The first 20 gauge hammer gun

[Bruce Day]

Edgar, Gary is a friend and the owner of the gun. The Parker Story (TPS) reveals that for early guns, such as this, different grades were called dollar grades, the grades determined by the price charged. It wasn't until later, I don't recall the year, that Parker changed to A, B, C, etc. So, the $250 grade was the most expensive for the time, and would be the same as the A grade as it was later termed.

That's my understanding, maybe others can fill in if I am wrong or off.

Some of these guns get to be known by a few people before they are known throughout the collecting community, as anything desireable anywhere. I had heard of the gun, but had not seen it, and it couldn't belong to a more dedicated and knowledgeable collector than the present owner. This is a significant Parker and joins a group of other great and significant Parkers.

I hope this is understandable, I usually edit posts if my post is confusing, imprecise or incorrect to an average person.

[edgarspencer]

I guess the opening post implied that $250 and A were used simultaneously, which was new to me.
I'm not unfamiliar with how pieces of this significance appear in the daylight after previously thought to be mere 'urban legends'. I was offered and subsequently agreed to buy a historically significant, and well traveled gun. It had been in the same hands for nearly 100 years, and when word got out that it had been sold, it suddenly became suspect of fake, upgrade, etc. It kinda took the pleasure out of being able to show it until it was authenticated by the manufacturer's archivist, Robert Wilson and the CT State Librarian.
I appreciate any owner who is willing to share his collection with others. Invariably there will be back-chatter, but it goes with the territory I guess.
It's especially great to see the 'first' anything, and whether i has been restored, or is in original condition, the impact of seeing it isn't diminished.

[Wild Skies]

I'm kinda afraid to ask, but did it come with barrels?

If so, can you describe them?