Advice Appreciated
 

I'm new to Parker ownership. I need advice on what I have in my possession. I have looked at and admired this gun since I was a kid. Now that I am an owner I'm curious about what I have and if I need to insure it or if I should hang it on the wall to collect dust. Either way it means the world to me because it was my grandfathers gun. I am supplying as many photos as I can. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Parker Under Lifter gun, looks like it's been restored, and they blued the twist barrels.

There are guys on here who will know a lot more about it then me though....

Looks to be a really nice Grade-1 Lifter. Too bad it was polished but at least no harm was done.





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How would one tell if these were hot blued just from the photos, coloration only?

PGCA has records on your gun, so I encourage you to order a research letter.

Greg, nice gun! Do you know any more about its history in your family. Ordering a research letter, as Mills suggests (for which you'll get a break on as a member), might reveal something new to you.

Nice gun with family history. This is the for sale section--but not thinking you want to sell it, as others stated , it looks like the twist steel barrels were blued but I can kinda see the twist pattern thru the bluing. After getting it checked out, would be a great old gun to shoot clays and hunt with. I'm envious.

Moved to the appropriate forum...

Terrific pictures, Greg.!

John D.

Yes, the barrels and some other parts were blued. Possibly hot blued from the looks of it which is not good. The wood refinished and recheckered as well.

The gun really has more value as a family heirloom than actual market value to others.

Harold thanks. My grandfather bought it the 30's in the same condition as you see it. Your right it will never be sold as long as I'm alive. For insurance purposes could you give me a ballpark estimate?

Insurance value would be about $3k which is higher than its actual retail value.





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If Grandpa bought it in the 1930s in "the same condition as you see it" he certainly didn't hunt with it.

The serial number chronology shows it to be from 1881.

You could probably get the Twist pattern restored for around 4-5 hundred dollars. Look at the Damascus steel forum for examples, they look beautiful. But, hey, you could just shoot it the way it is, no problem, no rush. Just shoot appropriate shells thru it. I have come to really enjoy shooting hammer guns at both clays and over my setters. I would get a letter, frame it, and put it in my gun room, were it my family gun.

Leave it just like granddaddy found it. It’s beautiful and I think you will get more enjoyment out of it that way. I would get the barrels checked by a competent gun smith. Hot bluing double barrel guns can cause issues.