Newbie w/ 1st Parker questions!
 

First off I scoured the Internet and this seems to be the place to be!

Bought my 1st Parker at auction yesterday.

Here’s what I know so far-
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Parker Brothers SxS 10ga Lift Lever
32” Damascus Steel (very visible)
Grade ? (I think pre- actually labeling)
Produced 1874
Serial # 3025 (all matching serials)
Marking- Pat Nov 13 1866

Water Table Markings-
F 9 R (meaning ?)
B 3025 (meaning of B?)

Barrel Flat Markings-
6 on left barrel flat (meaning?)
D & a symbol on right barrel (meaning?)
#2 on lug (frame size I think)

All original no refinish work that I can tell.
Stock is straight palm & has the gold shield on top

Sorry for newbie lingo still learning (only 18 hrs in:)

Bump..

Have a look at the main Parker Club site. Date of manufacture, grade information etc. is avalable. More detail best if you can post photos. Be good to add specific questions too. Restoration, repair, shooting etc.

My lifter is about the same age.

William

Chad, Appears to be quite the acquisition -- congratulations. I second the suggestion to post some good photos. There's much to be learned from the folks on this site, and you'll be amazed at what can be determined with some good photos.

Pics 1 & 2
 

More pics coming

Pics 3 & 4
 

Barrel flats & water table

Questions that I haven’t been able to answer yet on my own-

1- Grade?
2- Bore restrictions?
3- what all the water table markings mean
4- what some of the barrel flat markings mean

Yes I have looked at several of the documents on the site that I could find.

Any further help is appreciated! Thanks for the replies so far!

It is a “dollar grade” and generally speaking, only a research letter can confirm the grade.





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Dean, THANKS! I assumed that but didn’t know for sure.

Next question is how do I acquire a research letter I’ve seen several references to them.

Chad,

For research letters, I suggest you go to the www.parkerguns.org page and click on two of the links found on the left side of the page. First, click on the FAQ link and near the bottom of the page that comes up you will find 6 links under the heading Research Letters; give each a read to learn what they can provide and where the information comes from.

Then, back on the main web page, click on the link for Research Letters that is found in the list of links. There you will find how to obtain one. Note that you may want to join the PGCA first to get a membership and a letter..... it's the best deal in town (membership discount for a letter and all..)