Parker Rifle?

[Mark Spelman]

Hi All,

We have a Parker Bros bolt action rifle in the family that has been passed down from my grandfather to my father. I am trying to find out more about this gun, it’s age, and history. The only thing I can find online about Parker Bros rifles are that most were made for the civil war. This rifle does not seem that old, but I certainly could be wrong. Can anyone tell me more about what I might have??

Thanks in advance.

[Jeff Kuss]

Are you sure it isn't a Parker Hale?

[Mark Spelman]

On the bottom of the stock it says Parker Bros Meriden, Connecticut

[Jeff Kuss]

Pictures would help.

[Jay Gardner]

Parker Bros butplate attached to a rifle stock?

[Jerry Harlow]

Grip Cap?

[Bill Murphy]

Picture? Kentucky gun?

[Mark Spelman]

Sorry for the delay. Here are a few photos

[Rick Losey]

just a Parker grip cap - reused

[Jerry Harlow]

Sporterized Model 1903 Springfield.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=model+1903+springfield&fr=yhs-symantec-ext_onb&hspart=symantec&hsimp=yhs-ext_onb&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.riverjunction.com%2Fassets %2Fimages%2Fproductimages%2Foneofakinds%2F3321-48%2F1903springfield-2.jpg#id=2&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.riverjunction.com%2Fassets%2 Fimages%2Fproductimages%2Foneofakinds%2F3321-48%2F1903springfield-3.jpg&action=click

[Brian Dudley]

Yup, someone needed a grip cap for the rifle and they used a Parker cap. And the cap is on backwards.

Looks like a decent rifle.

[Jerry Harlow]

Mark,

Look for a serial number on top of the action next to the barrel. Then you can find the date the action was manufactured. Earlier actions may have strength issues.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES
(Including Rock Island Arsenal, Remington, and Smith-Corona production)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
[Dated by calendar year: January – December]

1903 1 16000
1904 16001 67000
1905 67001 119000
1906 119001 269450
1907 269451 337861
1908 337862 358084
1909 358085 398275
1910 398276 456375
1911 456376 502045
1912 502046 531520
1913 531521 570560
1914 570561 595600
1915 595601 620120
1916 620121 632825
1917 632826 761757
1918 761758 1055091
1919 1055092 1162500
1920 1162501 1211299
1921 1211300 1239640
1922 1239641 1252386
1923 1252387 1261486
1924 1261487 1267100
1925 1267101 1270300
1926 1270301 1274764
1927 1274765 1285265
1928 1285266 1305900
1929 1305901 1338405
1930 1338406 1369760
1931 1369761 1404025
1932 1404026 1425933
1933 1425934 1441811
1934 1441812 1491531
1935 1491532 1496022
1936 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1937 1496023 1510387
1938 1939 1510388 1532878
Total: 1340000.
Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN800000
Introduction of nickel steel at SN1275767.

•RIA PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903

1903 1 7500
1904 7501 16000
1905 16001 28000
1906 28001 75000
1907 75001 130000
1908 130001 165000
1909 165001 178000
1910 178001 201000
1911 201001 210634
1912 210635 217801
1913 217802 234830
1914 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1915 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1916 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1917 234831 257061
1918 257062 326935
1919 326936 348414
TOTAL: 346000

Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN285507.
Introduction of nickel steel at SN319921.

•REMINGTON ARMS PRODUCTION OF M1903, 1903A3, 1903A4

1942 3000001 3348085 (M1903)
1942 3348086 3607999 (M1903A3)
1942 3708000 4707999 (M1903A3)
1942 4992001 5784000 (M1903A3)
1943 3407088 3427087 (M1903A4)
1943 4992001 4997045 (M1903A4)
1943 Z4000000 Z4002920 (M1903A4)
TOTAL: 1084079

•SMITH CORONA PRODUCTION OF M1903A3

1943 3608000 3707999
1944 4708000 4992000
TOTAL: 234000

On 18 January 1943 Remington directed to divert from production 20,000 M1903A3 rifles for conversion to the U.S. Rifle M1903A4 (Sniper's). Rifles #3407088 3427087 (from the first "block" of numbers) were diverted, and the first "03 A3" converted was delivered in February 1943.

On 20 June 1943 an additional 8,365 M1909A4 rifles were ordered. "Block" for these rifles and possible future orders were 4922001 5784000. After this block had been used to 4997045, receiver marking was changed to "03 A4" and a new series of numbers begun with Z4000000.
The second "block" of "03 A3" numbers was used only to about 4168800 before cancellation of contract ended "03 A3" production 28 February 1944.
In March 1944, with receiver Z4002290, production of the M1903A4 was ended. Total production was 1,056,276 rifles, which included about 345,000 M1903 and M1903 (modified), about 711,276 M1903A3, and just 26,653 M1903A4 (short of the 28,365 ordered)

[Harry Collins]

Mark,

Though your rifle is not a Parker, I find it beautifully sporterized and in a configuration I admire.

