What do I have?
 

This has a serial# of 126696 and I gan gather that it is a DH but cannot get the barrell off to look at the other stamping and give more accurate info. Also, on the barrell it is stamped Titanic Steel. Here are a few pictures that I took of it, if anyone can decipher anything from it. Thanks in advance for any info! I'm also adding a pic of my Great Grandfather with the gun that I found in the case it was stored in....

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Unfortunately Dee, that gun was "rode hard and put away wet".

Restoring that gun would cost far more than it would worth when done.

How sad for your Grandfather's Parker legacy.

But welcome to the PGCA Forum. I'm sure someone will look up the specifics on that gun.

Hello Dee: I'm going to disagree with Dean on this one. What you have (according to the "book") is a Parker hammerless T14 or CHE Grade 16 gauge with capped pistol grip stock and 28 inch Titanic Steel barrels made in 1904. Your gun needs total restoration in that it is in, as Dean pointed out, very poor condition and off the face. What you have is a fairly rare Parker with family provenance. I would suggest ordering a research letter from PGCA for $40 and see what information it would provide. Tell us where you are located and perhaps we can recommend a Parker restoration expert to bring your Great Grandfather's gun back to life. It won't be cheap but IMHO this gun deserves it.

Best Regards, George

I am located in Hurst, TX. I found this under my Grandpa's bed just recently after my Dad, Grandma and Grandpa all passed this past April, May, and June. I took the pictures just as I had found it due to reading about not trying to "clean" it up or do anything to it until I had it appraised. Thank you for all of the information and advice you have given. I appreciate it.

Dee: Whatever you do don't try to "clean" it yourself. Let an expert do that. Others here who are more familiar with Parker restoration experts in Texas will, probably, post here shortly. If you wanted to you could call my chosen expert, Jim Kelly of the Darlington, Gun Works, Darlington, South Carolina at (843) 393-3931 and discuss it with him & e-mail him some pictures. He could probably give you a "ballpark figure" on restoration.

Do go to this home page and click on "research letters" and order one. You'll be glad that you did. I am sorry for your loss.

Best Regards, George

Again, thank you so very much! Rest assured that I would never "clean" it myself..lol. I was taught to NEVER do that and to always take it to a professional. May I ask what is the value of this gun by chance? And is it worth the cost of the restoration vs the value of the gun?

Dee, Welcome and thanks for stopping in. Because this is a great family gun if I owned it I would have to at least try to bring it back and the money be damned. You have gotten some very good advice here about who to send it to.Just don,t try to do it yourself. Maybe its just me but I get a little sentimental about family guns and a C Grade Parker is a "special" gun.

Is there anyway you could enhance that great picture of "Grandpa"?

How can that gun be that far off face and still fit into the dolls head slot

My guess is that the gun isn't closed in the last picture.
Bob

I don't believe the two pictures were taken with the gun in the same state of "closed". Dee, take a picture of the entire gun from the side for us. Also, take a closeup of the action of the gun again from the side with the gun as closed as you can get it, like in the picture taken from the top of the action. The gun in fine condition is worth from $8000 to $12,000, maybe more. In restored condition, it would be worth much less.

That kinda what I thought but first looks flush on top

Okay....I am a young lady with no prior knowledge of guns and their terms. So with my ignorance of such terms, I have to say that I don't know what you are talking about when you say "closed" "action" or "dolls head". I will take more pictures when I get home of anything anyone may need to look at. Please forgive me for not understanding, but put in simple terms, and I'm sure I can get it. Thanks to everyone welcoming me to the site and please know that I am truly greatful for everyone here. Thanks!

Stick in there young lady your in for a ride of your life.

Clean and re brown barrels $300

Clean, glue and refinish wood sparingly $300 if done outside but a skilled amateur can do it him/her self.

Lightly clean rust bloom off action frame. N.C.

TIG weld barrel hook and file to put on face. $200


What does "the ride of your life mean"?

This is a gun that was in poor condition, everything covered by a fine bloom of red rust, the barrels had to be re browned, the rust picked off the frame, the badly fractured wood was in pieces and had to be glued and pinned back together, some parts rechecked and the stock refinished. My guess is that its worth more now than when it was found in the chicken coop and worth more now than the cost of acquisition and repair but I'm no expert.

Oh my!!!! Should I be worried?......................

No but your going to get educated on Parkers and also you will get to know the PM side of this If you havent already.

I'm all for getting educated! I'm somewhat familiar with pistols and a few hunting rifles, but nothing of this magnitude. I could say thank you all day long, but thank you would not begin to scratch the surface on the knowledge and expertise that everyone here is offering me. I'm ready for the ride...none of my interest is based solely around the value. I'm very curious concerning the background, family use, and all around sentiment that this gun holds as well. I will get the letter from this site ASAP regarding documented facts. Thanks again!

Bruce, A ride of your life meant a very fun time. as I have had in learning about these wonderful guns .

Wasn't sure. It was out of context for me. I've heard that two memorable times, once when I strapped into the back seat of an F-4D and another when I went through the Taos Box of the Rio Grande during flood stage. They were wild and memorable rides.

