Help with value of my Parker

[Daniel Dare]

I have a Parker DHE, 16 gauge #239267.
Made 1935 with mostly Parker markings but a few Remington. It’s 2 3/4”, #2 frame. The stock is full fancy #6 grade walnut checkered, 22deg pitch, 14” standard stock, ball grip and recoil pad. There are 2 barrels,#1 is 28” choked modified and full, #2 is 26” choked IC and Mod. Both have identical serial numbers matching the stock,ivory sight beads and standard forearms. It has automatic ejectors and single selective trigger. Engraving is excellent with bird dogs on the sides and flying ducks under the trigger. There is minimal wear with partial case colors remaining. I’ve shown it to 2 gun dealers who say that it’s a 85% gun. It came with an original custom leather case marked LYMAN BARR,# 10 So Lasalle, Chicago, Illinois. Any help with valuation would be appreciated. I’ve looked it up on Blue Book of Gun Values so I have some general idea but don’t know what 2 barrels and custom case would add. Thanks

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Hi Dan, sounds like a wonderful gun--BUT, #2 frame?? Most 16's are on a 0 or 1 frame, I have seen a 1 1/2 frame, but not a 2 frame, but doubtless they could be ordered that way. The frame marking is on the barrel lug. Detailed pictures are needed to assess any kind of value. Pictures are simple to load from phone or computer--follow the Manage Attachments bar below your reply.
A 2 barrel set in that kind of condition would bring some serious money, but we need pictures.

[Daniel Dare]

Did you receive the file with 39 photos?

[Bill Murphy]

NO, try again.

[Daniel Dare]

Here are my photos.I have additional information. The frame is indeed a#1. There is a medallion on the underside of the stock with the original owner’s initials,LEB for Lyman E Barr. The grip appears to be a semi-pistol grip. The recoil pad has been professionally applied and reads in very small print ‘Old English Pachmeyr.

[J. Scott Hanes]

In the prior post you mentioned 39 pictures. Are you going to post others? This is a great Parker; one anyone would be proud to own. Could you at least post a photo of the two barrel sets, side by side, upside down with the forends removed? What are the stock dimensions?

[Daniel Dare]

I have 39 pictures but it’s been quite laborious getting them to the website one at a time. Tried to send the whole file but it was impossible. I’ll send the picture that you requested. Stock dimensions were listed in my original post with the only errata being that it’s a #1 frame and it’s a semi pistol grip. Gun has only had 2 owners since it was made and it’s been well taken care of.

[J. Scott Hanes]

You only mentioned the LOP and the pitch angle of the stock. What are the measured drops at comb and heel? Thanks.

[Dan Steingraber]

That’s a great set. Looks like the stock and forend wood have been replaced at some time.

[CraigThompson]

Hi Dan, sounds like a wonderful gun--BUT, #2 frame?? Most 16's are on a 0 or 1 frame, I have seen a 1 1/2 frame, but not a 2 frame, but doubtless they could be ordered that way. The frame marking is on the barrel lug. Detailed pictures are needed to assess any kind of value. Pictures are simple to load from phone or computer--follow the Manage Attachments bar below your reply.
A 2 barrel set in that kind of condition would bring some serious money, but we need pictures.

Harold I had a DH 16 with 32” that was on a 2 frame . Had another in my hands that was on a 1 1/2 frame but didn’t purchase as it had barrel separation issues .

[Daniel Dare]

That’s a great set. Looks like the stock and forend wood have been replaced at some time.

I’ll take closer pictures of each bc the wood is absolutely original. I’ve known the second owner for 50 years. Her husband bought it for her in 1970 but it was used sparingly. The original owner, Lyman Barr , was a commodity broker in Chicago who died in the late 60s. With intact case colors it seems unlikely that it was used hard enough to require wood replacement.

[Dan Steingraber]

I’ll take closer pictures of each bc the wood is absolutely original. I’ve known the second owner for 50 years. Her husband bought it for her in 1970 but it was used sparingly. The original owner, Lyman Barr , was a commodity broker in Chicago who died in the late 60s. With intact case colors it seems unlikely that it was used hard enough to require wood replacement.


