She's a Beauty!

[Scott Eberle]

So a friend of mine just came to me talking about how he stumbled into a couple of classic firearms and was asking if I could get them cleaned up for him and "what are they worth?" The lesser of the two is an old S&W revolver (still a beautiful gun) and then he pulls out one of the most beautiful shotguns Ive ever seen. So this is as presented, before knocking off the little bit of surface rust on there. Checkering is pristine. Now I am just trying to figure out if I need to sell a kidney or a maybe a few dozen eggs to buy this off of him. Any information on this beauty is appreciated. What I have gathered so far....
1887 Top Lever Hammer DH Grade 3
1,352 produced
Serial # 49877
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14205
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14211
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14206
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14209
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14207

[Dan Steingraber]

So a friend of mine just came to me talking about how he stumbled into a couple of classic firearms and was asking if I could get them cleaned up for him and "what are they worth?" The lesser of the two is an old S&W revolver (still a beautiful gun) and then he pulls out one of the most beautiful shotguns Ive ever seen. So this is as presented, before knocking off the little bit of surface rust on there. Checkering is pristine. Now I am just trying to figure out if I need to sell a kidney or a maybe a few dozen eggs to buy this off of him. Any information on this beauty is appreciated. What I have gathered so far....
1887 Top Lever Hammer DH Grade 3
1,352 produced
Serial # 49877
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14205
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14211
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14206
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14209
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14207

That sure looks like a beauty. More pictures please. Barrel pics showing the pattern and some of the muzzle end. You'll know more about it in short order.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Very nice is an understatement!

[edgarspencer]

Not DH, H is for Hammerless. Beautiful gun.

[Scott Eberle]

Here is a couple more. Will hopefully grab a couple more pics of the muzzle end this evening.
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14212
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14213

[Craig Larter]

Very nice, but why no damascus pattern shows. I would expect some nice pattern in the protected area of the barrel flats. It almost looks like it was cleaned at some point or blued and cleaned? Very strange

[Dan Steingraber]

Very nice, but why no damascus pattern shows. I would expect some nice pattern in the protected area of the barrel flats. It almost looks like it was cleaned at some point or blued and cleaned? Very strange

Considering the condition of the other metal parts I wondered as well.

[Arthur Shaffer]

That gun looks to be in excellent condition. I do however agree that the CC looks odd. THe locks have intense blue color, whilethe protected areas have almost none remaining. Looking at the wood and checkering vs the metal, I would think an older refinish and maybe recut. Still a very desireable gun.

[Scott Eberle]

Ok, many more detailed pictures now that I have it in my hands for a few days. Also I can share the story behind it now that I have finished crying about it. So a friend of mine was approached by an elderly woman in his neighborhood. She said her husband passed away in 2021 and she was wondering if he would sell his guns for her. When he said he would help her out and try to find out how much he could get for them, she said "No, they are yours, whatever money you get for them you keep." She said her sons didn't want them and she just wanted all the guns out of her house.
So here are some more pictures of the $0 1887.
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14231
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14230
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14216
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14228
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14224
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14220

[Dave Noreen]

Beautiful Grade 3.

[Dean Romig]

That gun looks to be in excellent condition. I do however agree that the CC looks odd. THe locks have intense blue color, whilethe protected areas have almost none remaining. Looking at the wood and checkering vs the metal, I would think an older refinish and maybe recut. Still a very desireable gun.



It is quite typical that the color retention on the lock plates is stronger than on the frame and other steel parts. I don’t know the reason for this but I have a few hammer guns where this phenomenon is very evident.





