Very nice gun and in above average condition for the age, appearing from the pictures.

Definitely a grade 2. The "2" on the water table, above the serial number is the grade. A really nice looking gun. Is the actual barrel length 28" as the serialization book reports? I see a fair amount of remaining case color. What we can see of the wood also looks pretty good. If the bores are good you may have a real winner there. Congrats.

Kenn, Thats a nice looking grade 2 you have there! hard to beat those old lifters, amazing how tight some still lock up. Parker made a fine gun! Gary

Get yourself a copy of the Parker Gun Identification & Serialization and you will be able to do the same. Inexpensive at something like $35. Then add to that a copy of The Parker Story, a little more pricey but you'll have a lot of info.

[QUOTE=Kenn Hogentogler;254543]Thank you so much! I have no idea how you figured it out from all those chicken scratches however I do appreciate it very much.

That first picture of the "barrel flats" you posted has the D stamp indicating Damascus Steel and the K stamp (actually touching the D {unusual}) indicating the inspection of Charles A. King, who was the gunworks superintendent at the time.






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To me it looks amazing for being made in 1881. I was made a hundred years later than that and it still looks better than me.

My yes it is 28" thank you for noticing.

That was a lot of fun! I don't get to say "it's 28inches " that often.

This is a very high condition gun for its age.

So, honest opinion: Does the gun go above the fireplace or in it?

Well certainly not in it. With the proper inspection and the proper low pressure loads, it could even be fun to shoot it.






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