Parker help/advice

[Steve Wilson]

Hello everyone, first time poster from South Dakota. I'm sure most of you have had this question a 1,000 times and hate it, but you all seem to be experts on these beauties so here I go!

I acquired a old Parker in a estate type deal. I have no idea what I have here and everything I try and look up online just confuses me more and actually led me back here.

So my question to you fine gents, what do have, is it worth anything, should I sell it or keep it, worth restoring? Thanks in advance!

[ED J, MORGAN]

Steve, You have a Parker Bros. GH grade 2 , 12 ga. , 1 Frame with 28" Damascus steel barrels. Nice piece. Join the club and get a letter of information on the gun if available.

[Alfred Greeson]

Nice old Parker. It is on a #1 frame which is usually a frame used for a 16 gauge which makes for a lighter 12 gauge gun. It appears to be a well used gun like most of them are but they are well built and the grade 2 has some nice engraving. The Damascus barrels can be checked and determined to be safe provided you use appropriate shells for them which are now available. Join our association and you can get more information and connect with a lot of knowledgeable owners who are always glad to discuss parkers.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Very nice gun Steve, in good shape--nothing to restore there! Assuming the bores look good, it would be a handsome shooter. I have a 16 ga Grade 2 GH close to that serial #. As I recall it is from either 1893 or 1897 with that serial #.
Grade 2's were popular guns, a step up from the "base" model.

[Chuck Bishop]

Looks to me like the stock head is not flush with the action. I think that needs to be investigated.

[Steve Wilson]

Thanks guys! I've mailed the research request letter off today to get some history on this guy. I'm a Browning Citori guy and am amazed how well this gun feels and pulls up! Probably nothing that I'll ever shoot but still very cool. Great eye Chuck and yes you are correct, the stock is loose and would need some attention if to ever be fired but other then that it seems super solid. Another question, if I wanted to clean the breach to bring out the etching and shine it up what do you fellas recommend? How about the barrel?

[Rick Losey]

Looks to me like the stock head is not flush with the action. I think that needs to be investigated.

i agree - there seems to be a small gap on the left side - it would be worth having the stock checked for a split in the head area. other than that, if the barrels are good - i wouldn't mess with any restoration - its a nice survivor and like Harold says - would be a fun shooter- i have a 1 frame 12, I often take for grouse and woodcock

but - I'll also say - nice clear pictures - much better than we often see and easier to give you information about your gun

[Hal Sheets]

Thanks guys! I've mailed the research request letter off today to get some history on this guy. I'm a Browning Citori guy and am amazed how well this gun feels and pulls up! Probably nothing that I'll ever shoot but still very cool. Great eye Chuck and yes you are correct, the stock is loose and would need some attention if to ever be fired but other then that it seems super solid. Another question, if I wanted to clean the breach to bring out the etching and shine it up what do you fellas recommend? How about the barrel?

DO NOT try to "Shine Up The Breach", you'll do more harm than good, rubbing off any case colors that are left. Wait till you get more knowledge on the correct was to clean it up, but first have the stock head repaired.
Best advice is, go slow & do no harm. Looks like a nice GH !

[Garth Gustafson]

Congrats on your GH Steve, if your question is how to highlight the engraving you might be interested in this thread,

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26850&highlight=Highlight+engraving

[Brian Dudley]

The gun is in overall good condition by way of metal, with a decent amount of original finish remaining. The barrels particularly are very nice. There IS something odd going on with the buttstock. My first thoughts were that the head may be cracked and spreading (as some others suggested), but I kind of think that the stock MAY be a replacement from another gun and a larger frame size. Your guns is a 1 frame. The stock on it may be from a 2 frame gun, which is wider a the action. The buttstock seems to be a little bit of a mismatch to the rest of the gun. And the amount that the wood is proud from the action does not match gapping at the tangs. Which makes me think larger replacement stock.

[Ken Descovich]

I would certainly clean off the rust on the buttplate screws.

[Bill Murphy]

I would buy that gun off a gun show table and worry about the wood fit when I got home. Your gun has lots of original finish, enough to create interest in Parker collectors. Don't clean it too much.

[Bob Lovell]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NctsWtCbvWNyXMqS7I was given this elegant (used & badly abused) 12 ga. Parker Bros. shotgun. I want to restore it, but realize it will take a lot of hard work and labor. It is a grade 1 (K), Frame size #2, ; serial number (90797) made in 1899 according to my meager research. It has a very nice (Vulcan Steel) barrel. However, nice on the inside but with surface rust on th exterior, I believe it has been re stocked, but am not sure. The stock does not match the grip wood under the barrel. I know the former owner (deceased) and he killed many turkeys with it years ago! Don't believe he ever cleaned it. He did not take care of this wonderful work of art. It is very dirty but sound and will yield to a complete clean up. It needs a sear spring (old style). I do not know where to find one. I am in no hurry and am trying to learn how to dismantle and remantle such a very complex but beautiful action! I am dismayed at the mulated screw heads! can clean them up, but would prefer to just replace them with new stock if available! I cannot believe that such a masterpeice could have been machined in 1899, but here it is! Please help me bring back this masterpeice and quality firearm! I will send photos when I can.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NctsWtCbvWNyXMqS7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iWeuCbd3wWNG7G3p6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wiVugGo4Ap3gw8Ki9

[Rick Losey]

I was given this elegant (used & badly abused) 12 ga. Parker Bros. shotgun. I want to restore it, but realize it will take a lot of hard work and labor. It is a grade 1 (K), Frame size #2, ; serial number (90797) made in 1899 according to my meager research. It has a very nice (Vulcan Steel) barrel. However, nice on the inside but with surface rust on th exterior, I believe it has been re stocked, but am not sure. The stock does not match the grip wood under the barrel. I know the former owner (deceased) and he killed many turkeys with it years ago! Don't believe he ever cleaned it. He did not take care of this wonderful work of art. It is very dirty but sound and will yield to a complete clean up. It needs a sear spring (old style). I do not know where to find one. I am in no hurry and am trying to learn how to dismantle and remantle such a very complex but beautiful action! I am dismayed at the mulated screw heads! can clean them up, but would prefer to just replace them with new stock if available! I cannot believe that such a masterpeice could have been machined in 1899, but here it is! Please help me bring back this masterpeice and quality firearm! I will send photos when I figure out how to transfer them to this page.

if you are skilled with the right tools - Brian Dudley posted instructions

http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=307

you can also contact Brian Dudley for parts-

if you are going to clean the rust look at getting some Frontier pads

http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

they can remove light rust without damaging the remaining finish- but keep it off the wood