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[Mike Koneski]

Geez, sorry to see that your buddy got an abused Parker. Top lever is bent, probably was rusted stuck and the owner strong armed it. Metal butt plate is deteriorated so badly the buttstock shows through. We won't even go into the dangerous Damascus barrels known to blow up at just the mention of smokeless powder. I need to do my due diligence and offer to take that accident-waiting-to-happen off your hands. I'll trade you 1000 209 primers for the wall hanger. :whistle:

[Andrew Sacco]

Geez, sorry to see that your buddy got an abused Parker. Top lever is bent, probably was rusted stuck and the owner strong armed it. Metal butt plate is deteriorated so badly the buttstock shows through. We won't even go into the dangerous Damascus barrels known to blow up at just the mention of smokeless powder. I need to do my due diligence and offer to take that accident-waiting-to-happen off your hands. I'll trade you 1000 209 primers for the wall hanger. :whistle:

Mike you're going to feel bad if that gun shows up on your doorstep now, aren't you?? :rotf::rotf::rotf::bigbye:

[Mike Koneski]

Not sayin' a word. We've been in contact.

[John Dallas]

Mike - How many primers are taking up space in your safe? Will work out a swap for my outstanding winter coat being offered elsewhere here.

[Scott Eberle]

I agree that the wood is suspiciously immaculate, particularly the checkering. However there are two very tiny cracks (one from the top tang to the shield, the other off the back of the right side plate) and neither of them seem to have any finish inside the cracks. So if it was refinished, it was done a while ago. I’m assuming the ends of the barrels were cut at some point. And the pictures don’t show it well but there is still some coloring in the lever and much of the metal just not as bright as the side of the plates. The owner definitely took great care of his firearms. The rust is because since he passed, it was thrown in a $20 plastic gun case with a tube sock over the end of the barrels to keep it from rubbing the stock next to it.

[Scott Eberle]

Geez, sorry to see that your buddy got an abused Parker. Top lever is bent, probably was rusted stuck and the owner strong armed it. Metal butt plate is deteriorated so badly the buttstock shows through. We won't even go into the dangerous Damascus barrels known to blow up at just the mention of smokeless powder. I need to do my due diligence and offer to take that accident-waiting-to-happen off your hands. I'll trade you 1000 209 primers for the wall hanger. :whistle:

That is a VERY kind offer. I tell you what, throw in a dozen eggs and maybe the name of someone that can sell me a gas powered stove and you have a deal!!

[John Knobelsdorf II]

“I’m assuming the ends of the barrels were cut at some point.“ as per Scott, at # 16 above.


Scott: How long are the barrels?

[Mike Koneski]

That is a VERY kind offer. I tell you what, throw in a dozen eggs and maybe the name of someone that can sell me a gas powered stove and you have a deal!!

You have a deal! I have brown, green and blue eggs. Most are large and XL. I also have access to a gas stove/cooktop combo. See how easy this is?

[Scott Eberle]

“I’m assuming the ends of the barrels were cut at some point.“ as per Scott, at # 16 above.


Scott: How long are the barrels?

Barrels are dead on 30”. I was assuming they were cut based on looking at some other shotguns I have about the same age (none are Parker’s and all very low end). But the other barrels all look like they taper to a fine edge at the muzzle where as the Parker seems to have been flush cut at some point. Is this standard for Parker’s?

[John Knobelsdorf II]

My copy of Price & Fjestad (picture below) shows to expect 30 inch barrels.

At Page 206 the entry is: 49877 D3 T 0 C 12 30

A letter from our Researcher based on factory records is the strongest confirmation I know of for how they left the factory (when records are available, as for your example).

[Dean Romig]

Scott, please post pictures of the muzzles and the top rib at the muzzle.





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[Mike Franzen]

Looking at your picture of the muzzle, the barrels don’t appear to have been cut. That’s nice old hammer gun.

[Scott Eberle]

First of all, thank you to everyone for all the info so far. If I can convince him to sell to me, the first thing I will do is get the letter from the researcher. If he won't sell it, I am still going to beg him to get the letter. Sorry for the gap in replying, we don't winter very well here in central Texas and its been a rough week. Finally got some pictures out in the sunlight and the Damascus shows much better. When I initially saw the pictures he had sent me asking about this, I told him my best guess as to value was going to be between $2K-$6K depending on overall condition. Any of you have a better idea of real value on it?
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14239
https://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=1058&pictureid=14243