New to the forum and need some help with terminology

[Scott Garner]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a Parker (SN: 10275) at a local estate sale. This gun might just end up being wall decor.

I've been involved with shooting sporting clays and other various shotgun sports for years but this is my first venture with a SxS.

I an filling out the form for a research letter and had some questions...

What I do know:
Mfg Yr: 1878
Lifter Action
Splinter Forend
Twist Damascus Barrels (12ga... Measure aprox 30.5")

What I don't know:
What is the difference between a round and ball grip?
What the heck is a DHBP Butt type?

I have included pics and any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Scott

[Eric Estes]

Scott,

I thought the round or ball grip were pretty much the same thing. The book says yours is a pistol grip, but it appears to be ball/round.
DHBP refers to a dogs head butt plate, a hard rubber butt plate used on many lower grade guns. Cant tell from your pic, but I would expect yours to have a plain steel butt plate.
The serialization book says yours is a grade 0 plain twist with 30" barrels, although it is not always accurate. They are sometimes a bit over, but 30.5 is way over.
The gun looks like a nice one. If the barrels are in good shape and still have their wall thickness it could be a good shooter. I have a couple I shoot close in # to yours.
The 1 on the barrel lug is the frame size. That 12 probably swings real nice. I like the lighter 1 frame 12s, especially lifters. Congratulations.

[Scott Garner]

Thank you so much... Being unfamiliar with the valuation of Parkers. What do you think this would be worth?

Would it be prudent to clean the gun (deep clean and re oil the stock/forend and clean the action/receiver back to silver).. i cleaned the old grease off and wiped it down with rem oil to prevent rusting.
The bores are perfect! They look better than my 3yo Beretta 686

I have thought about trading it / selling it and my Beretta to fund a nicer Over/Under.

Would at least like a reference point and know if I paid too much... lol

[Dean Romig]

Scott, yours will list in the Parker records as a "pistol grip" or P. The other is a "capped pistol grip" or C. The true ball grips are something else altogether, though they are still listed in the records as P.

These are pictures of ball grips.

.

[Jay Oliver]

Hi Scott,

That is a nice first Parker! And as Eric said a 12 gauge lifter in a #1 Frame is a reel nice configuration. I have #10931 not too far from yours.

As far as value goes that is hard to say without seeing the gun and knowing it is shootable. It looks like it is in decent condition(for a 142 year old gun!). A range might be $500-$1000, the higher end assuming good bores and a tight action, and noting major with the stock, etc... Value is subjective so I would focus on the positive...you now have a Parker hammer gun!

Let us know where you are so we can help you. I might be a good idea to meet up with a PGCA member near you to check out your gun...and hopefully go shooting. The Parker Lifter is such a great design and providing everything checks out you will love shooting that gun.

[Scott Garner]

Thank you for the insight, I paid $700 plus 13% auction fees (aprox $850 total). I didnt know if that was fair, I was there to look at some other non gun related items and this lot came up. It was a split decision to bid.
I will be at the Southern SxS in April. It's just 2 hours from home. I have attended the past several years with the curiosity of owning a SxS.

Are there any forum members in the Wilmington, NC area?

[Jay Oliver]

Scott, I used to live not to far away from you in New Bern, but I am up in the Northeast now. My family and I still go down to Bald Head Island every summer.

Hopefully, someone else will reach out to you. You can definitely get all the answers you need at the Southern SxS and hopefully shoot the gun in the 12 gauge hammer category.

[Scott Garner]

Scott, yours will list in the Parker records as a "pistol grip" or P. The other is a "capped pistol grip" or C. The true ball grips are something else altogether, though they are still listed in the records as P.

These are pictures of ball grips.

.

Hey Dean,

My dyslexia was kicking in... It’s actually SN: 10275

Can you help me with the catalog info of the correct serial?

[Dean Romig]

PT U 0 P 12 30

Plain Twist (Grade 0)
Underlifter
0 Extras
Pistol Grip
12 Gauge
30 Inch Barrels





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[Mike Koneski]

Scott, welcome to the Parker family! This was your first step to having a full blown addiction! Next step will be to sell your O/Us to fund more SxS purchases. Hammer/hammerless, choices in gauge and style of the gun, it's mind numbing. Personally, I relly like Parker hammer guns best. I like hammerless too, but there's just something about those exposed hammers and different actions that revs my motor. Have it checked by someone who is familiar with vntage SxSs then have fun shooting it. Look me up at the Southern. I'll be happy to meet you and talk about our Parkers.

[Scott Garner]

Look me up at the Southern. I'll be happy to meet you and talk about our Parkers.

Sounds good! I've been thinking that I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this one. I have contemplated selling it but will still be attending the event.

[Matt Buckley]

I have moved over a couple of Scott’s pictures of the forearm to show this gun has the newer Anson and deely latch and 1878 patented date even though the gun serial number calls it a 1877. I found in the Parker story where they believed the earliest gun with this type of forearm latch is in the 11,631. Any thoughts?

[Brian Dudley]

It does not seem like it would be transitional. It may have been sent back and the latch updated at that time.
The first patent latches were short for the first few years. That is the later longer style latch.

[Dean Romig]

A good number of Parkers were updated at the factory with later forend latching systems.





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[Matt Buckley]

That was my thought as well. The factory would have to have done some changes under the barrels to make this work but in reading about the early style there must have been issues with the keys popping open and the forearms coming off.

[Brian Dudley]

It is just a matter of people wanting the latest and greatest options.
And some may see the benefit of the patent forend being easier to remove. Although the keyed forend is more secure. But it was certainly a little dated to earlier days in firearm development.

The only change needed on the barrels is to swap out the forend lug.

[Dale Medders]

Quote

Would it be prudent to clean the gun (deep clean and re oil the stock/forend and clean the action/receiver back to silver).. i cleaned the old grease off and wiped it down with rem oil to prevent rusting.

Do not clean the action/receiver back to silver. It was not originally silver.
It would have been color case hardened I believe.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Scott, I use to live in Southport, moved to Southwest VA in 2000, my 3 boys still live and work there, I am going down this weekend for a short visit, and some business. Gary

[Chuck Bishop]

If your going to the Southern, have the barrels checked for wall thickness by Jon Hosford. Assuming the barrels and all other things are OK, shoot the gun with low pressure loads.