Contact, by email today! Thanks for your confidence, Dean. I haven't given up on the Norris gun either. Jack Cronkite gave me the original source of contact. I'll keep everyone informed.

Murph, sorta reminds me of AHF #35. Good luck.

tjw

Tom, you have a good memory. The Fox #35 barrels cost about $125 and were about a five to ten year search. The CH #86988 barrels cost $400 and this not yet completed search is about 15 to 20 years so far. My search for the gun that goes with my $200 A-1 Special 32" 20 gauge barrels took about ten years. All of the barrels were gun show finds. So far, I have located three guns for four sets of barrels and have not bought one of the guns yet. Maybe this will be the one.

Things are progressing nicely and a cross country gentleman's exchange has been negotiated. If the gun's back end is presentable, I may actually post my first pictures. The wonderful sets of Bernard barrels and the just as wonderful ex-John Davis DH back end were displayed at the Vintagers a couple of years ago, but the full C grade package should be a bit more impressive.

I can't wait! Keep us informed please Bill. If you have trouble with posting pictures, I can help.

Dean

Cnngratulations Bill. Look forward to pics :)

bill the parker boys that are upstairs must be lookik after you...hope all goes well....this will make a great storey....i cant wait....charlie

What's today, July 8, 2012? I have owned these barrels for twenty some years, been running ads on the PGCA website for as long as we have been here. I have periodically posted on Dave Weber's site also. No results. Then, in January of this year, Jack Cronkite ran a google search on the serial number, something I had never thought of doing. His search resulted in a hit that was only three months old. If Jack had tried the google search just four months earlier, the search would have come up dry. With the help of Bud Stanley and his website, and a lot of patience, the owner's email address was flushed out. It took another good while for the owner to respond and I started to doubt that the email address was current or correct. After months of no replies, on July 1, the owner replied, "I do have the shotgun." He related the story of finding it in his attic in PA. By July 3, a fair price was negotiated and now I will pay and wait. To review the discovery of the barrels, a story that has been told here before, here goes. Kevin McCormack and I have displayed Parkers at the Baltimore Antique Gun Show for many years. However many years ago, twenty or more, Kevin came back to our table and told me about a fellow in the back of the room that had two sets of composite Parker barrels for sale. They were housed in a leather trunk case and were priced at $450, an astronomical price for composite Parker barrels at that time. Kevin was not interested but thought I may be. I can't resist a money losing project, so I paid for the barrels and threw them into the gun room. In 1998, I went to Ilion with the PGCA research committee and found the original order for the gun and trunk case, as well as a repair order. I researched the original owner, whose name was engraved on the rib of both sets of barrels. I will tell that story later. Thanks to all who gave me support, especially John Davis, Kevin McCormack, Jack Cronkhite, and Bud Stanley. Dean Romig has offered moral support on this and other searches of mine. Of course, if this project comes to a climax, I will have the owner of the gun to thank also. Apologies to my hero, Jack Cronkhite, for misspelling his name through this entire thread. Stay tuned, it shouldn't be long now.

After the above find took place some 20+ years ago, we adopted the working tenet for ALL gun shows; "Don't forget to look UNDER the tables!!!"

Bill, I can't think of a nicer end to the saga of your orphaned barrels. I hope the gun is everything you have wished for in all these years. Congratulations for your perseverence and the faith that the gun would surface someday. This story renews a 'hope' in a lot of us who have orphaned barrels and other parts in our personal gun room inventories. :clap::cheers::cool:

Bill, This is wonderful news. We are gonna have to find a way for you to get some pictures on here. And maybe a story for Parker Pages?......:whistle:

WOW! Can't wait to see pictures but please display the C at the Vintagers. Great story of friendship and taking a flyer that paid off two decades later. Very nice.

Great story Murph....you work hard on your research & dillegence. Congrats! Ya gotta love those money losing projects...I have a list of 'em.

tjw

I'm excited about this as much as anyone....but you're going to jinx it if you start the counting before the chickens are hatched.

This is great news for everyone that loves fine guns.I hope the gun is worthy of your efforts and diligence.

Sounds like a good occasion to pull one of your stockpiled bottles of Jack Daniels special reserve out for a nip or two...

Thanks for sharing this great story. I hope the end results are as wished!

