What type of Parker do I have?

[Daniel Justice]

Hi All -

I have a Parker 12 gauge shotgun but I cannot find the serial number or any significant markings on how to tell what I exactly have. Any helped would be greatly appreciated. Please see the pictures for detail. Thanks!

[Mills Morrison]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is not a Parker bros shotgun from Meriden.

[Brian Dudley]

What you have is a foreign Parker “knock-off”. The one hammer is from a Parker Bros. Shotgun though.

[Dean Romig]

Right Brian, the left hammer appears to be from a Parker Bros. shotgun.






.

[Rick Losey]

belgium proofs and not of better quality - the hammer from a Parker Brothers may be the most valuable part

[Daniel Justice]

Thank you all for the help. Any way to tell the age of this shotgun?

[Rick Losey]

i think i see a star over a letter on the picture of the underside of the barrels-

if so that inspectors mark started in 1877

[Drew Hause]

For good reason "Parker" was a very popular Belgian knock-off name on guns intended for the U.S. market, as was your gun with "Laminated Steel", which is Twist.
Here is another

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20091267/405800111.jpg

possibly made by Arnold Lochet

Does yours have this Parkerish buttplate?

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20091267/407792232.jpg

Inspector's marks can not be used to date a Belgian gun; they were re-used and the significance of many has been lost. The best we can do is likely pre-1893. Odd that is only carries Provisional Proof and not the final Banc D'Epreuves de Liege mark.

Under no circumstance should you attempt to shoot the gun, with any load.

[Rick Losey]

Inspector's marks can not be used to date a Belgian gun; they were re-used and the significance of many has been lost. T
.


the letters were reused - but it was my impression (which could be wrong) from many proof mark listings, that the star replaced a crown as a top mark for the letter in 1877

[Drew Hause]

1853-1877 inspector's marks were crowned rather than spangled.
The mark shown appears to have a star, and the bore mm (18.2) without the muzzle constriction was used 1878 - 1897, usually with NON POUR BALLE if choke > .2 mm = about .008".