10ga. A grade #4 Frame

[Jay Oliver]

I had mentioned this gun in another thread and wanted to post some pictures. This is a recent addition, a 10 Gauge “Premier Quality” grade A Top Action Hammer gun serial# 31841 made in 1883 on a #4 frame. It was engraved by Harry Gough. This was one of 8 consecutive numbered 4 Frame 10 Gauge Premier Quality guns in the serial number range 31839 – 31846. There is a 2009 article in Parker Pages called “Parker Locks and Hammer” that discusses these 8 guns.

The barrels have been cut from 32” to 28” and as you’ll see in the pictures someone raised the comb with some interesting stock work. The bores are as close to perfect as I have seen even though they are cut. The barrels have been refinished at some point and are more of a dull brown. Some of the engraving on the rib is worn, but you can still make everything out. The gun locks up tight…like new.

Brian Dudley is going to help me with the stock. I will also have the original barrels refinished and the engraving touched up. I would really like to find some 32” #4 frame barrels for this to put it back in it’s original configuration.
As you can see from the pictures this gun has a lot going for it. It isn’t comfortable to shoot with the way the stock is now so I am looking forward to getting that fixed.

[Jay Oliver]

Here are some more pictures. Mostly of the engraving and a few other close ups...

[Mills Morrison]

That is beautiful! I would work on fixing what you have and just wait for some other barrels to come along

[charlie cleveland]

nice will make a fine shooter and looker.....charlie

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

nice gun Jay, gary

[Bill Murphy]

Is there a letter on this gun? It looks like a VIP gun.

[Garry L Gordon]

What a lovely old gun.

[Randy G Roberts]

Oh my what a gun Jay. That would be one exciting project. I'm with Mills on the barrels. Work on what you have and pray. Of course if you restore it as is and then come across a set of 32's that would make a great 2 barrel set.

[Brian Dudley]

Some additional details on this gun.
It is signed by Gough (HG) on the right lockplate. Some others of the 8 guns are out there and this is the only one that I know of that is signed. The engraving and metalwork is spectacular! And everything inside of it is high polish and the mainsprings are even engine turned (Jeweled).

Another interesting tidbit is that the one hammer is mismatched it is from the next gun in the consecutive run. And that gun has this guns hammer on it. They were mixed up at the factory!!!

All 8 guns were all ordered by the same sporting good store in St.Louis and they were all identical in grade and configuration. That still has me scratching my head as to why 8 guns, all the same were ordered on speculation.

This one was found in a trailer home in Upstate NY and was only 1/2 hour away from where the original owner of the gun lived. It was original owned by a military man. A band leader and composer for the 9th infantry.

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks Brian, I was hoping you would chime in with more details. I am sure at some point I will come across another set of barrels that will work and have a 2 barrel set. It might be a 10 year search, but that is okay. For now I am going fix what needs to be fixed and enjoy the gun.

[Brian Dudley]

A butt transplant is going to fix that gun up excellent. I already located the perfect piece of wood for it.

[Jay Oliver]

Here is the letter...

[Garry L Gordon]

Interesting! Is C.E.P. a Parker? I assume the St. Louis based arms dealer advertised and sold throughout the country. The configuration seems a good one for waterfowl, but the grade is much higher than I would imagine the average waterfowler on the Missouri or Mississippi would venture to take on the big rivers. I'm not well versed in trap/pigeon shooting, but even at this 1880s date, would a 3 inch drop be generally used for such shooting?

What a marvelous gun and an intriguing story that must be behind it.

[Mike Franzen]

I want to her with the transplant.

[Brian Dudley]

Interesting! Is C.E.P. a Parker? I assume the St. Louis based arms dealer advertised and sold throughout the country. The configuration seems a good one for waterfowl, but the grade is much higher than I would imagine the average waterfowler on the Missouri or Mississippi would venture to take on the big rivers. I'm not well versed in trap/pigeon shooting, but even at this 1880s date, would a 3 inch drop be generally used for such shooting?

