New(sort of) Member from Florida
 

I've been lurking here on and off for a few years but have just upgraded to a paid membership. I've bought and sold a few old Parkers over the years but never had much interest in learning more about them until recently. I currently own a 10 gauge EH Grade SxS made in 1878. A few years ago, I sent it to Turnbull to have some repairs done and to refinish the receiver and barrels. I just recently sent it to Larry DelGrego for all new furniture. The stock and forend were not original and were in pretty bad condition. I plan to shoot the gun when I get it back in a few months, mostly for sporting clays but perhaps some goose hunting as well.

Hi Brett - Welcome!

It sounds like that big 10 would be some pretty strong medicine for turkeys too.

So where are the pictures of your Parker?






.

These were taken before any work was done. It's going to be a beauty when I get it back.

Attachment 52457

Attachment 52458

Attachment 52459

Attachment 52460

Attachment 52461

Thanks Brett, that will look great with new wood.




.

Dean, any idea what the re stamped "Special Steel" refers to?

George, someone was trying to fake name but it is really damascus

thought that was it.

welcome........................

So, is that something that was added after manufacture?

Is it safe to shoot RST Lite loads with the damascus barrels? Are there other sources for low pressure ammo? I don't reload so that's not an option at this time.

Yes, after manufacture and NOT done by Parker Bros. but rather by someone attempting to mislead the buyer into believing the barrels are of fluid-pressed steel rather than the Damascus that they are.




.

Rio and RST are the more popular manufacturers of low pressure ammo for out old guns.

Before you attempt to shoot it you need to have the barrel wall thickness measured by an expert. If they check out good, Fire Away!





.

If only these old guns could talk; the stories they would tell.

The barrels are being sent to Kirk Merrington to be inspected. :cool:

I also found out that the original price of this gun was $85. :shock:

The barrels look to have had the steel name changed and they were then likely blud to try and fake fluid steel. And then you had them refinished so the composite pattern shows again.
They might have been done by the same person who faked a set of Titanic (originally Damascus) 16g barrels that i have in the shop on a DH. They even engraved the proper lettering font. But still easy to spot if you know hat to look for.

Brett, you might want to check your guns date of manufacture. Any gun built in 1878 would be a hammer gun. The date you are looking at is the patent date for the forend latch.

You are correct. The date is actually 1893. And the original price was $85, which, adjusted for inflation, would be about $2,175 today.

The Parker 10 gauge is a Mighty hunting gun. They can reach out and kill at great distance. I hope you get to do a lot of shooting with your gun.