Guess the Grade, Part 2

[Bruce Day]

For those interested in seeing guns.

[Ed Blake]

Looks like an unshot Grade 2. Beautiful.

[Bill Zachow]

Grade 2. I have one just like it, but, sad to say, not "quite" tat good condition. I have 2 guns that carry the number 526 but do not know what it signifies. Beautiful gun.

[Mike Shepherd]

I don't know the grade but I know the condition. That is the best condition of any antique hammergun I have ever seen.

Thanks for posting it Bruce.

Best,


Mike

[Angel Cruz]

I don't know the grade but I want one!!

[charlie cleveland]

looks like a 100 dollar grade...but i would give more.... nice gun... charlie

[edgarspencer]

Would Grade 2 have sculpted bolsters?

[Chuck Bishop]

Am I allowed to guess?:whistle:

[Dave Suponski]

No....:cool:

[Bruce Day]

Am I allowed to guess?:whistle:

Of course, we are not some kind of new person for whom the thoughts of any experienced Parker collector would be taken as an absolute. These early guns blurred the lines between grades, and grade was also dependent upon gauge. This is a 10 guage, which makes a difference. I know what it is considered to be and will post that later.

[Chuck Bishop]

Bruce, the key to the grade is the price paid. It certainly is unusual.

[calvin humburg]

Stunning!!! 3 pin with sculptered bolsters and bursts. Interesting 4 sure u say.

[Scott Janowski]

it is a WOW! Grade

[Dean Romig]

Going strictly by the checkering pattern of the forend, my opinion is that it is a ....

Damascus barrels were used on lower grades such as Grade 1 so the fact that it has Damascus barrels is no determinating factor... And it has no game scenes, which, by the specific scene is usually a determining factor on later guns... And we don't know what the price was so that is not a determining factor... so I'll go with my gut and stick with the forend checkering pattern and call it a ...

Grade 2!!

[Angel Cruz]

I think it's a Quality 1 with the nice engraving,

[Daryl Corona]

Grade 2++

[todd allen]

One word. Wow!

[Dave Noreen]

Why is it stamped U on the watertable? A U-Grade should be a Twist barreled, straight grip, 12-, 14-, 16- or 20-gauge gun?!? A pistol grip 10-gauge with Damascus barrels like this gun should be a E-Grade.

[Bruce Day]

You see why the question was asked. Jack Puglisi thought it was a U grade based on the frame stamp but that doesn't agree with the 1882 catalog description. I agree its a grade 2 gun but whatever the condition is extraordinary. People responded here who know their Parkers

[Mark Ouellette]

The caption for Figure 3 on page 9 of the Parker serialization "book" states the following:

"Marks "U" and "x" (on the watertable) are sometimes found on guns in this serial range (13900 shown) but are not understood."

The gun featured in this thread is #13739. There is also an "x" next to the U.