Grade 1 Guns with Parker Steel barrels
 

Given the fact that my first Parker was a small bore Grade 1 with 32" Parker Steel barrels (PSB), I have become fond of the PH grade. As I was thumbing through my copy of TPS today I noticed that according to it there was only 1339 Hammerless grade 1 guns made with Parker Steel Barrels. It says due to missing stock books the earliest know PH with PSB is 192515 . My PH is 185252 with PSB . Are there any earlier grade 1 guns out there in our community with PSB that predate mine?

Andrew, does your gun, 185252, letter with the Parker Steel barrels? Or could it have been made with Twist barrels and subsequently have been sent back for the Parker Steel barrels?





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Hi Dean,
No it letters with Parker Steel Barrels. It actually has a fascinating letter. It was ordered that way by a gentlemen in the Dominican Republic, returned and then sold to Abercrombie & Fitch of NYC. I will post a picture of the letter when I have a chance.

Now that is a profound statement. I wonder how many Parker shooters could say that? Made me smile!:)

PML

Yes I suppose that sounds bad. It is a family heirloom. So it wasn't my first purchase haha!

Andrew,
It is not bad at all and that was not my intent. If I was lucky enough to have been blessed with a small bore Parker with long barrels as my first Parker I would probably consider putting it on my tombstone as to brag for all eternity.

cheers
PML

I will indeed carry this particular Parker to my grave for sure!

Here is the letter for 185252 .

Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!! How nice is that ! Congrats on a Great Gun ,Pictures would be nice !:corn:

Here you go Russ! :)

Andrew ,that is a Wonderful Gun for sure ! It being a Family Heirloom ,have you any Old Family Hunting Photos ? I have Three of my Grandfathers guns but no pictures of them in use ,I well remember "My Pap " although I was young when he passed away ,what I wouldn't give to have a picture or two of him with his old 300 Savage maybe even a nice Buck !

Russ, I do have a few hunting pictures of this gun from fall of '46, only ones I can find out of thousands of pictures. They are small, like 4.5 X 2.5. I will see if i can take pictures of them that hopefully are clear enough to see.

And if anyone else has early grade 1 guns with Parker Steel Barrels I'd love to here about them! Thanks, Andy

Hi Andrew. I have a 12 gauge PH with Parker steel barrels. But with serial # 228502 it is probably closer to one of the last PHs.

Can't help you with the earlier PHE's Andrew but I have , according to TPS, the last PHE made s/n 235972. A 20ga. with 26" tubes.

HI Jeff, long time no see! I have a 12 gauge PH as well with PSB with a length of 26" that I purchased about a year ago here, 227266 . According to TPS there where only 60 made with 26" barrels. Its a cool gun.

Andrew -

I own #208563 - 1924 16 bore (1 of 208) 28 inch DT PG with a pad - (Gun is currently for sale on this site). Hell on ducks. Here is a pic from many years back in the Marsh with my now 11 year old Drathaar Emma. I expect she was about 4 or 5 when pic was taken.

That's great Mark! Thanks for sharing! I'm hoping so earlier grade 1's start coming out of the woodwork as well.

Andrew, My first Parker was a P grade 12 gauge with Parker steel barrels, got me into collecting them, the 410,s and 28ga are rare as hens teeth, so was the steel barreled 8gauge, Gary