no signs of a different frame size barrel, with firing pin spacing being different. Not sure when the 11/2 frame came out, but I suppose it's possible they were later 11/2 frame barrels put on a 1 frame gun. I've seen plenty of variation between bolster width within the same size frame, as much as a sixteenth.
As many have said, the trigger plate is enough to make me take on another red headed stepchild.

I’m pretty sure that it’s a #2 frame gun.

In the photo showing the side of the barrel lugs, and SN, the area of the sn is mildly suspicious. A dilute mixture of nitric acid wiped across that area with a Q-tip would surely show if there was a weld deposit.

Unique
 

It's a pawn shop; he probably paid some low price for it. I'd make him an offer and leave with that UNIQUELY engraved gun one way or the other. Otherwise, you're going to be telling the Brian story, just like we all have...:banghead:

That gun is on consignment. I would love to have it if was all original parts. How much is it worth with the wrong barrels? The wood and checkering look good.

Makes no sense wasting your money on a pig in a poke! Put your money to better use in a nice correct sgotgun.

Show us the stock, tell us about the frame size, and we'll give you more learned advise.

Mr. Murphy, I don't have pictures of the stock however the wood and checkering looked good to me. It's a 2-frame gun. I had intentions of going to the shop today but did not get to. They are closed on Saturday and Sunday, so I will check on Monday. If they still have the gun which I believe they will, I will get some more pictures, but assuming everything but the barrels is in good condition what would a ballpark fair price be?

Try to get pictures of the action side engravings and the wood, if you can!

I’m pretty sure the other engraving was standard for a GH.

If you have to find suitable donor barrels, which would normally be worth $800 or close, the back end of a pre-1900 GH should sell for about $400 or less. Remember, even with a good set of barrels, the end result will be a mismatched gun.

If you have to procure a good set of 32” or even 30” Damascus barrels (in keeping with how the gun left Meriden) and then have them properly fitted to the gun, I estimate it’s current value to be about $800.





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Dean, are you estimating value of the whole gun after fitting new barrels or the "half gun" as it is at present? I assume you are estimating the "half gun" at $800.

Half gun Bill.





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Buy it and look for another set of barrels. That floor plate engraving is too good to pass up. I wonder if a PGCA letter would shed any light? Anyone ever seen that engraving on another Parker?

It took about 10 minutes to engrave that tree. Could have been an ‘end of the day’ gun.

But it would be nice if the letter addressed it.





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You have to remember that the guns were built by men. And my guess would be that someone inadvertently cut too large of a circle on it and then needed to fill the space with something other than more turnips.

I went back to the Pawn shop today and got a few more pictures. All the wood and checkering looks good and the side panels of the receiver are normal GH engraving. I did ask the owner of the shop to find out if the older gentleman (reportedly in his 90's) might have any more Parkers that he wanted to sell.

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more pics
 

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Unless you're all hung up on originality, You could have a pretty nice gun for short money. Someone like Dave Fjelline could strike those barrels at the breech end to look factory, and he has people to re-engrave the wedding rings and properly blue them. You wouldn't have a lot invested in an unusual gun and you could be proud you saved one. There are a lot of mildly messed-with guns out there that get overlooked because people are too hung up on the end game.

I agree with Edgar, that one would already be on it's way home with me. All I would have to do is come up with a good excuse as I brought into my house.

It would just be a matter of time before one would find some nice damascus barrels for it. I am usually not a recoil pad guy, but on this 2 frame 12, I could live with it.

What a great clays gun it would be...

I would pass on this gun and look for an all original Parker. They're out there.

I decided to pass as soon as I knew the barrels were off of another gun. If it was a $500 gun I would have bought it.

The W.K. in an oval generally begins appearing in the 130xxx serial number range and the Kf barrel steel mark for Vulcan barrels is for sure replaced with the V in circle by the 135xxx range, so that pretty much nails those barrels down to 1905 vintage.

At $500 it would be worth working with. At $1699.95 that is a hard pass.

I agree Dave!






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