1881 12G - Need help w grade & value

[DennisZolotor]

My uncle passed on to me a Parker 12G SxS hammer gun. I was able to identify this about the gun, but the grading is too confusing. Can anyone help by providing more information, especially about the grade and possible value?
• Serial #24296.
• Date of Manufacture: 1881 (serial number range 20289 through 24304).
• Top Lever Shotgun.
• Stamped Genuine Laminated Steel on barrel rib (estimated production of 2,682).
• Frame size stamped on barrel lug is 3 (10,12,16 frames).
• Barrel weight is not stamped on the flat.
• Left barrel is stamped 'CHOKE BORED'.

[Brian Dudley]

This is not a Parker Brothers (of Meriden, CT) shotgun. It is a imported “knockoff” as they call them.

Looks like a T Parker on the plate?

It is not worth much. Maybe $100-200

These are generally considered as wall hangers due to their relatively poor quality of manufacture. Most are real rattle traps today.

[Rick Losey]

Brian is correct
I can only see one in the posted picture, but if you look at the proof marks on the under side of the barrel and google “Belgium proof marks”. I think you will find they match

[Drew Hause]

Dennis: It is a Crescent Model 2 made about 1898 and sold by Sears.
The barrels are Twist.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1OxZo5Tkvx2G8eYf747QR9B5RJdN6Siu5JGIhfguSXX Q

Sears sold other Parker knock-off variants; some by Crescent and some from Belgium

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20091267/293688561.jpg

The gun was not of high quality when new 120 years ago, and I would suggest cleaning the external surfaces and hanging it in a place of honor in your home.

[Dave Noreen]

T PARKER NEW YORK is not a Parker Bros. shotgun, the subject of this organization.

At first glance I thought the gun was one of the cheap Belgian guns that flooded the world from the 1880s to WW-I. But with no proof marks on the barrel flats and watertable it may be a cheap North American made gun built to compete with the cheap Belgian imports after the McKinley tariffs were in place.

I have no pictures in my files of a Crescent Fire Arms Co. hammer gun with that style top-lever and the Purdey-style double underbolts of the gun in question.

[Bruce Day]

Parker G 1881, 12 ga 1 frame , 28”. 7 lbs, open choked

[DennisZolotor]

Thank you all for the quick response and information. Much appreciated.

[Drew Hause]

Hard to read, but I have this listed as T. Barker New York and it appears to be the same gun

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20091267/367227315.jpg

The OP's gun looks to have a J spring 'pull off' FE rather than the later Crescent "Deeley & Edge" FE attachment

Crescent "American Gun Co. New York" and I believe the same gun

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20091267/338249503.jpg

[Drew Hause]

Even more confusion. This is the T. Barker listing in the 1902 Sears catalog, but the engraving is clearly T. Parker.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20091267/414455248.jpg

"Royal Damascus Finish" would be Faux Damascus.

Again, the OPs gun has no proof marks so is not Belgian.