Curious new guy from VT

[Tim Upton]

Hello

My father died of cancer a few years ago. One day, several months before he died, it hit him that he wouldn't ever be able to hunt again. He told me that he wanted me to take all of his guns, and do whatever I wanted with them.

I decided I would keep a few guns that were still in active use, along with several older guns that I thought were particularly pretty/interesting, or had some sentimental value. I gave my brother and sister the pick of what they wanted. The rest, I traded in at a gun shop and turned them into a few new guns for myself and my own boys.

Anyway, one of the guns I found in the cabinet was a Parker double, which I'd never really known much about. From what I've been able to find, I believe was manufactured in the 1890s. (I've ordered a letter.) When I was doing the trade, I asked the gun dealer to appraise it for me. He told me it wasn't really worth anything because of some damage to the stock. Based on some other appraisals he did, I'm not sure I should believe him. I have no interest in selling it, so it probably doesn't really matter, but I'm still curious as to whether I've got a boat anchor, a mildly interesting gun that belonged to my father (which is pretty cool),or something else. So here I am.

I've got lots of detailed photos. I'll just put up one of the gun and one of the damaged stock to start. Does this really make the gun junk?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Tim

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[Jerry Harlow]

Tim,

Find yourself another dealer. A DH grade at the least (can't see if it has ejectors) with a skeleton buttplate. He must be a crook. A desirable gun, grade 3, that is considered the first of the high grade guns, referred to as the Doctor's grade by the Parker people back then since it was preferred by so many doctors (who obviously had money for an upgrade). Easily repairable and a common break when set down hard on the metal buttplate which was thin and would bend there causing the break.

[Tim Upton]

Thank you very much. I had a feeling. He tried to screw me on a couple of the trades. Luckily I had done some research on my own and had some help from a friend who's an avid collector. I asked him to rate the gun, and he said it was "about 40%." That sounded kind of low, but either way I thought he was full of it. When I told him the book value was WAY above his for that same gun at 10%, his response was "Then why don't you see if you can get the book to buy it from you." I knew I'd never do business with him again.

It does have ejectors, and it is marked with a "D."

Interesting that it was the "doctor's gun," since my great-grandfather was a doctor . . . as were my grandfather and my father. I think it most likely belonged to him. Here are a few more closeups.

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[Frank Cronin]

Hi Tim,

Sorry for your loss.

You mentioned that your father left you the gun so this Parker is pretty special. As Jerry said you have a DH grade that was a $100 gun back in the day circa 1890's. A big sum of money when the typical wage of a blacksmith was .27 cents an hour:shock:

The person you took this to knew what you really had and pretty much insulted you and your dad trying to get a big profit.

When you get the letter, let us know what the letter says. There could be some neat history of who and where the gun was ordered.

[Frank Cronin]

Just saw your close ups. You have a really nice Parker!! How long are the barrels?

[Tad Tadlock]

I wouldn't trade with that fellow anymore, either.

That's a very nice heirloom Parker that you have.

My DH is close in serial number to yours and has the same engraving.

[Tim Upton]

Just saw your close ups. You have a really nice Parker!! How long are the barrels?

30"

[Jerry Harlow]

DHE then. Can't see the silver stock shield on the bottom of the stock. There? Initials? Screws look unturned, but if they were someone was very careful.

[wayne goerres]

If you have the right person match and repair your gun you will never know it was broke. Some of the other fellows on this forum might have a value on your gun but repaired properly 'and if the barrels are unpitted with ejectors at least 3000.00 to 3500. Its a very nice gun and a grate memory to have. Don't have the gun restored just have the repair fixed.

[Tim Upton]

DHE then. Can't see the silver stock shield on the bottom of the stock. There? Initials? Screws look unturned, but if they were someone was very careful.

This is what you were asking about, correct?


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[Eric Estes]

I am so glad you did not let that crook have it. Your gun is a really nice D grade, very desirable. Junk my left foot! The fact that you are the fourth generation owner makes it priceless. I hope you get some good information in your letter. Please let us know. Textbook example of a family heirloom. All the best and welcome to the PGCA. You would be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of people.

[Chuck Bishop]

You can be proud to own that gun. It looks all original. Spend some money to fix the stock and anything else that is not functional, nothing else. I'll be expecting your research request.

[Tim Upton]

You can be proud to own that gun. It looks all original. Spend some money to fix the stock and anything else that is not functional, nothing else. I'll be expecting your research request.

Sent it this evening. :)

Thank you to everyone!

[Dean Romig]

Hi Tim, and Welcome to the PGCA!

Where in Vermont are you? I spend a great deal of time in the "Kingdom."





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[Tim Upton]

Hi Tim, and Welcome to the PGCA!

Where in Vermont are you? I spend a great deal of time in the "Kingdom."





.

I'm down near Rutland.

[chris dawe]

Thats a wonderful gun ,theres a crook around every corner unfortunately....like the boys said gert the toe fixed and enjoy it

[edgarspencer]

Welcome to the PGCA, Tim. Your gun looks to be in remarkably nice condition.
I'm surprised the scoundrel didn't also try the old "You can't shoot those Damascus guns. They'll blow up" story on you too. I love D grade guns, and an heirloom Damascus D as nice as yours deserves to stay right there in the family.

[Jerry Harlow]

This is what you were asking about, correct?


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Yes. Wondered if he had his initials engraved or not. Since it is a family heirloom, just me personally I would have at the least the surname initial added. If you find out which ancestor purchased it you could add their initials, so future generations won't say "I don't know who had this old gun, means nothing to me; think I'll sell it and take the wife out to gamble and supper," as they do on Pawn Thief Stars. I sure wish I had such a fine piece handed down to me. You are lucky to have it.

[Tim Upton]

I am so glad you did not let that crook have it. Your gun is a really nice D grade, very desirable. Junk my left foot! The fact that you are the fourth generation owner makes it priceless. I hope you get some good information in your letter. Please let us know. Textbook example of a family heirloom. All the best and welcome to the PGCA. You would be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of people.

Just got the letter (thank you Chuck!).

The gun was shipped in June 1898 to a Jonathan Hull at the Berwick Hotel in Rutland, VT (Rutland is actually where I work, and is about 10 miles from my house, although my father's family is from northern VT). The hotel burned in the early 70s. According to an article I found: "Built in 1868, the four-story hotel boasted 110 guest rooms, a complement of ballrooms and other public spaces, two restaurants and several shops including the much-loved Cinderella’s Sweets candy store." Not sure if this Hull guy ran a gun shop on the bottom floor, or if he just bought the gun and had it delivered there.

So, I figure my great-grandfather Upton probably either:

1) bought the gun from a shop run by Mr. Hull;

2) bought the gun directly from Mr. Hull; or

3) was given the gun by his wife's brother, who, as it turns out, worked as a jeweler in Rutland in the late 1800s. (I stumbled upon that fact a few years ago while going through a box of old family letters.)

#2 actually seems like the least likely to me. Fun to think about, though!

Thank you again for the research and documentation - very cool!