New user from Idaho.

[Chris Cherry]

Thanks for adding me to the group, I just bought my first Parker and then looked up this group and joined to gleen more information on my purchase as well as learn about this beautiful shotgun.
Looking forward to gaining more knowledge on Parkers and possibly adding more to the collections.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Congrats Chris on your first Parker, looks to be a VH(E),can't blow picture up but looks to be in decent shape. How long are the barrels and what gauge is it.
Click on the home link and you can find out more on the different Parker grades.

[Chris Cherry]

30 inch barrels in a 12 gauge. S# 93664

[Chris Cherry]

Congrats Chris on your first Parker, looks to be a VH(E),can't blow picture up but looks to be in decent shape. How long are the barrels and what gauge is it.
Click on the home link and you can find out more on the different Parker grades.

Thank you Harold, looks like it's about 125 yrs old from what information I could find.

[Chris Cherry]

I have a few questions on this Parker. What shell length, I have seen some information that it might be a 2.5" but nothing I see notes size.
Can these older guns take factory loads or do I need to download for it, I reload for my Clays guns.
Are there other sources to get more information on this unit, such as was it color case hardened, it looks as if it may have in areas, but maybe it's just age spots...
Thanks in advance.

[Chris Cherry]

A few more pics for documentation.

[Dean Romig]

Hi Chris - It's a VH and was built about 1900. It most likely was made to shoot 2 1/2" shells
but can probably digest standard 2 3/4" loads but keep away from any heavy or magnum loads. At about 124 years old and who knows how many various uninformed shooters have owned it and hunted with it I'm pretty sure a lot of 2 3/4" shells have been fired in it.

Incidentally, you won't find a source of more informed Parker gun people than right here on the PGCA website.





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[Chris Cherry]

Thank you Dean, that certainly helps, I may trim some hulls down to give it an easy start in it's new home.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Chris, probably not necessary to load 2 1/2" shells. I shoot 7/8, 3/4, and 1 oz reloads at less than 1200 fps in 2 3/4" shells. Little to no recoil, soft on your shoulder and gun stock.

[Chris Cherry]

Thank you Harold, I do have a few boxes of 1oz reloads that are too lite for my Auto5's that will be perfect then.

[Bill Murphy]

Your gun has been updated with the 1910 tapered bolt plate, a factory update.

[Dave Noreen]

Those appear to be a new set of barrels with the 1910 bolt plate. They have the V in a circle barrel steel mark. A set of Vulcan Steel barrels of 1899/1900 vintage would have the Kf barrel steel mark.

127843

The V in a circle barrel steel mark generally begins appearing in the 135xxx serial number range about 1906.

Could you show us a picture of the left barrel flat and the legend on the top rib? may give us some more information.

[Dean Romig]

And Remington Arms Co. discontinued stamping the steel grade in the circle on the right barrel flat and on the top rib of barrels manufactured in Ilion.





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[Chris Cherry]

Those appear to be a new set of barrels with the 1910 bolt plate. They have the V in a circle barrel steel mark. A set of Vulcan Steel barrels of 1899/1900 vintage would have the Kf barrel steel mark.

127843

The V in a circle barrel steel mark generally begins appearing in the 135xxx serial number range about 1906.

Could you show us a picture of the left barrel flat and the legend on the top rib? may give us some more information.

Adding some pictures, I will have to take some more.

[Dave Noreen]

Thank you for posting the additional pictures. The CT., U.S.A. in the rib legend means 1919 or later and the fact that there is no PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED stamps on the barrel flats --

128266

means the new barrels are from before 1926. I have a gun that got a set of barrels in that same time frame and unfortunately there were no surviving records to confirm the installation. My barrels have a number stamped on the left barrel flat --

128267

Is there a number in that location on your barrels?

[edgarspencer]

A 2 frame 20 has got to be pretty rare.

[Chris Cherry]

Thank you for posting the additional pictures. The CT., U.S.A. in the rib legend means 1919 or later and the fact that there is no PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED stamps on the barrel flats --

128266

means the new barrels are from before 1926. I have a gun that got a set of barrels in that same time frame and unfortunately there were no surviving records to confirm the installation. My barrels have a number stamped on the left barrel flat --

128267

Is there a number in that location on your barrels?

Several more.

Thank you again for the information, seems like lots of changes in 125 yrs. LOL

[Dave Noreen]

Wish everyone who comes on here with questions was as good with pictures as you have been.

What part of Idaho are you in. I'm in Washington but can see Idaho from my back deck a bit over a mile away.

[Chris Cherry]

Good evening,
I'm in Emmett, 30 minutes north of Boise.
Like this area, but like North Idaho better, my family moved to Sandpoint about 25 years ago from SoKal. Hard to beat the Freedom here!
Thank you for all the data on the Parker, they don't come around much, I'm glad I snagged this one.
It's going out for a test this weekend!