My first Parker & First Post

[Don Weber]

Hello all. This is my first post on this forum. I acquired my first Parker on Tuesday and hope that some of you might lend some guidance and opinions.

It is 12 gauge PH, with extractors and the barrels are Parker Steel. The serial number is, 214611. The overall cosmetic condition is farly worn, with the barrels going to mostly gray and the receiver is completely white, but the engraving is still strong. There are no dents and the bores are mirror bright. Though it has probably made many trips into the field, I think it still looks great.

The gun is tight and it broke 20 of 25 birds, today, at the range. "I" missed the other five. That's the good news.

Now, the bad news. The stock appears to have been replaced at one time. There is an aged, but still pliable Pachmayr recoil pad, that was carefully installed with two white and one black, thin spacers. The forend is original.

The stock has no checkering and I have never seen a Parker without it. I swapped a few military rifles to get this gun and I probably have $1000.00 invested.

My dilemma is, do I replace the stock and if so, where do I find one? The grain in the wood is just OK and not really consistent with what I have seen on other Parkers.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Don

[Bob Jurewicz]

Don,
There's no cure for this condition!! Congratulations on your new parker! I'm sure your already looking for the next.
Bob Jurewicz

[Bill Murphy]

My friend Bob did not tell you that you have to post pictures of the new gun. By the way, a Parker Steel barrelled PH is a rather unusual gun as Parkers go. We are all on the lookout for such a gun.

[Harry Collins]

Don,

Welcome aboard! By the sound of the condition of the rest of your Parker your stock may be original and the checkering just plain worn off. I have one like that. The sure fire way to tell is to find a screwdriver that fits the trigger guard bow screw and remove the crew. Lift a little on the trigger guard to get it to unseat from the wood. The trigger guard is screwed into the floor plate at its forward end so you will unscrew it a quarter turn to reveal the wood underneath. If the stock is original to the Parker the serial number will be stamped into the wood.

Kindest, Harry

[Don Weber]

Bob and Harry,

Thank you for the welcome. It's almost shameful to have always wanted a Parker and not gotten one until age 62. I will post detailed photos. When I first examined the stock, it was well coated with old, crystallized shellac. I wish I could say that the checkering was just worn, but there was never any there. Having conserved classic firearms, for many years, I knew that this was not the original finish, so I carefully removed it. I would say that the stock was replaced in the late 50's, or early 60's, based on the age and style of the recoil pad. Harry, I'm still going to look for that number. Here's the question. Let's say that the stock had to be replaced, for whatever reason. Was it possible to obtain a plain replacement from Parker, or any other company, at that time? My thinking is, that if it is a Parker replacement, that was purchased without checkering, I will checker it, in the same style and call it a day. Anyway, it is a truly a wonderful shotgun and photos to follow.

Regards,
Don

[Harry Collins]

Don,

Until recently, Dixie Gun Works sold partially inletted Parker stocks. Fajen made Parker stocks as well. The wood was plain walnut and uncheckered and there was enough wood to fit most any frame size as I remember.

Harry