What is the oldest serial number still around?
 

What's the oldest serial Parker Bros you've seen?

I have personally owned a T-latch with 2 digit serial number. I think it was 39 off the top of my head. And i am pretty sure that the Meriden Historical society has a single digit T-latch. Hard to get older than that.

Wow. That is hard to get older than a single digit. I have 02520 10g and it seems to be a pretty old one. Found it in Montana in 1994 at an estate sale. The only family member said the gun had hung on the wall since he was a kid and he was close to 80 at the time. I'm hoping to find out some more history about it and try to peg a valuation for insurance. Not sure if it's any more valuable being older or not.

#7 resides with a PGCA member.

Temporarily in my possession are two guns in the PGCA Collection Nos. 99. and 0100.


.

I have #46 a 10 gauge back action with Laminated Steel barrels

I have 97, 029, both back action chambered for the 12-B shell. Gary

I have serial no.27. 12 have. Back action.

I have seen Jimmy's 27 and it is a cool gun, even if rough shape. The earliest I have is 152. I want to break into the double (and hopefully single) digits in the future

Me too Mills...I would like to increase my collection of back action Parkers. I would like to find a nice one with damascus barrels(instead of decarbonized steel).

I do think it is remarkable that the 2 Dean has are consecutive at #99 and #100. Then Gary has #97. Who would have thought those would still be around 150 years later!

12-B
 

Photos of 97

12-bb
 

one more

12-B
 

photos of 029

Is there any information on what #1 was ?

The PGCA records only go back as far as No. 1444





.

I have a period book that tells the location of it Austin did an article from the book in the PPGs, gary

I thought maybe a private collector had it somewhere .

Gary, can you tell us what this "period book" is?

Do you know the name of the article?




.

The 1868 catalog lists 4 different back action guns. The $50 gun was Best Gun Iron, Plain Finish 12ga. The $75 was Decarbonized steel barrels, 12ga. The $110 was Laminated or Damascus steel barrels, 11 or 12ga. The $125 was Laminated or Damascus steel barrels, 10ga. To my best of knowledge, they were all straight grip guns. I have S/N 63 with Laminated barrels, for a 12B brass or 14ga. paper shell.

I thought I read that gun #2 is at the Meridan Museum and gun 666 was taken by Wilbur Parker.

This is a great thread! Gary that #97 is beautiful, I like the laminated steel barrels. Very nice. I like that a lot!

I also have #171 which is a back action and has had the decarbonized steel barrels cut to 27 1/4". It is well worn, but shootable with black powder/ultra light loads.

Do you think there is enough interest in the PGCA to have a "Back Action" Category or Maybe a pre #1500 serial number category that could include the early T-Latches? I think there might be, but I am clearly biased...hopefully in a good way.

That would be a great theme for a future display

Jay and I have 1217 and 1219

I see that #247 sold on GI for 1850$ .

That's right Mills, at some point we need to get those guns together again for some pictures.

I agree it would make a nice display to showcase the early Parkers. It does seems like there has been more back action conversations over the past year(relatively speaking). I just bought #171 a month ago. I'll get some pictures up soon.

There obviously IS a category that includes them...

What sort of "category" do you mean Jay? Do you mean a separate sub-forum category on the website?





.

Yes Dean I was thinking a separate sub-forum on the website. I know there can't be a sub-forum for every Parker model and configuration. However, this thread got me thinking that maybe an "Early Parker" sub-forum would add some value.

Dean, when I get back I will try to find the article for you , off to get tires right now, gary