Indentification help- RE:1880 PARKER BROS 12 Guage SxS

[Ryan Shirley]

Hello all...new here.

I am the new owner of a Parker Brothers 12 guage, manufactured in 1880. I am hoping that some of you may be able to help me out with the 'possible value', and understanding the markings on the gun. The seem a bit different than how they are described on parkerguns website.

Ok, here goes:
Serial # - 18228 (1880 manufacture year)

Grade - Can't find this on my gun...says it 'should be above the serial on the waterboard, but mine doesn't have anything above the serial on the washboard. There is however, a 'F' on the underneath side of the barrel (see pic of flats)

Markings on underside of the barrel ('flats')
TT in parentheses "(TT)" - No idea what this stands for
48- this is the weight of the barrel. I assume 4lbs 8oz
A letter 'F' - possible referring to the Grade?
'02' on the barrel lug
The number 9508 - no idea what it means

Top of barrel
Says 'Plain Twist'

Ok, other than that, I am not sure if the stock has been replaced/refinished...if you believe it has, let me know. If you can tell me 'how you know' that would be helpful too!

Thanks. Any information you can give me regarding exactly what I have would be very helpful. See pics.

[Dean Romig]

Hello Ryan and Welcome!

Your Parker appears to be a Grade 1 and is listed as a "PT"

I have never seen the TT before but a single "T" within the upper and lower crescents would indicate the barrel steel to be "Twist"

9508 is the order number which will be different from the serial number that is stamped on the side of the barrel lug.

The meaning of the "F" is unknown. The 2 on the bottom of the lug is the frame size and you are correct about the pre-struck barrel weight stamp.

Your Parker looks to have been restocked but I won't say 'definitely'.

Value is a funny thing..... I wouldn't even hazard a guess without having it in hand.

Ryan, we would like to encourage you to join the PGCA and order a Research Letter for your Parker. A Research Letter for a "Forum Member" is $100 while a membership is only $40 and Research Letters are reduced to $40 each for PGCA members. Do the math.... save $20 and get 4 issues of our 48 page, glossy, color magazine, Parker Pages per year. Further benefits are access to "Members Only" sections of this website including the buying and selling of Parkers, books, and other collectible items.

[Ryan Shirley]

Thanks, yea, whatever info you can provide is greatly appreciated.

[Drew Hause]

Ryan: please place the gun rib down on a table with the bead off the end, and measure the drop at heel. It looks to be at least 4" !?!

[Dean Romig]

Right, hammers cocked so they won't touch the level surface...

I'm going with 5"

[Ryan Shirley]

Will do when I get home later! What will this tell you? Is that irregular? It does appear to drop a little more than most other guns I have seen on here. Sorry for any dumb questions - as I stated earlier - this is my first Parker.

[Dean Romig]

That much drop is unusual but not something we haven't seen before. If it is a restock it may have been shaped to conform to the original specs. Research Letter may speak to this possibility.

Austin Hogan had an early 20 ga. with similar drop and the stock on that one was original.
I don't know where that gun is today.

[Chuck Bishop]

Definately not the original straight grip buttstock. The original buttstock had fairly normal drop at heel.

[Ryan Shirley]

Chuck -

Just signed up to be a member & filling out form to get a letter.

Looking forward to seeing some history on my gun.

Quick question - Is my gun, in fact, a grade 1 (no letters above serial #)? Just confirming what I should put on the form.

Thanks.

[Dean Romig]

Ryan, it is most likely a Grade 1. It is listed as a PT which could be interpereted as Plain Twist but might very well be interpereted as P (grade 1) and T (twist steel barrels). But the 'engraving' would more suggest it to be a Grade 1.

[Chuck Bishop]

Ryan, the only way to determine the grade of the gun from the Order Book is to look at the stock configuration, the barrel steel, and the price of the gun. We have no price list for 1880. Your gun was a straight grip, plain twist barrels, 12 gauge, and sold for $50.00. Prior to the 1882 price list, there was no letter or number designation given to Parker Guns so we call them Dollar Grade guns, in your case a $50 Dollar Grade gun. In the 1882 price list, Parker assigned letter grades. Had your gun been manufactured in 1882, it would be a Quality U grade meaning it was a 12ga, straight grip, and Twist barrels. In either the 1878 or the 1882 price list, it is the lowest Parker grade made. I do agree it has a nice bit of engraving for the lowest grade.

Looking forward to your letter.

[Dean Romig]

Re: Engraving - This gun displays what Austin referred to as "stamped" engraving where it is actually die-pressed into the steel rather than cut with a graver, possibly allowing for lower cost due to the fact that 'man hour' piece work would have been less. If it were hand engraved I would suggest a consequential 'higher cost/higher grade'. Others may disagree.