What a marvelous gun and an intriguing story that must be behind it.

Yes, CEP was one of the Parker Brothers (Charles E. Parker). There is a section in TPS that talks about CEP ordered guns.

[Jay Oliver]

I need to get this packed up and shipped to Bryan, which I will do this week. I do think it is interesting that these 8 guns were ordered together. I don't think the 3 inch drop is too far out of the norm for the time.

When I first started getting into Parkers I didn't like guns with a lot of drop either. Over time I have actually gotten used to 3 - 3 1/4 inched of drop. One of my favorite Parkers that I also shoot very well is a lifter with 3 1/8" of drop.

My intention with this A grade 10 gauge was to put the stock back to the original dimensions in the letter, which will fit me well. I am looking forward to seeing what Bryan can do with it!

[Reggie Bishop]

I have a higher grade small bore that was part of a 4 gun order. All four guns were same gauge, same grade, same barrel length and same stock dimensions. I would love to find one of the other 3! Nice gun Jay!

[Bill Murphy]

Good luck with the project. If things go south, I will be here to rescue you. Tell me where to send the check.

[Brian Dudley]

Jay,

There was an article written for DGJ years ago about A grade guns. 3 other guns from this same order were profiled in that article.
The author tells about the Mechum Arms order and then mentions that an advertisement by them about 6 months to a year after the order stated that they had “Premier Quality” Parker guns in stock for immediate delivery in 10g 30”. So... evidently the order was on speculation, in what they figured to be a popular configuration.

[Bill Murphy]

High grade ten gauge guns, often #4 frames, built at just under eleven pounds, were the competition pigeon guns of the day. In the eighties, eleven pounds was the maximum weight allowed in registered matches. Some of them were built for Parker Brothers contract shooters. That doesn't seem to be the case with this gun, but who knows.

[Dean Romig]

A 10 gauge A-grade that I inspected near Plymouth, Ma that was found in an attic by the niece of an old gent who died turned out to be one of a fifty gun order of various lower grades. There were two A grade 10's in the order and if memory serves, were consecutively numbered. All of them went to a dealer in Boston and get this..... they were all priced at $50 each (wholesale) :shock:






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[Garry L Gordon]

they were all priced at $50 each (wholesale) :shock:
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Yikes!!!!!!!!!:eek:

[Bill Murphy]

Iver Johnson in Boston is shown on several orders that I have seen where groups of mixed grades of guns were sold to IJ at severely reduced prices. It is assumed that the guns were somehow damaged or returned from consignment from other dealers.

[Dean Romig]

The particular order I referred to was not by IJ but another popular sporting goods store that I can’t remember the name of. In any case, the place suffered a big fire and a number of their guns were returned for credit. I have no idea if any of them suffered fire damage but I do know that the A grade that I examined must have found a new home before the fire.





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[Bill Murphy]

Boston Parker dealers of repute were Iver Johnson, Bob Smith, and Orren Dickey. Bob Smith either originated or was mophed into other named dealers.

[Dean Romig]

No, it was none of those Bill... I’ll come up with it.





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[Chuck Bishop]

The biggest dealer I write letters on from Boston is Jno.P. Lovell Arms Co. Next would be William Read & Sons.

[Dean Romig]

Chuck - Thank you. That’s the one I believe... Lovell.
Three A’s were included in an order of 50 guns and every one of them was priced at $50

Do you remember that?
And after the fire at Lovell, Parker took them back.





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[Chuck Bishop]

Dean, I show a total of 32 guns returned to Parker in December 1882. The book just shows "repairs." There was no price listed for the repairs. They were all in the 26 to 27 thousand range. I tried searching for J.P. Lovell Arms Co. fire but I didn't find anything.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Chuck - someday I’ll find the email you sent me along with the pictures I took of the gun.






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