Hammer Parker with 2 serial numbers

[PD McGinnis]

New to the world of Parkers and need some advise. Recently purchased a Parker plain twist 10 G. Barrels in good shape marked with T and 14 with small 5 point star near the 14 mark. Plain wood stock showing signs of use with one small crack and some scratches. Solid metal butt plate. Stock has been marked with a circular stamp at some point in it's life but it is too faded to read.

Appears to have been assembled from two different Parkers though the serial numbers are very close. Stock is 9877 and Barrel is 9714. Is this common?Needs some gunsmith work as the hammers are not functional. Is this because of the two different serial numbers? Or did I just sink too much money into a wall hanger? Any information is appreciated.

[Bill Murphy]

Where on the barrels is the 9714 stamped? The serial number should be on the left side of the barrel lug. If the number is stamped on the barrel flat, it is the order number of the gun, not the serial number. However, it is unusual for the numbers to be as close as the two numbers you mentioned. I suppose you do have a mixed parts gun. You can confirm with a PGCA letter. If the factory did the switch, there could be some verification in the order book.

[Jack Cronkhite]

Both SN's show the same info

Plain twist barrels
Underlifter
No extras
Straight stock
10 gauge
30"

Given the same specifications, it is reasonable to consider one gun having been assembled from two.

Not a gunsmith, but I don't see a connection between a non-functional hammer and swapping barrels. I stand to be corrected or further enlightened on the hammer gun action.

Can you submit some pictures of the gun showing the various stampings?

Cheers,
Jack

[Dave Suponski]

I will go with Bill's answer here. The number on the left of the barrel lug is the "serial number" and the number on the flat's is the "order number" This is a common occurrence on gun's of this era.

[Austin W Hogan]

This applies to the adjacent post re 0177 as well.

Several years ago, we put together a multi author article about the Parker serialization process. We found a first hand source in the form of a sketch by a Parker Bros employee that showed the serial number was stamped on the frame, barrels and fore end iron at the time that soft fitters initiated a gun by mating those three parts. This process was probably begun by King on his arrival at Parker Bros but we cannot uniquely establish the first gun so marked. ( This would be a good entry to send to Josh for Parkers Found).

There are some obvious deviations from this process found in TSP and the archives. We must also remember that the Federal Firearms Acts of 1934 and 1938 took effect after Parker Bros manufacture at Meriden had essentially ceased; serial numbers were not regulated in Parker Bros era.

As I remember there is a two frame two barrel set shown in TSP with a single s/n

Parker refitted and reconfigured returned guns, both new and used for resale.

There were many guns in the 4 and early 5 digit serial range that were returned from dealers and distributers and refitted with later production components; rebounding locks and fore end latches are most common. It was not necessary to put the serial on a finished and blued part if the gun remained intact until shipment.

We found, in doing the lock and hammer story a few issues ago, that many high grade guns have hammer and lock numbers that vary side to side, as well as with respect to frame

Remember that early Parker gun production was by employees or contractors who worked on a per gun piecework basis. If an assembler had twelve guns waiting, and saw the paymaster approaching, he was very likely to install a part that fit from another gun to quickly raise his total for the day or week.

Best, Austin