What is the oldest serial number still around?

[clint guthrie]

What's the oldest serial Parker Bros you've seen?

[Brian Dudley]

I have personally owned a T-latch with 2 digit serial number. I think it was 39 off the top of my head. And i am pretty sure that the Meriden Historical society has a single digit T-latch. Hard to get older than that.

[clint guthrie]

Wow. That is hard to get older than a single digit. I have 02520 10g and it seems to be a pretty old one. Found it in Montana in 1994 at an estate sale. The only family member said the gun had hung on the wall since he was a kid and he was close to 80 at the time. I'm hoping to find out some more history about it and try to peg a valuation for insurance. Not sure if it's any more valuable being older or not.

[Josh Loewensteiner]

#7 resides with a PGCA member.

[Dean Romig]

Temporarily in my possession are two guns in the PGCA Collection Nos. 99. and 0100.


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[Jay Oliver]

I have #46 a 10 gauge back action with Laminated Steel barrels

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I have 97, 029, both back action chambered for the 12-B shell. Gary

[JAMES HALL]

I have serial no.27. 12 have. Back action.

[Mills Morrison]

I have seen Jimmy's 27 and it is a cool gun, even if rough shape. The earliest I have is 152. I want to break into the double (and hopefully single) digits in the future

[Jay Oliver]

Me too Mills...I would like to increase my collection of back action Parkers. I would like to find a nice one with damascus barrels(instead of decarbonized steel).

I do think it is remarkable that the 2 Dean has are consecutive at #99 and #100. Then Gary has #97. Who would have thought those would still be around 150 years later!

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Photos of 97

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

one more

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

photos of 029

[Milton C Starr]

Is there any information on what #1 was ?

[Dean Romig]

The PGCA records only go back as far as No. 1444





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[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I have a period book that tells the location of it Austin did an article from the book in the PPGs, gary

[Milton C Starr]

The PGCA records only go back as far as No. 1444





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I thought maybe a private collector had it somewhere .

[Dean Romig]

I have a period book that tells the location of it Austin did an article from the book in the PPGs, gary


Gary, can you tell us what this "period book" is?

Do you know the name of the article?




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[Chuck Bishop]

The 1868 catalog lists 4 different back action guns. The $50 gun was Best Gun Iron, Plain Finish 12ga. The $75 was Decarbonized steel barrels, 12ga. The $110 was Laminated or Damascus steel barrels, 11 or 12ga. The $125 was Laminated or Damascus steel barrels, 10ga. To my best of knowledge, they were all straight grip guns. I have S/N 63 with Laminated barrels, for a 12B brass or 14ga. paper shell.

[Mike Franzen]

I thought I read that gun #2 is at the Meridan Museum and gun 666 was taken by Wilbur Parker.

[Jay Oliver]

This is a great thread! Gary that #97 is beautiful, I like the laminated steel barrels. Very nice. I like that a lot!

I also have #171 which is a back action and has had the decarbonized steel barrels cut to 27 1/4". It is well worn, but shootable with black powder/ultra light loads.

Do you think there is enough interest in the PGCA to have a "Back Action" Category or Maybe a pre #1500 serial number category that could include the early T-Latches? I think there might be, but I am clearly biased...hopefully in a good way.

[Mills Morrison]

That would be a great theme for a future display

[Mills Morrison]

Jay and I have 1217 and 1219

[Milton C Starr]

I see that #247 sold on GI for 1850$ .

[Jay Oliver]

That's right Mills, at some point we need to get those guns together again for some pictures.

I agree it would make a nice display to showcase the early Parkers. It does seems like there has been more back action conversations over the past year(relatively speaking). I just bought #171 a month ago. I'll get some pictures up soon.

[Dean Romig]

Do you think there is enough interest in the PGCA to have a "Back Action" Category or Maybe a pre #1500 serial number category that could include the early T-Latches?


There obviously IS a category that includes them...

What sort of "category" do you mean Jay? Do you mean a separate sub-forum category on the website?





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[Jay Oliver]

Yes Dean I was thinking a separate sub-forum on the website. I know there can't be a sub-forum for every Parker model and configuration. However, this thread got me thinking that maybe an "Early Parker" sub-forum would add some value.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Dean, when I get back I will try to find the article for you , off to get tires right now, gary