1884 Parker SxS
 

I know this shotgun was made in 1884, Grade 2, and weight is 4.8. Not sure of anything else about this fine weapon. Can anyone help me out?

Shep

We’re looking at a Grade 1 Parker, not a Grade 2.

I think I see 41885 on the water table and it should have a straight grip and 32” Twist barrels as indicated by the T with a crescent above and below. The 4 lb., 8 oz. is the weight of the barrels before “striking” (filing to desired weight, balance and contour). It appears to be in decent condition but you should post more pictures of all aspects of the gun.
The thing that makes or breaks a gun of this age is the condition of the barrels - bores and wall thickness.





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Ok, how did you come to that? Sorry, I am new to this, sir. I appreciate the info too

The serialization book lists 41885 as a 12 gauge having 32 inch Plain Twist barrels and a straight grip. As Dean posted, it would be a grade 1 with those barrels. If you saw a "2" on the barrel lug, that's the frame size, not the grade.

And the checkering pattern on the forend is that of a Grade-0 or 1, not a Grade-2.





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You guys are a wealth of knowledge!! I will try to post more pictures later this evening if I can. Thanks a million!

Weapons are used on people.

Yep, and every firearm I own can be a weapon and it wouldn’t surprise me if this shotgun was a “weapon” as you call it.

With all due respect Brody, and I'm not trying to be argumentative, but even a "butter knife" could be considered a weapon. And if we were discussing butter knives I suppose most folks would refer to them as "tableware". I believe most Parker owners would refer to their Parkers as "Sporting Arms". I know I do.

Then why bother and keep it going?

Brody - we welcome you here at the PGCA Forum!

No offense intended by anyone I'm sure.





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All is good Dean, thanks for your response. One sour apple doesn’t waste the entire bushel.

Brody with this bunch you have to look deep for the subtle humor imbedded in a lot of responses. I took sporting arms to mean that most of us would consider it beneath a Parkers dignity to be used as a weapon. We keep arms to use for those varmits made by Colt S& W and Mossberg.

We try to keep this forum a cut above. Other forums , not so much.

With guns there are two genders. Weapons and Sporting Firearms.

I have bought a lot of Parkers from Morris Halowel when he had his store in Greenwich, Ct. I brought a friend in there once and he looked at all the fine guns as said “nice weapons”. Morris immediately and pointedly stated that they were fine firearms and not weapons. He had a look of disgust on his face that I found amusing. I never objected to anyone calling my Parker’s weapons. It’s a term used by many who have not been immersed in the study and collection of fine guns.

Brody, that looks like a very interesting old Parker. I wouldn't mind seeing more pictures.