B Grade 8 GA
 

Hi all. I had a wonderful time meeting a few of y'all up at The Eastern Panhandle SxS shoot today at Prospect Hall. Thank to everyone who made me feel welcome. What a suprise it was when the Parker Association was kind enough to display the gun at the Parker booth.

As some of you may know I have had more to contribute the the A.H. Fox Collectors site but I think this gun deserves some attention and I would love to learn more about it and Parkers in general. I believe it is a grade 5/B, #7 frame, 34" barrels, and the serial number returns 1893. I have not put it on a scale but she is a BIG BIG girl. If any of my terminology is incorrect please correct me. I would love to hear any comments or information y'all care to share. I did change the serial number but if any one here would like to know what it is please PM me.

All the best,
Jonathan
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Wow

Welcome Jonathan, and thank you for the pictures.

Did you enter the serial number on the link from the home page to see if records still exist?

That would be a great gun to get a letter on.

Sure did. The PGCA says they have records. I am very curious myself.

In my Dreams I once owned this gun. If you would be so kind could you tell how you came in possession of this beauty.Thomas

Gentlemen,

The Crusty Old Basxxxx and I drove 500 to get to the Eastern Panhandle shoot and seeing and holding that high condition B Grade 8 gauge Parker was worth the trip by itself. Then there were Johnathon's half dozen Burt Becker built AH Fox guns!

Oh boy did you guys miss out!

Mark

Jonathan;
It was a real pleasure meeting and shooting with you yesterday. Thanks so very much for bringing your collection of Becker Foxes and that one of a kind, gorgeous grade 5, 8 gauge hammer gun. Wow! Also, thanks for letting me shoot that great CE. Please try to attend more of our SxS events as you are a fine gentleman and a great addition to our group.
Daryl

Jonathan, That is a beautiful 8 ga gun in grade five, always wondered if one was out there some where now I know, would have loved to shoulder that gun thanks for sharing! Gary

Youse guys can have much more information on Jonathan's family waterfowlers by snooping around the Fox site. This is the only Grade 5 top action eight other than the Dr. Seward Webb gun well described in Larry Baer's books. When we opened the Parker records in 1998, we found that Dr. Webb had ordered three high grade waterfowlers in eight, ten, and twelve gauge, consecutive serial numbers. We thought the Webb guns were the greatest collection of duck guns ever made, until we met Jonathan. Thanks for bringing them out, Jonathan. A PGCA letter is in the works.

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Words do no justice. That is one fine gun.

I would love to see some quality photos of the Seward Webb 8 gauge. The old black and white photos in Baer's book are amazing enough. Actually, my parents are friends with a Seward Webb descendant, but I don't think he has any of the three Parkers.

It would be something to see that gun in person. I am assuming this and the aforementioned Dr. Seward Webb 8 gauge are the highest grade 8 gauges made by Parker.

sounds like a mighty nice 8 ga in ahigh grade...bet she would make a good turkey gun..do you ever shoot the 8 ga johnathan..could you post a picture of this 8 ga i m sure others would like to see it especially me...charlie

Uff Da!

Hi Charlie look on page one of this thread. You may have to be signed in to see the pics. I have never shot this one.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Hi Thomas,

This gun has been passed down three generations.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Mr. Murphy,

Thank you for your kind words. It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday! I am really looking forward to seeing the letter. I just joined the PGCA and will get the request and check in the mail ASAP.

Thank you again,
Jonathan

that's the first high grade 8 gauge I have ever seen. thank you for the pictures. marks got a few hammer guns that would look good with that one, that would make a great picture

Unbelievable! What next, eh? What a stunning gun. Looks like it's never been fired. Gorgeous.

There is a great article on Seward Webb's estate, Shelbourne, in the May 1998 Smithsonian Magazine. You can find it on google. His family has quite a NE history. The Webb gun is a 36 incher. The Reuter gun is only 34". Yesterday we displayed the only 30" hammerless eight that Parker ever made. It is a petite little D Grade. We were in eight gauge heaven this weekend.

Sounds like all had a great time!

some people have all the luck getting to see all them 8 ga s im jelous... bill reckon how much that petite 8 ga weighs...

It's a ten plus pounder, the lightest Parker eight I've ever seen or weighed. The barrels are only marked 6-9, a pound and a half lighter than some Parker eights I own or have inspected. Such a quail gun.

thats the lightest 8 ga i ve ever heard of bill...should have asked what is the frame size of this petite 8 ga...charlie

It's a standard #6 frame gun. The barrels are struck a bit more than normal eight gauge Parker barrels.