Dan,
If you go to the home page and click on the Grades tab you can scroll down to the D Grade page and see what the wood should look like. I'm far from an expert and anything is possible but I noticed that the cheek piece is checkerd on the stock and there is no drop point and the forend shape looks off and there is no metal decorative inlay on the tip. Still a great set.
Dan

[David C Porter]

The forearm metal is for a beavertail forearm

[Ryan Brege]

I’ll take closer pictures of each bc the wood is absolutely original. I’ve known the second owner for 50 years. Her husband bought it for her in 1970 but it was used sparingly. The original owner, Lyman Barr , was a commodity broker in Chicago who died in the late 60s. With intact case colors it seems unlikely that it was used hard enough to require wood replacement.

I don't believe that is original case coloring. I have never seen something like it but I sure doesn't look correct.

Ryan

[Randy G Roberts]

Daniel IMO your gun has had a Miller ST added, the butt stock could be original but the checkered side panels are an added embellishment and not the work of PB. The colors are not the work of PB either. The SFE's are not the original wood as evidenced by the lack of the metal tip and the checkering which is not typical of this grade. My guess is that the pad is also a replacement. This does appear to be a legit 2 barrel set which is cool. Looks like there are factory records available. I would order a research letter. We have seen some strange requests over the years, maybe the letter would support some of the features that we are suspect of. No matter what it is really a nice configuration.

[Dean Romig]

The forend iron is that of a BTFE style in that it is stepped to accept the threaded reinforcing screw. Further, the forend checkering is that of a Grade 3 or 4 original BTFE. A research letter may address the originality of aspects of the forends.






.

[Steve Huffman]

The serialization book has the stock as capped. Time for a letter and I'm no expert and haven't looked at too many Remington era Parkers but the Color Case is strange might be the pictures just saying.

[Daniel Dare]

Thanks everyone for your input. For an introduction, I’m a 75 yo recently retired Orthopedic surgeon. I’m an avid sportsman in hunting and fishing. I own a lot of hunting rifles and shotguns but I have never owned a high end Parker like this gun. I acquired it from a lady in her 90s as a favor to help her tidy up her estate. I’ve been researching this gun for over a year and bought the 2 volume set “The Parker Story “. I’m not holding myself out to be a Parker expert like all of you, just learning. What I can say with confidence is that this gun is exactly like what it was when it was purchased in 1970 and has not had any reworking by her or her deceased husband. I spent a lot of time researching Lyman Barr finding out that he worked in the Chicago commodity market and died in the late 1960s. Any advice that you can provide would be appreciated as you are the experts in Parkers , not me. I’d be happy to send more pictures if you want. Just give me very specific details. Thanks again

[Dan Steingraber]

Welcome to the Parker community. I’m certain you’ll find the collective body of knowledge of this group re: all things Parker enlightening.

[Daniel Dare]

Can someone please give me the address to request a letter regarding this gun. Thanks

[Randy G Roberts]

Can someone please give me the address to request a letter regarding this gun. Thanks

On the "Discussion Forum" scroll down to the bottom of the topics to "PGCA Member Online Research Letter Requests", it's the 3rd from the bottom. Open that up and all the info you need is right there to complete the form and email it in and make the payment. If you prefer the slower method you can go to the home page, click on Research Letters in the tree on the left and print the actual letter request and send it in via USPS with a check, once again all the instructions are on the letter request form.

[Aaron Beck]

Not to say that this applies in this case but I would guess that people were working on and "restoring" parker guns since production stopped and probably before as well. We have seen from letters that Parker would take guns in and rework them, ditto Remington, even using aftermarket components or subcontractors. Others were likely up to the same, some reputable some less so. I hope the letter sheds some light on it but regardless thats a nice 16ga with known provenance.

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, 50 years is only a small part of the life of most Parkers. A Parker that is unmolested since 1970 is not neccesarily an original unmolested gun.