My local gun store called

[Terry DeMaria]

Hi all,
a friend that owns local store called me today, because he took in a Parker and wanted my help. He knows I like side by sides, but to be honest, this is only about the fourth Parker I have ever seen. To find out if it's original, I guess we could become a member, then pay $$ for the letter...I don't think I want to buy it, but I told him I would do some research.
It is serial number 155408, so I see it was made in 1910. It's a twelve gauge with 26 inch barrels, and has a recoil pad to about a 14" lop. Case coloring is very nice, which makes me think it was redone...and it has a beavertail forearm.
It it makes sense, I can take pics and post them to get some input on originality of barrels, forearm...it looks like it had a middle bead, but removed and filled in?? Cosmetically very nice.
any general info on this serial number would be appreciated...Is it possible that it came originally with a beavertail??
I'll seek permission to take and post pics with the owner tomorrow...
thanks,
Terry

[Paul Ehlers]

unfortunately the serial # you listed is not in the serialization book. So no help as to how was sent from the factory.

Some pictures would help.

[Russ Jackson]

Hello Terry , As Paul says ,the serial# is not listed in the serialization book but it is listed in the Serial # search area of our PGCA site as having records available so a letter would indeed tell you what you want to know ! Go ahead and jump in to the PGCA ,the waters fine ! Russ

[Rick Losey]

Some good photos would help a lot

take a look at the links for grade identification from the home page - and you should be able to tell us the grade of the Parker

also - what does it say on the top rib?

you have three features that are not the norm, not rare - but makes me wonder if the gun has been altered -- a recoil pad, the beaver tail forend and slightly more common 26 inch barrels.

any of them could have been ordered as options, but all on one gun might be less than common. the letter should tell you if they are factory, a good clear picture of the rib and muzzle ends of the barrels may tell us if they have been bobbed

[Terry DeMaria]

http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297702.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297715.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297714.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297713.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297712.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297705.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297703.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297707.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297706.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297704.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297708.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com:80/VOL414/11693678/24544797/409297711.jpg

thanks for any input,

[Terry DeMaria]

Hi all,
so after uploading the pics, I went to the home page per your instructions to interpret the markings..., and it looks like it would be VH, 1 1/2 frame, grade 2 (because of the engraving), 3 weight barrels ? Am I close?
any of your expertise is welcome ....I was reading somewhere about factory beaver tails having extra material on the metal for reinforcement, but I didn't want to ask to remove the forearm from the metal.
thanks again,
Terry

[Rick Losey]

Well, I am looking at these pictures on a phone, someone that can see them full sized might comfirn,

But from the looks of the muzzles, I think the barrel may of been cut

The white line spacer and the recoil pad do not strike me as factory

And - from the picture, it looks like a splinter forend latch set into beavertail wood

The case colors may have been redone

[walt brown]

g grade

[Scott Janowski]

The receiver is a G grade however I think the Vulcan barrels would be from a VH Grade. Looks like a gun that had the barrels replaced at some point.

[wayne goerres]

Nothing original about this gun. G grade with cut down V grade barrels. recoil pad is a replacement and the beavertail fore arm also. Nice job on the case colors. Strictly a shooter IMHO.

[Terry DeMaria]

Hi,
and thanks for your expertise...so the value of this gun is in its shootability!
I have heard that they are good sturdy guns, well made.....can they stand lots of shooting? And cosmetically, the case coloring is nice, well done.

I suspected the beavertail replacement, because I see a little more figure in the forearm, then the stock.

so shootability and durability questions....

On guns this old, I often wonder about the hardness of the metal, as in sears, hammers, and how the trigger pulls are set.

any experience with typical triggers on parkers, durability of sears, and convergence issues if any on cut barrels....?

I shoot lots of low gun skeet and hunt birds with a setter.
thanks again,
Terry

[Paul Ehlers]

Terry,

Take a look at the front of the wood on the forearm. Is there a screw head in the nose area? If not, the beavertail is a non-original replacement.

IMHO This is a gun made from parts. At the very least a set of Vulcan "VH Grade" barrels fit to a GH action. If the work was done correctly.This should be a great shooter grade gun. The gun needs to be evaluated for what it is. I'm thinking somewhere in the $700-$800 range.