Gentlemen,

I wasn't prepared for studio photography at the Eastern Panhandle SxS Shoot but when Jonathan Engle's Great-Great Grandfather's B Grade 8 Gauge appeared I took a couple snapshots. I hope you like them.

Mark

Oh my---I am speechless.

It was worth the trip just to see and handel such a great gun

this grade b 8 ga really makes my parkers look bad...some lovely gun this is i can see its really been well pampered in its life...one nice gun... charlie

Charlie, Good use does not look bad.

Nice shots Mark! Thanks for posting them. Could you email me a couple of those?

Thanks,
Jonathan

You got that right Rich. To me it was better than the Czar's gun. Great photos Mark, thanks.

There is only one 34" hammer B Grade eight. There are two Czar's guns. The Engle eight is twice as rare as the Czar's gun and much prettier. I wonder who owns the Seward Webb guns today? It is my understanding that Larry Baer owned the eight at one time but sold it.

Nice Mr. Murphy!

That check got in the mail for the letter Monday. I can wait to learn more!

Jonathan

Well???

Perhaps Jonathan's posts on this and other forums, plus the exposure that his inherited guns got while being displayed at a couple of venues, resulted in more attention than he ever anticipated. I would imagine he was inundated with emails, questions, offers, unexpected visitors and even some threats. I hope that is not the case.
Has anyone checked the other gun websites to see if he is active there?

He had some amazing guns. He had several posts on the Fox forum and I have not seen him post there in awhile.

Even though the great Parker has long time provenance in the family of Jonathan's wife, the Reuters, the gun was originally sold to E.K. Tryon in Philadelphia, a large volume sporting goods outlet. As they say, "Nothing to see here." Those interested in the Reuter Foxes should search the Fox Collectors website for some very interesting information.

If you google Reuters Fox Gun you get all sorts of interesting hits....

Hi all,

Im still here, alive and well. I had this gun appraised recently and let me tell you that initial investment of $235 has done well over the years! Below is some information from the Factory Letter. Enjoy!

Parker shotgun, serial number 77xxx, was sent to the World's Fair Colombian Exposition in Chicago IL on March 17,1893. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 34, it was a Quality B, top action hammer gun, 8-gauge. It featured Damascus steel barrels with a length of 34 inches. The price was $200.00 plus $35.00 for 8ga. barrels. According to Parker Bros. Stock Book No. 27, the stock configuration was a capped pistol grip and its specifications were: Length of Pull: 14 1/4", Drop at Heel: 2 1/2,Weight: 7 pounds and 12 ounces. The chokes cannot be determined. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 35, the gun was returned from the World's Fair Colombian Exposition on December 5, 1893. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 36, the gun was consigned on January 27, 1894 and shipped on January 29,1894 to E.K. Tryon Jr. & Co, of Philadelphia Pa. The price was $235.00.

This is what the appraisal said.....

Ultra Rare Parker Brother Gun Company B Grade 8 Top Lever Bore Hammer Double Shotgun with Original Case made for the Columbian Exposition, Circa 1893. 34” barrels engraved on the rib “Parker Bros. Makers, Meridan, Conn. Damascus Steel”. Game scene and scroll checkered fancy grade walnut pistol grip stock and forend. Engraved skeleton steel butt plate and shield shaped un-engraved gold escutcheon at the wrist. Fancy gold butt cap. All original and complete. Superb condition overall with most of the original color case hardening and brown Damascus barrel finish. Stock and forend with the original finish and excellent condition. Mint bores and perfect working order. Essentially unused and kept in dry storage for many years. Factory Letter states it was shipped on March 17, 1893 to the world’s Fair Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois (as a factory display piece) and shipped back to the factory in December 1893. It was consigned on January 27, 1894 to Tryon & Co. Philadelphia, PA. at a price of $235. The accompanying green baize lined leather luggage case is contemporary to the gun and possibly a factory original. The brass plate on the lid exterior is engraved “P. Roberts, Jr./ Philadelphia”. Interior lining very good and all original. Three piece B.G.I Co. 3-piece 8 Bore cleaning rod. Spectacular in every respect. One of possibly two “B” grade 8 bore hammer guns made.

Am I missing something or does 7/12 seem awfully light for such a gun?