serial number question

[Jack Hamner]

I have an old Parker hammer gun that was sold to me as a 14 gauge, but a friend checked it with a bore gauge and he came up with a 12b or something I can't remember. I don't have the book or the money to buy one........is there a kind soul out there who could look this number up for me? The (serial) number is 0968. Thank you so much!

[Bill Murphy]

I think we need a picture. The serial number could be 8960, or it may not be a Parker Brothers shotgun at all. We can also tell you where to take the gun for an accurate bore and chamber measurement. Where are you located?

[Rick Losey]

unfortunately - the "book" starts at serial 1444

[Joe Dreisch]

My book starts at 1444 so it is not in the ID & Serialization book, that I can see.

[Jack Hamner]

I think we need a picture. The serial number could be 8960, or it may not be a Parker Brothers shotgun at all. We can also tell you where to take the gun for an accurate bore and chamber measurement. Where are you located?

Thanks so much for your response! I think you will be able to find pictures of the gun and serial number(?) under a previous post of mine titled " 14 gauge?" (pages 1 and 2)
If not, let me know, and I will try and re-post them. Thanks!
P.S.--location is Palmyra, Va. near Charlottesville. Please see later post to you.

[Jack Hamner]

unfortunately - the "book" starts at serial 1444

O.K.--thanks so much for letting me know!

[Jack Hamner]

My book starts at 1444 so it is not in the ID & Serialization book, that I can see.

O.K.--thanks so much for letting me know!

[Jack Hamner]

I think we need a picture. The serial number could be 8960, or it may not be a Parker Brothers shotgun at all. We can also tell you where to take the gun for an accurate bore and chamber measurement. Where are you located?

P.S.--a little clarification--if you query Jack Hamner and then look at my post "14 gauge?" it should be there.

[Chuck Bishop]

Jack, unfortunately this gun is too early for our records however it sure is a high condition back action lifter pin gun. Your best option is to have the chamber and bore size measured by a qualified vintage gunsmith or if you can get there, come to the Spring Southern in Sanford NC April 22-24 2016. Somebody will probably have tools to measure it.

Beautiful gun!

[Jack Hamner]

Jack, unfortunately this gun is too early for our records however it sure is a high condition back action lifter pin gun. Your best option is to have the chamber and bore size measured by a qualified vintage gunsmith or if you can get there, come to the Spring Southern in Sanford NC April 22-24 2016. Somebody will probably have tools to measure it.

Beautiful gun!

Thanks so much, Chuck. Doubt if I will make it to Sanford, as we are getting pretty old and don't travel much. I love the gun and would like to keep it, but we need money worse than anything else right now--I will probably just try and sell it locally.

[Brian Dudley]

You have the worst type of serial number for causing confusion with these early Parkers. Full of zeros, sixes, nines and eights. All can be confused for something else upside down.

[Jack Hamner]

You have the worst type of serial number for causing confusion with these early Parkers. Full of zeros, sixes, nines and eights. All can be confused for something else upside down.

Agreed! I'm not really sure what I'm looking at anyway! Thanks for your reply.

[Brian Dudley]

On these early Parkers, the serial numbers can, at times, be a little confusing. But there are also a number of various markings seen on these early guns that the meaning of which are not known.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Jack, I am trying to find the photos you posted previously maybe Dean can help me here? you might see my post about my two early back action guns both are chambered for the 12-B shell, and the ser # are found in several places on the guns, my question does any body have a letter on a back action gun with the O prefix, there are back action guns that should have info on them, Gary

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Also I believe that the O prefix is the first number, sure you can read some of the numbers upside down, but 029 is what it is and can not be read upside down, and 4 digit numbers when read with the O last would put them in the 4,000 range and no back action I know of is in that range, Gary

[Jack Hamner]

Jack, I am trying to find the photos you posted previously maybe Dean can help me here? you might see my post about my two early back action guns both are chambered for the 12-B shell, and the ser # are found in several places on the guns, my question does any body have a letter on a back action gun with the O prefix, there are back action guns that should have info on them, Gary

Thanks so much for trying to help me out, Gary.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Actually Jack you have raised a very interesting question we all have been trying to figure out, just a lot of speculation and no hard facts so far, and by the way I went to your album nice gun! Gary

[Jack Hamner]

Actually Jack you have raised a very interesting question we all have been trying to figure out, just a lot of speculation and no hard facts so far, and by the way I went to your album nice gun! Gary

Thanks again, Gary. I hate to be the dullest light in the house, but what question are you referring to?

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

About serial numbers with an O prefix, there are others with B,A, do not know what they mean at this time, Gary

[Jack Hamner]

About serial numbers with an O prefix, there are others with B,A, do not know what they mean at this time, Gary

Gotcha! Thanks so much, and I would be very interested if you find out any more info. regarding these prefixes, etc.
By the way, I read somewhere that the letter prefixes refer to the type of brass shell the gun is chambered for--don't know if this is correct or not....I just remember reading it.