Parker CH Grade

[John Allard]

I've always wanted a nice American made double and I have chance to buy a Parker CH Grade. Here's what I know: It has 30" Acme barrels, 12 ga. and choked skeet and full. Serial # dates it 1914. The engraving is dogs on both sides and a running deer on the bottom. I would say it's about 85% overall.

I don't know what the length of the chambers are, nor do I know anything about the frame size.

I can't post picture's because the gun's in a store. I'm interested to hear from some Parker experts as to what I should be asking the owner about the gun and what is the price range for a gun like this.

Thanks for any help. John

[Rick Losey]

if you share the serial number we may be able to give you some of the original specifications - if it is in the "book."

[Bruce Day]

An 85% gun historically sells for much more than lesser condition guns. An 85% gun is very rare. Condition is commonly overstated. Sure its an 85% gun? 85% would look near new.

A 1914 C would have ejectors as standard.

Post photos.

[Brian Dudley]

A ch grade would be a good one to have. My current goal is to some day have a ch grade for my personal collection. As stated, you should start by checking the serial number against the surviving records, if there are records on it. This will tell you if the gun is in it's original configuration. Then confirm the price against the condition of the gun. And of course check the gun's function 100%. Check lockup, operation, and if it is a Che; make sure the ejectors work. If it is at a gun shop, I am sure the price high enough that the seller would be willing to allow you to spend enough time with the gun for inspection, if it means a sale.

[John Allard]

You guys are great! Serial #169481. To answer Bruce's question, no, I'm definitly not sure it's an 85% gun. I can tell you that the receiver where the engraving is located is quite silver with very little case color. The action lever is also silver no case or blueing. The barrels are 80 percent blue maybe a little better. Stock is very good with some handling dings but no major gouges, but there is a tiny hairline crack behind the top tang. The checkering has some flattening but overall it's good. Mechanically it appears sound. I'm not an expert so I could miss something. It has 2 beads both are ivory. Because the frame, top lever and trigger gaurd are pretty bright silver with mimimum case color I suspect that the previous owner may have done some light cleaning? Thanks agian for any thoughts.

[Rick Losey]

169481 according to the book is 12 bore grade 4 with Acme steel barrel with 30 inch barrels a capped pistol grip stock and no extras.

so it sounds original - except I might wonder about skeet and full. Its possible it was ordered that way, but also possible the right barrel as been opened.

[John Allard]

I forgot to mention that the bores are bright and appear very good. Question: What is a "grade Four"?

Assuming that my discription is accurate, is this gun worth $6,000?

[Bill Murphy]

A PGCA letter could tell you what the original chokes were. A picture may help us determine the actual condition. Good luck. Not a lot of C grades in retail stores.

[Brian Dudley]

Case colors do not show up as much on heavily engraved frames. Traces that are left can get lost in the engraving. If the gun does not have ejectors, then it would have been special ordered that way and the order credited the cost for the ejectors, I believe $25. The guard would blued, so if it is all silver, than that is a diecent amount of wear.

[Bill Murphy]

A Grade 4 is a C grade. $6000 is a bunch of money unless the gun is in rather high condition. It doesn't sound like it qualifies for that price range.

[Rick Losey]

[QUOTE=John Allard;85423]Question: What is a "grade Four"?
QUOTE]

grade 4 is a C

[Rich Anderson]

It doesn't sound like an 85% gun but it does sound like it has honest wear to the engraveing and the lack of case color. What is the butt treatment? It should have a skelton but, meaning there will be an engraved outline of the butt in metal and the center will be checkered.

Take the forarm off the gun and check to see if there is any movement of the barrels on the action. If there is then it might be a tad loose or off face.

I would ask the seller if you could take some detailed pictures then you could post them here and we would have a better idea of condition and therefor render more assistance to you.

A CH Parker is a great start. I wouldn't worry about the chokes as I have a CHE 16 that left the factory with IC/F chokes.

[John Allard]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll try to get some photo's and post them here for your analysis. Thanks, John

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

With the Acme barrels, Even at 60% the gun is probably priced right! and as someone stated there might be some wiggle room. I have owned several "C" grade guns, both bernard, damascus, Titanic and Acme and none of them were less than 6000.00 when purchased a nice C or grade 4 is a good find! Gary

[David Dwyer]

If the receiver is mostly silver, Trigger guard is silver , the barrel blue is about 85% the gun is not 85% overall. The amount of case color on the receiver is the primary determining factor in overall condition. I would guess the gun sounds like 10-20%. condition but impossible to say without really good pictures. Sounds like a nice gun though.
JMHO David