Harry

[Dave Tercek]

I recently handled a Parker Snow rifle with the Miller conversion. It was in pretty good shape.
How common are these and what prices are they bringing ? (approximate range).
Thanks, Dave

[Rick Losey]

a Parker Snow with the conversion just sold at auction a couple weeks ago- hammered at $675

it was in decent condition

i would say not "common" but this side of rare -

[Dave Tercek]

Thanks, I'll have to check it out again. It's probably way over priced though.

[Rick Losey]

a friend who really knows them looked at the auction gun with me and estimated it would bring 700 to 800 -

so he was almost dead on - remember - this was not an excellent condition gun- but had no major flaws

[Bill Murphy]

A nice sporterized 03 Springfield with some German influence. Extra stock finish is about all we can say about its condition without better pictures. Not the zenith of Springfield sporters because of the absence of a Griffin and Howe scope mount. The serial number will tell us more, as will better pictures. It seems to have a base for probably a Lyman 48 peep sight. The first step in returning a rifle like this to its original modified sporter configuration would be to remove the scope and mounts and find someone who can invisibly fill the non original screw holes in the receiver. Prewar Springfield aftermarket sporters reach their best value as iron sighted guns that have never been scoped. The exception would be a rifle fitted with a Griffin and Howe side mount, installed with blind screw heads at Griffin and Howe.

[Jay Gardner]

From the profile of the stock it looks similar to a Sedgley but I don’t believe Sedgley had cheekpieces like that one.

[Garth Gustafson]

Mark, that’s a beauty and you’re in good company. Ernest Hemingway had a sporterized Springfield ‘03 very similar to yours. He bought his from G&H in 1930 and it became his favorite big game rifle. He had so much confidence in that gun that he even took it to Africa and shot rhinos, Cape buffalo and lions with it. If anybody used a .30-06 for that today they would have their head examined but this was the 1930s. Sadly that rifle was stolen from his son Patrick’s house in the 1970s and it’s whereabouts are unknown.

[Jay Gardner]

I had sporterized 1903 from G&H that was chambered in 7x57 and one from Sedgley chambered in 30-06, both fitted with Lyman 48’s, neither were drilled/tapped for scopes. Sporterized 1903’s should be standard issue to any rifle enthusiast although some question the safety of Springfield actions in certain ranges of serial numbers. Regardless it’s hard to beat the utilitarian nature of a sporterized Springfield in 30-06.

[edgarspencer]

Sedgley guns were more utilitarian in appearance than G&H, but very nice guns. G&H had the attention of lots of gentleman out for a stroll at lunch, and I suspect many were bought and never shot.
My favorite G&H was a .22 Hornet built from an M2. My all time favorite Springfield was built by Bob Owen*, and letting it go was yet another indication I had screws loose.
I have a National Match '03 and G&H look alike 22 Hornet now. They will have to do.

Belding & Mull made a beautiful bolt mounted peep site and I held on to one forever, thinking the right gun to put it on would come along. All the was required to mount was to unscrew the cocking piece on, and replace it with B&M sight. In the end, I think I sold it at Baltimore for more than what I would pay for a gun to put it on.

*Bob Owen, AKA RG Owen, ran the custom shop at Winchester for many years. He was a skilled gunsmith, whose work in wood and metal were beyond reproach.

[Richard Flanders]

I grew up with a G & H .30-06 Mauser with a set trigger, Schnable FE, solid matted rib, folding sights for 80 and 175 yds, shadow cheekpiece. A nice light carbine. What a straight shooting gun that is. My brother has it now.

[Jay Gardner]

The Griffin and Howe side mount was a great invention. There was a trap door in the metal buttplate where the Lyman 48 could be stored when using the scope. The two levers on the side mount locked a scope firmly in place returned the scope to zero. A perfect combination. My 7x57 was not fitted with a side-mount so I had to rely on the peep. Much better than irons with aging eyes, but pretty limiting in typical hunting conditions.

[edgarspencer]

I grew up with a G & H .30-06 Mauser with a set trigger, Schnable FE, solid matted rib, folding sights for 80 and 175 yds, shadow cheekpiece. A nice light carbine. What a straight shooting gun that is. My brother has it now.

Rich, Griffin's Mauser actioned rifles were every bit as beautiful as their Springfield based guns. Most of the "Heavy" guns were built with '98 actions.
It's a personal preference for me that Springfields get my heart racing. Kinda a Ford vs Chevy sort of thing.