I sincerely hope you find the second set someday. I also hope set #1 is a set of Bernard barrels..... there were scant few two-barrel sets of Bernard - fewer than a half-dozen if I am correct.

I thought about my last post, after I had posted and logged out. "If" The Parker Story lists each shotguns configuration with the primary set of barrels, and "if" the letter comes back as a 2 bbl set, then the primary and 2nd set are the same length. 87131 lists in The Parker Story as 30" and the 2nd set is also 30". Why 2 30" setes of bbls? Unless they are different chokes? The set I have is Imp. Mod - RT bbl and Full Left. Maybe the letter will tell.

According to the ID & Ser Book barrel set #1 is Bernard Steel and you have barrel set #2 which is Benard Steel. It would appear that you have one of the very few Parkers made with two sets of Bernard barrels. I repeat - I hope you find that other set someday.

Redoftx, my two barrel Bernard set was separated for decades, was finally reunited last year. Post your serial number on the Restoration subforum for missing parts and wait.

Dean I hope I find the primary set too, if it is indeed a 2 bbl set.

Mr. Murphy, I followed the thread about your missing set, now reunited. Congratulations.

If 87131 does turn out to be a 2 bbl set, all I know to do is possibly work backwards from the gentleman from whom I bought the gun. How did he acquire it? If he is willing to give my name/ number to that person, how did that person come across the Parker?

There may be answers to some qustions in the letter. 2 bbl set or no. Name of original purchaser in 1897, etc.

Did I read here or somewhere, that the PGCA will have a booth at the NRA convention in Houston? There are men here who have been collecting and shooting Parkers for longer than I have been on this earth. I was hoping to meet a few in Houston, and I am bringing the CH, to get some input and direction.

Thanks, Robert Dillon

Letter received today.

http://i.imgur.com/leOdKcD.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TscDfeL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TszKkJ2.jpg

By reading this letter, does it appear that this shotgun has two sets of barrels or three? To me it looks like three, unless I have misread it. I have the Bernard set choked mod. and full, with a "2" on the forend lug and "2" stamped on the forend itself ahead of the serial number.

I googled SD&G and got nothing as far as any surviving record from them. I googled "J.E. Lawson Columbia SC census 1900" and got the runaround as far as links. Nothing definitive on Mr. Lawson yet, unless someone can suggest a better website.

This is the fun part about these guns, researching past owners, their histories, occupations, etc. Thanks to all who have helped so far.

Mr. Lawson may have had three sets in his possession for his CH or Parker Bros. may have kept or scrapped the barrels that "do not work right". I am at a loss as to which set of barrels "do not work right" and were returned to "solder on extension rib".

With all those stock and butt modifications Mr. Lawson MUST have been a trap shooter :rolleyes: