Thinking about purchase of a 16ga Parker-

[Linn Matthews]

Serial number is 203985. I have seen a picture and am aware that it has 28" barrels. Can someone advise any other details that might be available. I am reluctant to purchase the Parker letter this early in the game.

Thank you

[Dave Suponski]

Linn,Gun number 203985 is in the"Book" as a Parker Special Steel G grade 20 gauge with 26" barrels,pistol grip stock,added barrels and ejectors.

Sounds like a nice gun...:)

[Rich Anderson]

David-By the term added barrels are you implying it's in the book as a two bbl two guage set??

[Dave Suponski]

Well Richard...I gotta tell ya...Linn says its a 16 gauge and the book says its a 20 gauge. If those 16 gauge barrels are marked 2 that would seem to be the case. Wouldn't that be a nice suprise!!?But the book has been wrong before..:crying:

Linn is the gun listed as a two barrel set?

[Linn Matthews]

Gun shown with one set of barrels and is still called a 16ga. I have forwarded the info and asked for some more discussion. Mysterious isn't it?

I appreciate the interest and help.

Linn

[Richard Flanders]

Linn: You'll want to push hard as to whether there is a second set of factory barrels with the gun. That would make a HUGE difference in the value. Try to dig up any previous owners if you have to. If they're not available now, it sounds like they were at some point and searching for them would be well worth it.

[Linn Matthews]

Thanks Richard--I will do so but first I want to make sure that it is the same gun.
Appreciate your help and interest

Linn

[Gill Frye]

For what it's worth serial # 203986 doesn't match the book either.

[Robert Beach]

Linn,

As luck would have it, Parker 203985 is in the Von Lengerke & Detmold records that are in the custody of Griffin & Howe, Inc. The VL&D records came to us when we were all part of Abercrombie & Fitch. G&H is the only surviving business still in the firearms trade. The shotgun was received at VL&D on November 23, 1923 and is described as being a GHE and having "2 bbls". The record indicates that the gun is a 20 gauge with 26 inch barrels choked Cyl & Mod. but there is no description of the second set of barrels, just that there is a second set! Nor is there a record of the weight of the gun. The explanantion may lie in the fact that the date of disposition is the same as the date of acquisition. That usually meant that the gun was a special order for a customer and, as such, there was not as much need to record every specification since the firearm already had a buyer. This has often been noted in the records - special order guns are not a completely described as guns for stock. Written documentation, along with the name and background of the origianl owner, is available from G&H. Now if we could only help you find those 20 gauge barrels!

Compliments of Griffin & Howe, Inc

Bob Beach
Records Archivist

[Linn Matthews]

Thank you very much for the research, Bob.
I did determine that the gun is an "0" frame with the S/N on the barrels. There is no "2" stamped on the barrels. So, it looks like the gun is missing a set of 20ga barrels with the same S/N--and I would guess that they are the 26" set indicated
I am most appreciative of all the help that I have received. Thank you

Linn

[Trigg Davis]

I want to take a moment to complement Robert Beach on hte work he does. He has provided wonderful information to me on some of my guns. I would also suggest that contacting Robert to get information on ones gun and copies of the records can be an intersting and pleasant experience.

[Dean Romig]

I second that statement Trigg. Bob has been more than helpful in my requests for information - Above and beyond the call I would say.

Thanks Bob,
Dean

[Linn Matthews]

If I may--I would think that finding a particular set of 20 ga barrels (once part of the package) is next to impossible. So, if I make the decision to go for the 16ga on the "0" frame am I locking myself into a gun that no one else will ever want? Sure, I can look and look for the original barrels or get another set somehow but that may not pan out.
Thoughts?
Thanks

Linn

[Dave Suponski]

Linn,I wouldn't let the fact that there is only one set of barrels scare me away. An "O"frame 16gauge gun is very desirable.If condition and selling price prove to agree I would buy it.

[Ben Yarian]

16 guages on O frames have become my favorite Parkers
Ben