Need Help With an 1888 12 Gauge

[r.averypierce]

Hello all, just joined and could use a bit of help. My father has an old Parker double barrel that we're trying to get more info on. I used the guide provided by the forum and was able to figure out a couple things.
Serial Number is 53953
Frame Size 1
Grade 2
Steel type Damascus
Barrel Weight 31

From what I can figure it's a Parker GH, but if I'm wrong on this please correct me. There is a DD stamp above the barrel weight that I can't find any info on. Also, at some point the barrel was cut down to 25" and has a small dent; along with pitting along the inside of the tubes.
The checkering has significant wear, in some places it's near worn off. And it appears that one of the hammer has been replaced along the way.
On the plus side, it does feature an ejector.
These pics won't be the best, but I'm no photographer. Any info on value and such would be greatly appreciated!
Here are links and thumbnails, sorry best I can do.

Here is that DD I was speaking of.
https://thumb.ibb.co/gS9f3G/IMG_20171110_152733787.jpg (https://ibb.co/gS9f3G)
https://thumb.ibb.co/ceZ2Hb/IMG_20171110_152807262.jpg (https://ibb.co/ceZ2Hb)

This is what I believe is the original hammer

https://thumb.ibb.co/cEOyOG/IMG_20171110_153053833.jpg (https://ibb.co/cEOyOG)

And here is what I think is the replacement.

https://thumb.ibb.co/d9Puxb/IMG_20171110_153115173.jpg (https://ibb.co/d9Puxb)

Serial and grade number

https://thumb.ibb.co/mVYq3G/IMG_20171110_152955271.jpg (https://ibb.co/mVYq3G)

Small dents in barrel

https://thumb.ibb.co/eYjNiG/IMG_20171110_153208529.jpg (https://ibb.co/eYjNiG)

Shot of the barrel type and condition; rough to say the least.

https://thumb.ibb.co/g1gA3G/IMG_20171110_152852496.jpg (https://ibb.co/g1gA3G)

Shield

https://thumb.ibb.co/j2Mk3G/IMG_20171110_153355617.jpg (https://ibb.co/j2Mk3G)


Stock to show the wear on the checkering.

https://thumb.ibb.co/ckqpVw/IMG_20171110_153135543.jpg (https://ibb.co/ckqpVw)

And one last of the whole piece.
https://thumb.ibb.co/cUVsHb/IMG_20171110_152935084.jpg (https://ibb.co/cUVsHb)

Again, any help is greatly appreciated; glad I found y'all!

[Brian Dudley]

Looks like a grade 3 (or D grade) top action hammer gun. Yes, the right hammer is non oriignal. And finding the proper replacement with the “claw” on it would be a tough task.

Condition looks to be relatively fair to poor. That conbined with the cut barrels does effect the value significantly. But, it is a grade 3.

And, this is not an ejector gun as Parker did not offer that feature on hammer guns.

[r.averypierce]

Mr Dudley, many thanks on the quick response. I do, however, want to ask about the ejector. I snapped another couple pics to show what I believed to be the ejector so we can discuss that aspect of the piece.

https://thumb.ibb.co/mQNNYG/IMG_20171110_175736158.jpg (https://ibb.co/mQNNYG)

https://thumb.ibb.co/gWT70w/IMG_20171110_175752226.jpg (https://ibb.co/gWT70w)

Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos.

[Dean Romig]

DD Damascus barrels were normally used (almost) exclusively on Grade 5 and higher Parkers. The DD designates 'Finest Damascus'. I have seen DD barrels once on a Grade 2 lifter but they were a second set of barrels added by Parker Bros. at a later date.
I have seen one set of DD barrels on a Grade 4 as well but I can't ever recall seeing them on any other guns lower than Grade 5.





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[Brian Dudley]

Mr Dudley, many thanks on the quick response. I do, however, want to ask about the ejector. I snapped another couple pics to show what I believed to be the ejector so we can discuss that aspect of the piece.

https://thumb.ibb.co/mQNNYG/IMG_20171110_175736158.jpg (https://ibb.co/mQNNYG)

https://thumb.ibb.co/gWT70w/IMG_20171110_175752226.jpg (https://ibb.co/gWT70w)

Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos.

That is an extractor. It extracts or lifts the shells from the chamber. It does not eject them clear of the gun.

[edgarspencer]

Mr Dudley, many thanks on the quick response. I do, however, want to ask about the ejector. I snapped another couple pics to show what I believed to be the ejector so we can discuss that aspect of the piece.

https://thumb.ibb.co/mQNNYG/IMG_20171110_175736158.jpg (https://ibb.co/mQNNYG)

https://thumb.ibb.co/gWT70w/IMG_20171110_175752226.jpg (https://ibb.co/gWT70w)

Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos.

What your pencil is pointing to is known as an extractor, not an ejector. I do not believe there was ever a Parker hammer gun with ejectors.

[r.averypierce]

Ahhh, I understand now, makes total sense. I misunderstood, thanks for clarifying!

[Paul Harm]

Ejectors are two pieces, extractors one. With ejectors, if only one barrel is fired, that shell will be thrown clear of the barrel and the other shell left in the barrel. With extractors, both shells are lifted up so the owner can pull one or both out by hand.

[r.averypierce]

Thanks all for the clarification; can anyone provide a ballpark on the value?

[Todd Poer]

Thanks all for the clarification; can anyone provide a ballpark on the value?

I know you are hearing crickets on this last question. Kind of hard to put a range of numbers on a gun like that without touching and feeling it. Gut tells me with all the information you provided that it is a project gun at best. I don't know if it will ever be a shooter again unless a lot of work, and shooting again is where it will be able to achieve highest value, unless its just a rare gun that has a history. Like gun was owned by so and so and they were famous for so an so and loved their Parker, etc.

It could be cost prohibitive to do anything with gun to make it usable again, but I am no expert on it. It could just be a wall hanger now and those don't command much price.

I do like the grain in that old stock. I love history of old guns. Do you know anything about history or how your dad got possession.

[Dean Romig]

I wouldn't be as quick to dismiss your Grade 3 gun as Mr. Pier seems to have done.

It would require a full examination by a Parker expert to be able to make any kind of evaluation such as a "wall hanger" and "cost prohibitive" is a subjective term loosely tossed into the discussion.
We have no idea of your financial situation and we really don't care to. You can be the judge of "cost prohibitive" or not.





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[Todd Poer]

Mr. Romig was not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers just stating an opinion that the gun could be hard to put a price on without a lot of hands on, and you and I both pointed this out. The author of thread honestly depicted and indicated its condition and issues and Brian gave his loose thoughts based on its condition and quality. I think Brian even said it was maybe a higher grade than what thread author thought.


Like I said in present condition its hard to put a price range on it. It could be worth hundreds, it could be worth thousands, it could be worth tens of thousands depending on condition, story, uniqueness, etc. Given what we know or don't know, seeing pictures, and absorbing information about noted issues I would dare say vagaries of a market value could be very hard to predict. The functional and or economic life of this gun could have expired or its ready for a second wind. All I know is that I have seen plenty of cool old rabbit ear guns with nice wood at gun shops with dusty faded price tags. You can pick one up for a few hundred bucks or you could pay a few thousand. Answer is somewhere in between. To tighten that range maybe an expert can help but that might even take more effort than the guns worth.

[Dave Suponski]

Oh my God.....

[Chuck Bishop]

Hi Dave. Kind of reminds me of Run with the Fox.

[Todd Poer]

Peace be with you all.