Todd

Thanks to all that commented and congratulated. The secured funds are in the mail and I am patiently waiting. 1897 gun, so no FFL to deal with. Communication is cut off because my computer went out just before I left for 11 days in the hospital. Will be home today and will start the serious waiting. I will try to get my friend, Kevin McCormack to spiff up the #38 Parker leather trunk case for the trip to Rick Hemingway's. I know that original Parker walnut cases seem to have survived in some numbers. What is the survival rate of pre-1900 Parker leather cases? This is the first one I remember identifying, certainly the first I have identified from the original order.

Congratulations Bill ,What a Great Story ! Hope you are Feeling Well !!! By the way ,You Are The Man !!!!!!!!:bowdown: Russ

that goes for me too what russ said..... charlie

This story deserves the cover of Parker Pages. Patience and Perseverance Pays. :)

Billhow did the hospital stay go? I hope every thing is OK. The Parker god is watching over for sure! congratulation gary

Gary, another six or eight weeks gun room recovery for the new right hip. May be able to look at guns at Rick's, not much before.

What happened to your hip? Didja break it? I never saw you limping... and I know from limping, trust me!

Should I get in line for your guns??

Anyway, keep us posted. I expect pictures... USPS is okay - I know you don't post pictures.

Nope, no broken hip, a replacement, just an aged and abused body on a journey to complete destruction, part by part, day by day. In reference to your second question, I guess I should ask The Lovely Linda to start preparing a Rolodex of current email addresses because my junk is not going to be sold with an 18 1/2% buyer's premium. At my estate sale, a cased .410 Skeet marked at $7500.00 will sell for $7500.00, no tax, no buyer's premium. Y'all come.

You can't pull that Gene Hill stuff on this crowd... We know that the Lovely Linda knows the true value of your "junk" :cool:

Bill please pass this on to the Lovely Linda, rlanderson410@msn.com just in case...you know:)

Linda is not taking this Anderson guy very seriously. The last Parker she sold him was 95% brown and had a 13" stock broken off at the wrist. She has paid more for a washer and dryer. Her profound statement was, "Do we really need rednecks at your estate sale?". I reminded her that she always liked Rich. She threw up her hands and said, "OK, it's your ?@"&:?@ estate sale. Invite who you want.". Rich, don't worry. You're in.

Bill, As usual the "Lovely Linda" is right. I easy to not take Rich seriously...:) This might be a good time to put in for my invitation...:rolleyes:

On a serious note...I wish you a complete and speedy recovery.

New hip, eh? Good on you. Looking for work?? I hear the Jets are in need of a place kicker...

Rich is a redneck?:shock:

Just wait untill she sees what I did to the last Parker she sold me:eek:

Rich, if anyone gives you crap about your non ejector project, remind them that my last two or three expensive projects were also non ejector guns. It's the wave of the future.

I received notification that the owner of the CH back end has received payment, will ship early next week. Things are progressing. I have no pictures and I didn't ask for any. I will try to get Kevin to pick up the case for freshening if he is in the area. I haven't gotten any replies to my case question. "Has anyone seen a pre-1900 Parker leather trunk case? Are there any out there?" Thanks for helping.

Hey Bill,

I have a leather covered trunk style Parker case that came with my 1884 Grade 3 Top Action two barrel 10 gauge. The style is listed in that era Parker catalog. I forget which number case it is but number 6 sticks in my head...

Mark

Thanks, Mark. I bet that's a great looking outfit in that case. Have we ever seen a picture of that gun and case on the forum?

Bill,

Nope, I've never shot the case. Since based on your informal survey mine may be the only surviving example of a pre-1900 Parker leather trunk I suppose I should get out the trusty Nikon...

Okay, else has an old Parker trunk case?

Mark

Mark,
The case is the reason we were bidding against each other on that gun!
Jeff

Jeff,

It is is rather good condition, isn't it? :)

Here's the letter from the gun:

Parker shotgun, serial number 41525, was ordered by Rev. P. J. Kearney in Fulton, NY on June 17, 1884 and shipped on September 27,1884. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 16 it was a Quality 3 Top Action hammer, 10-gauge. It featured Damascus steel barrels with a length of 32 inches and 28 inches. Its stock configuration was a pistol grip. According to Parker Bros. Stock Book No. 15, its specifications were: Length of Pull: 14 114", Drop at Heel: 2 7/8", Weight: 8 pounds and 9 ounces with the 28 inch barrels and 9 pounds 15 ounces with the 32 inch barrels. The price was $125.00 plus $60.00 for the extra set of barrels less 20% = $148.00.

Mark

Wow, that's a great gun. Does the order say anything about the case.