Parker brothers 8 or 10 gauge ?

[Hal vogt]

Hi, need some help.
I have 1881 Parker brothers serial number 21005 it has a M next to a 5 and 8 is on top of that .
Has a 3 on the lug
And has 098tt on the water table adjacent to the M5
Thanks for any info.

[Phillip Carr]

Hal post a few pictures and you will receive plenty of information from the members here.

[John Knobelsdorf II]

The entry in the Parker serialization book, Price & Fjestad reads for 21005

PT U 0 S 10 32

Grade 0 gun with plain twist barrels.

Under lifter opened action.

No Optional extras.

Straight grip.

10 bore.

32 inch barrel length.

Judging by the number of similar entries around this one in the serialization book, it was a very popular configuration.

Pictures can get you specific commentary.

See page 121. https://www.amazon.com/Parker-Identification-Serialization-Charlie-Price/dp/1886768374

If you care to really learn and want to study these guns, just go ahead and get the book as soon as you can. If you don’t get it now, you’ll get it later and wish you had it before.

Parker started production of the Grade 0 (zero) in 1869. Parker started its grade numbering system at zero to denote their lowest grade made at that time. As Parker introduced the named grades they named Grade 0 guns R, S, T, U and VH. Except for the VH which describes all Grade 0 hammerless Parkers, the other names describe Grade 0 hammer guns based on various gauge and stock configurations. This grade had Decarbonized Steel barrels in the beginning and later used Plain Twist, Stub Twist or Plain Steel barrels. The early grade 0 guns were back action lifter guns and evolved into the front-action lifter.

[todd allen]

The 10 gauge Parker was popular with pigeon shooters back in the day. Later rule changes limited the game to a 12 ga maximum size gun.
The 10's load was an 1 1/4 oz, back then, if I recall correctly.

[todd allen]

BTW, I tried to buy a high grade 10 ga underlifter some time back from Herchel Chaddick.
The gun shipped to me turned out to be a 3 frame 12 ga.
No problem, I kept the gun. Still have it.
Shot box birds and sporting clays with it over the years, with no regrets.

[Hal vogt]

Thank you.