Missing sight

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

I recently purchased an Antique Parker 12 ga. It’s an F grade. The bead sight is missing. My local gunsmith cannot find a replacement. Any advice?

I’m new to this forum. Thanks for the help

Jordan

[Dean Romig]

Welcome Jordan - I’m sure someone will come on with good advice.





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[Phillip Carr]

Jordan if you know the size and thread count, or if it is a press fit I’m sure someone here can help you out. I picked up a large number of Ivory beads awhile back. I’m sure others can also direct you to a replacement bead.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

OK, what is an F grade Parker? Couldnt find it listed in the Parker grades

[Rick Losey]

yes, pictures please

[Dave Noreen]

A Quality F should be a Grade 2 10-gauge with a straight grip.

[Harry Collins]

Sights have been threaded on all the Parker barrels I have dealt with. I thought I had the thread size written down in my notes, but can't find it. Parker sights have a mushroom shape, I lack for a better term. I too would like to find a source for a few.

[Dean Romig]

I’ve seen them callet a sight or sighting nail.





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks for the clarification Dave, had never heard of an f grade

[Russell E. Cleary]

There are a lot of obscure Parker letter grades on page 215 (Fig. 8.1 – Overview of gun grades in numerical order) in THE PARKER STORY, by L. Parker; C. Price; W. Mullins; R. Gunther; D. Cote; (edited by F. Childrey).

[Brian Dudley]

I have seen P grades called F grades many times by thise not in the know due to light stamping on the P.

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

I purchased the gun from Rock Island. Serial No. 69903. Manufacture date May 7 - October 8, 1888. My gunsmith told me it was a tapered sight. Does that help? I’ll learn how to add pictures. Thanks everyone.

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

Is the grade stamped on the gun?

[Brian Dudley]

I purchased the gun from Rock Island. Serial No. 69903. Manufacture date May 7 - October 8, 1888. My gunsmith told me it was a tapered sight. Does that help? I’ll learn how to add pictures. Thanks everyone.

If it is a tapered sight, then it likely was not original.
The standard parker sight was a threaded nickel silver bead. With a numner 2 threaded post. Other sights such as irory could have been special ordered.

Your gunsmith may just have to fire up his lathe and turn something for it.

[Dave Noreen]

Thanks for the clarification Dave, had never heard of an f grade

In the hammer gun days for the Grade 0, 1 and 2 the list price of the 10-gauges was $5 more and a pistol grip was $5 more and hence the listed four Qualities for each Grade. The only catalog I have that breaks this out is the Ed Muderlak reproduced "Blue Ink" 1900 --

86369

86370

The Quality E, F, G and H were the Grade 2 guns. The Quality R, S, T and U were the Grade 0 guns. According to The Parker Story, in the 1880s and 1890s there were Quality I, K L, M, N, O, P and Q which were all Grade 1 guns.

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

Hope picture helps

[Brian Dudley]

I saw your photo on the other thread.
That hole is not from an original sight. So just put whatever you want in there. But the hole is pretty big. Even a factory installed ivory sight would not have a hole that big. A bushing may have to be used to get something in there.

It is hard to tell, but the barrels look like they could have been cut.

[Craig Budgeon]

I believe the correct thread size on original Parkers german silver sights is 2-64.

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

Thank you very much. Where would you look to find a suitable replacement?

Jordan

[William Davis]

If a sight has to be made & considering your location I would take it to Kirk Merrington in Kerrville Tx

William

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

I’ve emailed Kirk regarding the missing bead sight. Thanks for your help. I’ll keep you posted.

Jordan

[Jordan Gay Stanley]

I don’t know if I’ve posted this picture.