New Member from Florida and Parker Grade Question

[Robert Henley]

I inherited this Parker Hammer Side-by-Side, and after researching on this site and elsewhere I'm still not sure of the grade. SN 76xxx. 26 inch barrels. Frame size 1. Twist barrel on rib. Please see attached pictures, and let me know how to determine the grade. Please let me know if any questions.

Thanks

Robert

[Dean Romig]

With Twist barrels it could be either a Grade-0 or a Grade-1. The complete serial number can be researched by anyone with the Serialization book for grade, action, barrel steel, grip style, bore and barrel length.





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[Robert Henley]

I guess Grade-0 is the Trojan, which according to my 39th Blue Book wasn't introduced until 1912-13, well after mine was made in 1892, and Grade-1 is PH or VH?

http://www.parker-shotguns.com/parker-shotguns-identification-and-marks-2/

There is what looks like a "V" in the first picture, if that means anything (lower left in picture).

Is the "Serialization book" on-line or where do I look for it?

Thanks,

Robert

[Dean Romig]

No, the Trojan is not a Parker with a grade designation - it is a Parker Trojan.

A PH or a VH are hammerless guns. That's what the H represents - yours is not a hammerless gun.

The V you refer to is the mark of an inspector or a worker, not a designation of anything about the gun.

The Serialization book is the "Parker Gun Identification and Serialization" and usually sells for about $39 but you may be able to find it for less on the ABE Books website.

https://www.abebooks.com





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[Robert Henley]

OK, thanks for the clarification. I obviously don't know much about them.

I looked at what sounds like the same book earlier today on Amazon (had a $10 PRIME credit which had to be used today from WFM) but a couple of the reviews sounded like the buyers were a little disappointed with the lack of detail:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1886768374/?coliid=IAX78FP6GZ0IW&colid=LCMLVSHMS072&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


Robert

[Dean Romig]

Despite it’s shortcomings, it is definitely worth the expense if you’ll possibly be buying Parkers in the future.





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[Robert Henley]

Thanks very much. I probably will not be getting another Parker, so maybe someone who has the book can look it up for me to advise of grade (assuming it's listed in the book). The last three digits are xx420. First two digits at beginning of thread.

[Steve Huffman]

book has it as Plain twist 12 ga 30 in. barrels grade 0 . Your barrels may be cut .

[Robert Henley]

OK, thank-you. What does Grade 0 equate to (if that makes sense)? In other words, does the numeric grade equate to an alpha grade? The 39th Blue Book seems to indicate it does but then it just lists alpha grades from what I can tell. I guess the barrels were cut down to 26" given the above noted reference to 30 in.

[Steve Huffman]

Please don't shoot that shell in this gun you have it pictured with.

[Robert Henley]

I wasn't planning on shooting it. However, if I did shoot it what kind of shell would I use? Or is it just not advisable to shoot it because of the type steel in the barrel? Just curious.

Thanks

[Dean Romig]

OK, thank-you. What does Grade 0 equate to (if that makes sense)? In other words, does the numeric grade equate to an alpha grade? The 39th Blue Book seems to indicate it does but then it just lists alpha grades from what I can tell. I guess the barrels were cut down to 26" given the above noted reference to 30 in.

Beginning at the bottom of the hammerless Parkers, there is the Trojan, then Grade-0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Or Grade-0 equates to the VH, 1 to the PH, then GH, DH, CH, BH, AH, AAH, A1-S and finally the three Invincibles.





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[Robert Henley]

From a quick look around, I suppose perusing the Parker Hammer Gun forum will give me some more insight into my hammer gun:

http://parkerguns.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

[Steve Huffman]

What is it your looking for ? As far as shooting and proper shells Rst makes low pressure shells but guns need to be checked out to see if they are safe .

[Robert Henley]

What is it your looking for ?

The grade and other characteristics related to valuation.


I'll study other posts in the hammer section which appear to have some good information. I noticed one recent post had what looks like a similar gun, also identified as Grade-0.


Thanks

[Garry L Gordon]

The grade and other characteristics related to valuation.


Robert, You have the "other characteristics" in your possession -- the gun. What the barrels look like inside (and out), whether or not those barrels have been cut, their wall thickness, etc. will all contribute to the value of your gun. If you have access to a good gunsmith who knows old double barreled guns and has the tools and knowledge to evaluate them for safety and originality, you can get more concrete estimations regarding the gun.

However, if you have better (and more) pictures of the gun, I never ceased to be amazed at what some of our members can deduce from photos.

Nota Bene: If indeed the barrels were 30 and are now 26 inches, that does not bode well for value.

Still, you have an example of one of the finest guns ever produced in America, and a piece of history also -- enjoy the gun and the search for more information about it. Consider getting a research letter for the gun. Those letters can help considerably in determining value in a gun because they give clues to its originality.

[Robert Henley]

Still, you have an example of one of the finest guns ever produced in America, and a piece of history also -- enjoy the gun and the search for more information about it. Consider getting a research letter for the gun. Those letters can help considerably in determining value in a gun because they give clues to its originality.

It certainly has a solid and balanced feel that you don't often find today. I had another closer up picture I took which I've attached just fyi.

The barrels do not appear to have been cut down but they are 26" instead of 30".

Thanks

[Dean Romig]

Scott, your gun is a Grade-0

What criteria did you use to determine the barrels don’t appear to have been cut?





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[Robert Henley]

Some more pictures with several focusing on the end of barrels.

Note it looks like the bead is missing.

Thanks,

Robert

[Dean Romig]

I don't see keels beneath either the top rib or the bottom rib so my best guess is that the barrels have likely been cut.

That's not the only criteria I would use but the other pictures are not clear enough to determine if there is a blank space past the rib matting at the muzzle.





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[Robert Henley]

OK, thanks for the information.

Any other information anyone else observes is appreciated.

Robert

[John Knobelsdorf II]

I don’t see any of the figure of twist when looking at the pictures of barrels.

1.) Have the barrels been blued?

2.) Is there a good family interesting history about this? You refer to it as “inherited“. Wish I had a family gun like that one.

[Robert Henley]

I don’t see any of the figure of twist when looking at the pictures of barrels.

1.) Have the barrels been blued?

2.) Is there a good family interesting history about this? You refer to it as “inherited“. Wish I had a family gun like that one.

It looks to me like the gun has taken on a patina, and the word "twist" on the rib of the barrel (along with the other information) is faint (although if you tilt it and put light on it you can read it OK). I wasn't thinking it had been re-blued but not sure.


It belonged to my Dad. I'm not sure when he got it or how long he had it. He was a retired Army officer and Army Aviator and had lots of old guns.