Early parker bros serial numbers

[gary zehr]

Hi Folks,
Does anyone know how to research the lower numbered parker bro serial numbers. I have been trying to research a parker shot gun. Serial number B 245 T. I had heard that Remington Arms in Illion NY has a gun museum that has a old ledger that lists the orginal owners. Can anyone confirm that. Thanks for any information you can provide.

[Richard Flanders]

Are you sure that T isn't a 1? I couldn't quite tell when I zoomed in on the photo you posted in another thread.

[Bill Murphy]

Serial numbers available for research begin at 1500, according to PGCA stock book charts. Order book information starts in 1877. PGCA records are copies of the Remington research files. You can order a PGCA letter on a gun, but the Remington original ledger books are not normally available for research.

[gary zehr]

Hi Richard,
You have me wondering now if the T is a 1 or a 7. Been looking at all the differnet parts and it does look like a T but could be a 1 or maybe a 7. Wonder if there is anyway to find out if letters were included the serial number.

[gary zehr]

Hi Bill,
Thank you for the information on serial numbers. There seem to be a question on the serial no. It looks like B 245 T (shows the serial no. on four different parts of the gun). But The T could be a 1 or maybe a 7. Is there anyway to verify if the older parkers had letters in the serial no. I think I will try calling the remington arms company in NY. Maybe someone there can provide more info on the gun.

[Fred Preston]

Gary, The "Book" has #2451 as a 12ga underlifter with 30" laminated steel barrels. Kinda looks like yours; very nice gun.

[Bill Murphy]

Unfortunately, the people at Remington know much less about these books and guns than the people at PGCA. You are better to correspond with our research committee about your gun. Buy The Parker Story, send us pictures of your gun and markings, then contact our research committee.

[gary zehr]

Hi Fred,
Thanks for the info. Do you have any info on serial no. 2457. Looking at the gun barrel lug it shows a small s and the number 4. Correct me if I'm wrong, I think that means it is a 10 gauge and the grade is S. Also looks to be a zero grade gun. The barrel is a 30" Damascus and is a underlifter. I thought it was made in 1866 but that was the patented date Nov 13 1866. Looks to be made a little later.

[gary zehr]

Hi Bill,
Thanks for your information. I plan on contacting your research committee but I think I need to determine the serial number first. I do have pictures of the parker on the album thread. can try to get better pictures if need be. any info you can provide is welcome. Not trying to sell gun just want as much history as I can get so that I can pass it on to my son.

[Robin Lewis]

I plugged your ser# into the "Parker Identification" web page and it listed you gun as being made in 1874. That is assuming the number is 2457 or 2451. From the picture I saw it looked more like a 1 than a 7, but either way is seems to be dated to 1874.

[Fred Preston]

Gary, #2457 would change the specs to 11ga damascus.

[Dean Romig]

Your serial number is 2451. On the water table the numeral "1" is stamped upside-down. If you will look at the "12" stamped into the bottom of the barrels the "1" is the exact same stamp but inverted from the stamp on the barrel flats.

[gary zehr]

Hi Dean,
Thanks for that insight. Sure looks like you are right about the no 1 being stamped upside down. Can you tell from the pictures if it is a 10 or 12 gauge. Fred has a book and it says serial 2451 is a 12 gauge laminated barrel. The gun I have has Damascus steel stamped on the barrel.

[gary zehr]

Fred, Thanks for the quick response back. From another post it sure looks like the the 1 is stamped upside down. So that makes the serial no. 2451, but your book may be wrong. The gun barrel is stamped Damascus steel. From what I have been able to find out it appears to be a grade zero gun with a s. Also has a a american walnut stock. I'm really not up on guns but would like the history of the gun for future reference for my son.

[Dean Romig]

According to the "12" stamp on the bottom of the barrels and the description of 2451 in the ID & Ser. book it appears to be a twelve gauge.

There are surviving factory records on Parker 2451 to support a research letter.

[gary zehr]

Folks,
Can anyone tell me if laminated steel and Damascus steel are one and the same. My gun shows Damascus steel on the barrel but per the serial no book it lists it as laminated steel that is if the serial no is 2451. Still a question if the 1 is a T or not. Aslo wondering what the B in front of the serial number means. One other post a person said his parker serial number started with a A.

[Bruce Day]

Laminated and Damascus are different forms of composite barrels. The Damascus was more costly and the higher quality barrel; however both were proofed the same.

If I remember correctly, the letter prefix refers to the type of brass shell the gun is chambered for.

[Bill Murphy]

Gary, I tried my best to suggest that the PGCA research committee has copies of the original records on your gun, yet you continue to try to extract information from the Serialization Book, which may be transcribed incorrectly and from posters on this site who haven't even seen a picture of your gun. How about ordering a PGCA letter and getting your information from someone who is actually looking at copies of the original stock book and/or order book. Good luck in your search and consider sharing the results with us.

[gary zehr]

Bill,
Thank you for your input. I'm new to this thread so I'm sorry if I pushed the wrong buttons. I will be ordering a PGCA letter and will share when I receive the results. My concern for waiting to ordering a PGCA letter is the serial number. Not much good in searching for information on a serial number I don't have. Again thank you for information you have provided. Gary

[gary zehr]

Bruce,
Thank you for the information. The next step is ordering a PGCA letter. I sure hope the serial number is correct using a 1 in place of the T. Gary

[Bruce Day]

Its not a T. Parkers don't have T's in the SN. The suggestion repeated several times to order a research letter is absolutely correct.

[Bill Murphy]

You might enclose a good picture of the serial number with your letter request. Mark will try his best to find your gun in the records even if he has to try more than one avenue of approach. Good luck.

[gary zehr]

Thanks Bill,
Am making the request now and I will include the serial number picture. You were a lot of help! Again thanks. Gary

[gary zehr]

Bruce,
Thanks for the info. Was wondering about the letters in serial numbers. In the process of sending a request for the parker research letter now. You have to bear along with me. This is all new to me. Gary

[Phillip Carr]

Serial numbers available for research begin at 1500, according to PGCA stock book charts. Order book information starts in 1877. PGCA records are copies of the Remington research files. You can order a PGCA letter on a gun, but the Remington original ledger books are not normally available for research.

Bill I purchased S/N 01500 a few years ago from a Pawn shop in Tucson. When I inquired about a letter I was told there are no records on this gun. Seems 01500 is not the first number recorded in the stock books,unfortunately.
It sports a set of 30" Decarbonized barrels. I have shot it a few times with some low pressure loads from RST.
Phil

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Philip, I to could not get a letter on ser# A1943 it is a 32" damascus gun in 12ga. Mark was most helpful in trying to read the old pages but they were just to faint to read. I do have a letter from the grandson of the original owner. most interesting as it tells where the gun was used and for what. It spent its entire life in northern P.A.