Dee: The "doll's head" is the piece of the top rib that projects out from the rear of the barrels and fits into the same shaped slot in the top of the action. The top rib is the piece on top between the two barrels. The action is the main body of the gun that the butt stock is attached to. When the barrels are completely closed into the action the top lever should come back to center. Bill & Bruce gave you a good aproximation as to the value and restoration costs for your gun. Properly restored your gun should easily be worth $6,000 - $8,000. I recently sold a restored DHE Grade (one grade lower than your gun) for $5,000. Restoration costs for your gun should be between $1,200 and $2,000 IMHO. I would not consider selling your gun (if in fact you are even considering it), at least until you get the research letter, as it may show something that would enhance the value.

Best Regards, George

Lordy! If that gun could just talk, eh?! Looks like a 7/16" bolt head coming out of the middle of the floor plate. Stay with us Dee. I'm sure folks will be very curious as to what gets done to this one. It looks like it was used as a halibut gun on a charter boat in southern Alaska! I bet that gun has taken a lot of birds...

Okay, it's my turn to humbly disagree with George. (no offense intended George) In my opinion the surface pitts on the barrels are nearly irrepairable and I believe it will be closer to $4K to bring this fine Parker back to what it originally looked like when it left Meriden, CT. and we still don't know what the bores look like or the internal 'action' parts either.

I'm not saying that it isn't worth it to try to restore this gun but considering the expense... it's entirely up to Dee what she does with it.
Personally, I think I would do what my budget allowed but only considering the fact that it is a "Family Heirloom".

Richard, I missed the hex head. However, I think it's a 3/8" bolt head. I hope it isn't a serious defect. How can we estimate a repair when we don't know if it has a stock, the replacement of which could approach $2500. Dee, let me know if you got my PM. Don't worry, Francis, I'm not trying to buy the gun. That is an inside joke, Dee, about a guy who would accuse you of soliciting if you didn't wear a parka in July.

The 'Book' may list it as a capped pistol grip but in the picture Dee's Grandfather is holding a gun with a straight grip.

More pictures
 

I could very well be wrong about the gun in the picture. I just found it with the gun and I assumed it to be the same. Here are more pics that I took when I got home today. I have it out, so if I need to take more, just give me direction of what you are looking for and I will do my best.

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More pictures
 

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Oh my !

I guess I am lost for words

Dee.... Dear Dee, your Great Grandfather's Parker must have been a prize posession to him but after viewing the rest of your pictures I must confess that it would be best to simply hang it on the wall next to a picture of him with a little plaque stating "Great Granddaddy's once-valuable Parker".... Sorry :violin:

That's what I'm gathering. I just looked at Mr.Turnbull's website. There he has a restored gun just like mine, and mine has wood pieces missing that were replaced with some kind of metal plate :( I'm slowly getting discouraged here, but I'm a Durham and guess us Durham's put that Parker through hell and back...lol.

Dee was there ever a house fire ? Stock looks as if it was close to alot of heat, might have something to do with the condition of the barrels.

I can't honestly say......there is no telling what this gun went through

Alot !

I'll go on record saying that you can't really judge the condition of the metal until you have the gun in hand. Photos often give more depth to pitting than actually exists.I have been through this many times as a buyer and seller of old tools,cars,guns and lots of other objects with metal parts. Hoping for the best for you as far as the metal goes.

Hahahahahaha........I can't dispute that at all!!!!! I know my family lived by very minimal means by word of my grandpa. I can only think that maybe repairs were unaffordable to my great grandfather when repairs were needed and that may be part of the reason why the gun is in the shape that it is in.

Ok guys! We have over 400 members and I think there was about 400 plus of this gun made if the bores are shootable I have the first $20.00 to donate for the restoration of this gun

That is very kind of you to be willing to do that! I'm now at a loss for words myself, but there is no way I could accept your gracious gesture. That is too much for anyone to do. It is what it is, and I am grateful to just have the insight and knowledge of this fine gun now. Everyone here has been such a great help, just know I appreciate each and every one of you.:bowdown:

Dee, don’t be discouraged. I think you are very lucky person. There was a reason why only you found your great grandfather’s Parker under the bed… because he wanted you to have it. In the short time that you have had this in your possession, this once valuable Parker is getting the attention it deserves by you posting questions on the PGCA forum and fellow PGCA members giving valuable advice on how you can possibly restore your great granddaddy’s favorite Parker Gun. Whatever your final decision may be if it fiscally makes sense for you to restore or not, I’m sure he is smiling in heaven right now.

Great advice from Frank! Dee, get the letter and then have a professional eyeball your gun. I recently has Jim Kelly restore a 4 gauge E.M. Reilly SxS that was in horrible shape.
(It got rained on in it's case for close to 100 years) If you had seen it before You wouldn't believe that it was the same gun. You will have to pay for the shipping if you send it to Jim or to another restoration expert, but his estimate won't cost you anything.
You don't have to use an FFL Dealer to ship your gun to a licensed gunsmith for repair. I ship my guns by Fed Ex Ground. It should cost you @ $30 each way if you choose to do so. Whether you choose to restore or not, please keep your Great Grandfather's gun in the family. JMHO

Best Regards, George

I have to agree with you 100%. I had no idea what I had until today. I took everything home, put all of the guns, 12 in fact, in the gun safe and left them there until this past weekend. Losing all 3 family members so close together, I just didn't have the time nor mental capacity to bother. I love researching my family background and coming across this site and it's members just set it in stone for me that all too familiar quote "everything happens for a reason." I can only imagine the things he did with this gun, how he used it for recreation or even to put food on the table to feed his family....whatever the case, I'm PROUD and ecstatic just at the thought of holding the gun he once held. Grateful and blessed can only sum it up.