External Hammer identification help

[Jason Cash]

Good Evening,
I have a Parker Bros external hammer shotgun with the following identification marks, but cannot determine what I have. Any help is appreciated.
Serial number 131577
Year - 1878
Frame size - 1
Barrel weight - 3 with 14 to upper right
Grade - “P”
Barrel - Twist

Thank you,
Jason

[Dean H Hanson]

Jason,
That serial # is not in the Parker ID and Serialization book. That gun was made in 1905, a very late hammer gun. Sounds like a grade 1 or P grade as you have suggested. I assume the barrels are 30". Pictures would be very helpful. Feel free to PM me if I can be of more help.

[Brian Dudley]

Yes, a VERY late hammer gun.

[Dean Romig]

The 1878 stamp is a patent date, not a YOM.

The barrel weight could even help to determine it possibly being a 16 gauge.



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[Jay Oliver]

How is the overall condition? Interesting that it's a "P" grade, but does not have laminated barrels like earlier grade 1 hammer guns. Though twist barrels are what a PH would have at the time if they were not fluid steel. It would be great to see some pictures!

[Dean Romig]

True Jay, in certain time periods there were Twist Steel barrels intersected with Laminated Steel barrels - then later there were Parker Steel barrels.

To every season, turn, turn, turn, there is a reason, turn, turn, turn, and a barrel steel for every purpose under Heaven.






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