One of a kind

[John Taddeo]

What is the story behind the "one of a kind GH " on G.I. (100469418) :corn:

[edgarspencer]

One would think the seller might make an effort to photograph the feature which makes him think the gun is worth nearly ten times what an ordinary GH would be worth. He makes no mention of documentation or provenance.
Sounds like an "Aunt Mary" to me.

[Dave Noreen]

Not to worry!! if it is This is a true gem for a Parker Collector.


it will be snapped up by one of the heavy hitters very quickly!!

[Bruce Day]

Not to worry!! if it is

it will be snapped up by one of the heavy hitters very quickly!!

Will Bill then post photos ?

[Mark Ouellette]

This was copied from the gun's listing on Guns International:

"PARKER BROS GH Grade 12ga Factory Rifled Barrels One of a Kind- only one known to exist. Originally shipped with a different set of barrels but sent back to Parker to have the rifled barrels and forend fitted. This information was provided by Larry Del Grego & Son. Extremely rare - the only one known to exist! This is a true gem for a Parker Collector."

The serial number is: 118272

I wonder what a factory letter would say?

[Bruce Day]

I did post photos a couple years ago of a CHE 12 that belongs to Doc Van with two sets of barrels. One set is a conventional 12 ga. The other is 12ga rifled and has an unusual rib inscription " made by Parker Bros for C A Winship Palms Calif ". As near as we were able to tell the gun went back to have the second set of barrels added and the original set rifled

A fine gun and it even has rondel side plate engraving. I posted photos of it here several times.

[Brian Dudley]

Yes, very interesting that there is no photo of the rifling. And they say its a 12g shotgun bore still? There is an absence of a makers mark on the rib which would suggest Remington built barrels.
I don't know enough about the use of rifled bores for shotgun slugs to say if they were in use at that time.

[Bill Murphy]

Brian, the slug of choice at the time was the "ounce ball". Several of these shells were in my family "junk box" that I found in the attic of my childhood home. They are probably still around. I would like to measure one of those balls. I doubt that they are anywhere near bore size. Users of these rifled Parkers probably cast conical bullets for use in these guns.

[Brian Dudley]

I figured that Round balls would be the slug of choice, but didn't know if using them in a rifled bore would be of any advantage. CAsting slugs makes sence.

[edgarspencer]

Smooth bore muzzle loading 12 bores would have used the .710 round ball, used in .72 cal muskets. I'd guess cartridge guns would use something a lot closer to bore diameter, unless they were paper patched.
I've had Paradox English 12s in the past. I'd like to know if this "one of a kind" is bored like a Paradox gun.
I also had a Wesley Richards Faunetta that was only rifled the last 6 inches or so.