Well the letter came today and it has great detail but it is not a lost relic from a famous individual. The gun was ordered by F.S. McClure who was the manager of the Robert Ward & Co, (Imperial Cannery) in Vancouver BC. Robert Ward & Co was a turn of the century fish cannery in the Vancouver area owned by British interests. Nothing to exciting on Mr. McClure but everything looks 100% original. Couple nice details in the letter:
Silvers rubber butt
Two Lyman sights
2 3/4" chamber
Good stock measurement detail
4 blade Damascus noted.

Still looking for some 28" Damascus barrels

Best regards.

Here's the letter on 87712. Note the date of Dec 24 1897....just the next month (and the day before Christmas).

It's also interesting how Parker did a lot of repair work for free for the original owner but it seems like by the time the second owner sent it in they had had enough and charged him!

Kirkover was an outdoorsman, dog enthusiast, Republican, and a big shooter....

Step one get the wood fixed......thank you Chris Dawe.

WOW

great work Chris

Did you ever find barrels for it Brian? Fantastic first step!

One heck of a start, Incredible !!!!

I have a set of D3 and Brad B has something put aside for me as well. This particular gun was specific in the letter having 4 blade.

I forgot to mention if you look on the original picture there was a heck of a splinter out of the tang and it had a HUGE sling swivel stud big enough to chain your dog to. Chris did a bang up job on the splinter and delicately inlaid a diamond in the wood using the checkering lines to hide it for the stud .......whoa buddy it is real nice work!

Cant wait to see it brought back to its full glory. Kudos to you for saving it. It found the right person.

I'm still biting my nails waiting to see that CHE 20 gauge again!!