Buying my first Parker

[Alan Terry]

I recently joined PGCA and looking to buy my first Parker. I’ve been doing a lot of reading trying to learn the identification markings and their meanings. If someone could help me with these markings it would be greatly appreciated.
SN 72708
Grade 6
DD
Barrel wt 4 (I think)

Sorry the photo is upside down.
Thank you

[Dean Romig]

WOW - That could be a real gem!! It's a Grade 6, the next highest grade at that time and DD indicates the Finest Damascus barrels.

72708 is not in the Serialization book but there are surviving factory upon which to base a PGCA Research Letter.

Order a letter asap!




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[Alan Terry]

Thanks! What is the 4 x marking under the DD?

[Dean Romig]

Can you show a sharper picture of the barrel flats?
Have you acquired the gun yet?





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[Alan Terry]

Does this help? No, have not acquired it yet. Trying to determine exactly what I’d be buying.

[Brian Dudley]

Buy that gun!

[Dean Romig]

Well, I agree with Brian, depending on the asking price and if the rest of the gun is original and in good shootable condition.

First thing to to is to verify how it left the factory, e.g. barrel length, stock configiguration and dimensions etc.

First of all send a PM to Chuck Bishop, our research chairman, and pay the $40 for a research letter. He may even be able to expedite the research info if you prepay the letter.





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[Alan Terry]

The seller already has a letter and everything appears to be original but the barrels have been “reconditioned”….whatever that means. I’m having a hard time finding out approximately what this gun is really worth.

[Dean Romig]

If the barrels are still 30 inches it's a keeper. It was made as a show gun to display the finest quality gun that Parker made in the day and was a real show-stopper as it continued to be sent for shows and expositions.

According to the barrel flats stamp the unstruck weight of the barrels was 4 lbs., 4 oz.
the lbs. stamp was a broken 4 die and the ounces stamp was a superscript 4.





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[Alan Terry]

Dean,
I sent you a PM

[Randy G Roberts]

The seller already has a letter and everything appears to be original but the barrels have been “reconditioned”….whatever that means. I’m having a hard time finding out approximately what this gun is really worth.

Alan, by reconditioned they mean refinished with a new Damascus pattern added. I remember this gun, the barrels were very poorly done to the point they appeared almost orange. It's been on the market a long time and as this is a VERY desirable configuration/grade that alone would make me ultra cautious. Just my proverbial 2 cents. Good luck !!

[Stan Hoover]

Also, I would add that it Has Damascus Barrels, look on shell boxes, it will tell
you ''Not Safe in Damascus or Twist Steel Barrels''.

Harry

Thanks for the giggles Harry:rotf:

[Craig Larter]

Is this the gun that the owner said the barrels were redone by G&H in brown and white? If yes he shopped it around and was firm on his asking price which I considered high considering the overall condition.