The best research is looking at engraved Parkers before 1881.

research
 

Bill, Ive been looking but I havn't found one with any pheasants yet. Lots of sage grouse and quail but nothing I think looks like a pheasant before the late teens. but im sure there are guys out there who've seen alot more early parkers than I have

Here are sage grouse. You've seen these on Parkers? I've seen sharptailed grouse but never sage grouse. I'd love to see photos.

Several years ago, Charlie and I made a special trip to Montana in pursuit of sage grouse. We never did bag one, pheasants yes but no sage grouse. Sage grouse are about the size of small turkeys and live only in sage.

Wrong Grouse?
 

Bruce Im not sure but I thought that these looked more like sage grouse than sharp tails on a 1901 parker G It has some birds on the bottom I thought might be sharp tails.

More Parker Ornithology
 

Here is the bottom of the gun with what I thought were sharp tails however I guess they could be quail the G engraving is usually pretty abstract.

I'm not sure what they are. They are not correct for either sage grouse, prairie chickens, sharptailed grouse, or any quail species I am familar with. But, its still nice that we got gamebird engraving of probably a prairie grouse species rather than just repeticious scroll .

Now I know this one is ruffed grouse.


(owned by a friend)

Yep, Cant mistake that one. what a nice gun. I guess if you spring for an A grade you dont have to guess the species

Pheasants on Hammergun
 

My 37911 made about 1885 has two Pheasants on the left Lockplate and
two Ducks on the right lock plate/

Here are some "Parker engraved" sage grouse on the under-side of VH 145522. "Engraving" courtesy of my Dad and CIL Imperial #4's. Late '60's near Manyberries, Alberta.. No need to add sage seasoning when eating these birds.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1..._Grouse001.jpg

Hey now "thats what i'm talkin about", he isn't wearing any gloves. Great pict jack suppose you still got the VH? Old School bought all gone.