You could buy a really, really, really nice high grade Parker SBT (my present infatuation) for around that.

Well it's certainly above my pay grade but if I was to buy that gun I think I would shoot it as is as long as the stock is sound enough. To me that gun has character and certainly would be a conversation piece.

For $20K I could buy a select fire sub-gun!!

I went to that gunshop in southern NH to look at it. I asked the owner if I could examine it and he couldn't figure why I drove over an hour to look at "that piece of rusted crap." He tole me that he told the woman who brought it in he would be surprised if he could get $300 for it. I assured him it would fetch well over $7,000 and he guffawed at that absurd figure, that he'd been around guns all his life and knew better than to even think it would sell for even close to that much. I took a bunch of 'before' pics. It had stood in a fieldstone cellar of a house on the coast in Swampscott, MA for almost fifty years. That humid salt air spread a rust powder all over it.

There are a lot of high grade hammerless Parkers around and many in great condition, but this is only the third B grade hammer gun with steel barrels that I know of. It is a rare gun, good luck to the bidders! Gary

There were 7 Grade 5 fluid steel barreled, top lever, hammer guns made.
Five of them had 32" barrels. Two had 30" barrels.

I made a mistake in my previous post.
There are 8 identified Grade 5 steel barreled hammer guns.
Six with 32" barrels and two with 30".

But only 5 made with Titanic Steel barrels and the subject gun is the only known TI5 T/A hammer gun with 32" barrels.





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I don't know if it's six, or five, but we know it's more than one because we Just revisited Mark Conrad's FS thread.

My figure of 5 with Titanic Steel barrels came from the tables at the end of Grade 5 guns n the Grades section of Vol. 1 of TPS.

We know and have evidence of the fact that because of missing books these figures are not absolute... so there may be more of just about anything...





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Heading for the SB. Can Terry let us know where his figures come from?

Lots of various sources, but all serial numbers have been verified by the PGCA Research Chairman.

I don't know if we're all on the same page here.

The subject gun is a Top Action Titanic Steel barreled gun with a barrel length of 32 inches, apparently one of only two known to have been made in that particular configuration and is one of only possibly 6 Grade 5 Top Action Titanic Steel barreled known to have been made.





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I think that Dean has the same question that I do. Terry is a more than good friend and I trust his research, if I know what it is.

I have verified that there are at least 8 Grade 5 Titanic Steel barreled exposed hammer guns.
Six of them have verified 32" barrels, according to the Parker records.

Terry, will you be revealing your source for this data in an upcoming Parker Pages article?





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Dean,

Any report on the condition of the barrels? Ribs tight, decent bores, walls hollowed-out to "beer can" thick, oops, thinness?

Needs 7-8K worth of resto work (to include a new stock) to make it shootable - Would be a fun vintage clays gun which is why I'm chasing it.

Thanks for any additional info!

JW

And, it's a helluva lot cheaper (and cooler) than a similar configuration in a Purdey!

Jeff, regarding the Fox I examined, it was in near new condition before being exposed to decades of salt air. But it was quite superficial and cleaned off easily without compromising any of the original finish. It still retained over 90% original case color and barrel blue. Perfectly functional in every respect.





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Dean,

I misunderstood...Thought you were referring to the Parker "B" hammer on GB. Guess I'd better spend more time reading than typing...

Does anybody have a barrel condition report on the "Parker"?

I don't know how the seller can give a barrel condition report if he doesn't own a bore micrometer or wall thickness gauge. He is a pistol dealer with supposedly no shotgun experience. I wish I were closer so I could help him out with the proper tools.

Me too Bill...Has stalled my enthusiasm for this gun.

Far be it for me to shay away from a "project" gun, but this one has moved from risk to folly unless some viable barrel data materializes and quick.

Otherwise I hope that whomever gets it doesn't get burned!

Woops. This gun has slipped up to $9825 with just two hours to go.

We'll be waiting for news from the successful bidder. Congratulations.

Sold for $12691. Boy was my estimate off.

The heart wants what the heart wants. If the successful bidder decides to restore this grand old girl to her former glory, I hope we get the opportunity to view her.

Not to restore this potentially beautiful gun would be shirking one's responsibility IMO.





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It appears Jeff Wemmer (posts above) was the successful bidder. I hope Mr. Wemmer joins the PGCA and keeps us posted on the restoration. This is one heck of a hammergun. I’d love to see it in restored condition.

-Victor

Sold Jeff Wemmer a WC Scott some time ago. He likes his hammer guns.

I thought it would go for a little more, A friend was bidding on it so I did not bid, Either way you look at it the gun is pretty rare and I hope the winner gets her back into her fancy dress, congrats to him, Gary

PM to Jeff Wemmer
 

Jeff Wemmer, I sent you a PM but I'm not sure you can get a PM. Let me know.

100% in agreement, 100%! The trick is to tastefully restore it, not attempt to make it look new. The only caveat to the previous comment is that a replacement stock will be in the offing.

When completed the gun will look like a well cared for, yet well used vintage gun. However under the hood it will get the full mechanical overhaul to ensure another 121 years of reliable service.

Of course all this is contingent on whether or not I just bought a wall hanger!:knowbetter:


We'll see in a few days!

Fingers X'd...

Good luck! I specialize in projects and you never know if it will be salvageable and for how much.

Amen brother, Aaaaa-men!