Congratulations Mr Parker! Your grading codes broke my brain!
 

Okay, I will admit it I'm completely stuck. As much as I wanted to do all the research and background myself it looks like I've come to a slight problem with finding the grade of the shotgun. I looked at it any number of ways and it looks like it could be an IX, it looks like it could be a DX, it looks like it could be a BK for all I know (Burger King take out Happy Meal option). I don't know. Regardless, could someone please take a look at this and tell me what they think? I would appreciate it!

Regards
Kenn

Welcome Kenn! Post a photo of the watertable (part of receiver where barrels go on) and someone can probably help you

Crap! Does that mean I added the image incorrectly?

No, you just posted the wrong part of the gun. We need a picture of the receiver where the barrels fit on. Or at least the serial number

I thought this was the watertable?

D2 U O P 12 28

Grade 2 with Damascus steel - Under lifter - No options or extras - Pistol Grip - 12 Ga - 28" barrels

Well, Randy beat me to it. There you have it. What does the rest of the gun look like, condition wise?

That is actually the barrel flat or flats. The water table would be the flat part of the receiver that mates up to the barrel flats. Typically there you will find additional markings that can be helpful to you in determining what you have. I'm with you on that D stamp and what ever that is. Someone here will most likely know but not me. Good luck !

Thank you so much! I have no idea how you figured it out from all those chicken scratches however I do appreciate it very much.

I'll put up more pics for you as soon as I figure out how to do more than two or three at a time. I'm guessing I'll have to post them on imgr and then just send the link.

That took me last time and I thought it would. I will admit now that I am not in my element when photographing the shotgun. It's mostly shots taken with my potato just for discussion purposes. ��

https://imgur.com/a/CkksOe2

Very nice gun and in above average condition for the age, appearing from the pictures.

Definitely a grade 2. The "2" on the water table, above the serial number is the grade. A really nice looking gun. Is the actual barrel length 28" as the serialization book reports? I see a fair amount of remaining case color. What we can see of the wood also looks pretty good. If the bores are good you may have a real winner there. Congrats.

Kenn, Thats a nice looking grade 2 you have there! hard to beat those old lifters, amazing how tight some still lock up. Parker made a fine gun! Gary

Get yourself a copy of the Parker Gun Identification & Serialization and you will be able to do the same. Inexpensive at something like $35. Then add to that a copy of The Parker Story, a little more pricey but you'll have a lot of info.

[QUOTE=Kenn Hogentogler;254543]Thank you so much! I have no idea how you figured it out from all those chicken scratches however I do appreciate it very much.

That first picture of the "barrel flats" you posted has the D stamp indicating Damascus Steel and the K stamp (actually touching the D {unusual}) indicating the inspection of Charles A. King, who was the gunworks superintendent at the time.






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To me it looks amazing for being made in 1881. I was made a hundred years later than that and it still looks better than me.

My yes it is 28" thank you for noticing.

That was a lot of fun! I don't get to say "it's 28inches " that often.

This is a very high condition gun for its age.

So, honest opinion: Does the gun go above the fireplace or in it?

Well certainly not in it. With the proper inspection and the proper low pressure loads, it could even be fun to shoot it.






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Let me know if you want something besides that gun to toss in the fire, ill trade ya even!!!!

Nice gun.

So last ( ha ha ha I lie! ) question. Should I keep this in a gun condom and put it in a safe, or is it a wall hanger? I don't want an expensive work of art to be subject to easy theft or common hazards. At the same time, if I'm only looking at a couple hundred bucks, I don't mind the hazards as much.

And no TxHuntermn, because the next to go on the fire would be me, my wife tossing me there.

So Mr. Hogentogler, may we presume you’re not a shooter or hunter?





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You became the custodian of a real treasure.

If it were mine, it would be in a safe. Nice gun. Have a trained eye inspect it for you, but I think as Dean said with low pressure shells it is a shooter, and a lot of fun. Many of the members shoot the old hammer guns.

I'm not much of a hunter but I love shooting! I have quite a few modern and antique firearms and I do my best to give them all a bit of range-time. It's just that the last thing I want to do is ruin a treasure.

I guess it all depends on your definition of treasure is. I guess I need to get this looked at by a pro.

Kenn