Parker Sample Gun
 

A guy showed me a Parker that had a different kind of damascus on each barrel. He said that they were used to show potential customers what the different style of damascus looked like. I tried to find more info in The Parker Story but it says that all of the "sample guns" were lifter-action. This was a top lever. He said they were also called "salesmen's guns." I can't find any info. Does anyone know what I was looking at?

Thanks,

Ron

I know what you’re talking about but there is no empirical evidence they were sample guns. They could simply be because of a mistake in matching up the tubes to be joined. Keeping in mind that the pattern of the two tubes could not be seen until after the barrels had been joined and had gone through the final finishing stages.





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That makes sense. Would there be any collector value in that gun? -- it was in really nice shape -- beautiful actually. But it did look a little odd

Collector value would be only as an oddity.
I guess it would be up to individulal collector preferences.





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Thanks

This is a situation that I have seen a number of times either Lefever guns for some reason. I have not personally seen it with Parkers. The only similar thing I have seen is a damascus rib on a fluid steel barrel or something like that. Again, simply factory error. Like dean said, if tubed got mixed up or mis-marked, it would not be perfectly clear until well into the process.

As to the “sample” theory… Parker offered more than just two types of composite steel tubes. So that idea does not hold much water from that standpoint.

And the factory did have samples of different sorts of composite tubes, short sections of them. For show and tell, or collected from tube suppliers.


I would wonder what patterns were they? Twist and damascus? Laminated? Or just different variations of damascus?

I was rushed when he showed me the gun. I'll see if I can get another look at the gun. If so I'll take a picture and get the serial number. I think he was calling it a "sample gun / salesmen's gun" in error. When I asked ChatGPT about them I got this:

"Yes, Parker Brothers did make what is referred to as a "salesman's gun," also known as a "sample gun." These guns were created as demonstration pieces for salesmen to showcase the variety of damascus patterns Parker Brothers could offer on their shotgun barrels.

"A Parker "salesman’s gun" typically had different types of damascus steel patterns on each barrel, such as "chain damascus," "fine damascus," or "crolle damascus." The idea was to provide prospective buyers with a tangible display of the craftsmanship and quality of their damascus barrels.

"These guns are quite rare and highly sought after by collectors due to their uniqueness and historical significance. They serve as an excellent example of Parker Brothers' marketing strategy and their emphasis on craftsmanship during the golden age of shotgun manufacturing."

Note that the answer doesn't include the information that these sample guns were all lifter-action guns.

I was thinking that even though it is not a true sample gun it is still rare -- like a rare coin that was misstruck -- and should be worth more because of its rarity.

If I had the opportunity to buy it at what I considered to be reasonable price considering grade, configuration and condition, I’d definitely buy it and be willing to pay a small premium for it. It’s a personal decision.

Here is an example where the mating of 2 different damascus types was a mistake. The gun was discounted when sold.

It is best to leave the AI out of the mix.

That is exactly how this gun looks. Is the Blue Book a good starting place to determine the value of the gun based on its condition and configuration without the mistake? Then add some percentage onto that ...

The “blue book” won’t make any specific reference to this type of gun.

A salesman could carry a sample board of a dozen or so short segments of various composite barrels. I have a picture of such a board but Drew will be able to show it sooner than I can.





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The blue book is good for some basic Parker information, but in general it is almost worthless for pricing, it simply does not reflect current market conditions.

Chinese AI and American made guns do not mix well.

Someone said -- start with the value of the gun as if it was not a "mistake" gun -- so the same gun in terms of gauge, barrel length, grade, configuration, etc. then add on a premium for it's uniqueness and rarity.

You have to start somewhere -- if not the blue book, where? Gun sales sites only list the asking price and, as we all know that is not the same as the actual selling price.

If not the Blue Book, where does one go to determine a fair price?

What was the grade, gauge, configuration, barrel length, condition, originality?
What is the asking price on this gun?
All of the above must be known and factored in to determine the value.

If the gun is sparking your interest, determine what it's worth to you and go from there. Just don't pay more than you can afford, especially if you only buy it to make money reselling it. Others may not want it as bad as you do.

The Remington salesman's samples are 1/2 way down here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...8/edit?tab=t.0

Parker samples are 1/3 down here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...c/edit?tab=t.0

Ron,

There’s an “advanced search” feature on Gunbroker that will allow you to search on “sold” items. It can be eye opening!

Best,
Brett

It's a GH 16 gauge, 26" barrels, nice wood, 80% or higher condition (I'm no expert but everything looks nice to include the case hardening). My old Blue Book says $6500, for a standard non-damascus gun.

Some of the comments above make me wonder if I wasn't clear -- this is a fully functional shotgun, not some pieces of barrel samples. I was told it was a "salesmen's gun" --a gun used by a Parker salesman to show customers the different damascus patterns. The Parker Story says that they did make "Salesmen's guns" or "Sample guns" (Vol II, p 598) but they were all lifter-action guns. This gun is a top lever so based on the book it's not a "salesman's gun."

Dean thinks it's a mistake that they used two different damascus patterns (maybe 3, because I think the rib is different too) but that doesn't totally make sense to me. I know they don't finish the damascus barrels until late in the manufacturing process but ... why would they let the gun go out the factory doors with such an obvious mistake?

Amazing process -- and beautiful! I'm surprised damascus barrelled guns don't sell for a bigger premium.

This is sounding very similar to a gun at RHO, where the same supposition was made. I was told about it well before Christmas, but haven't been there since Thanksgiving week.
Seems to me the logical thing to do would be to order a letter. If the gun was made for someone associated with Parker Bros, such as DuBray, it would certainly be in the books.
Personally it just sounds like a mistake gun. If I were a salesman trying to drum up some business, I'd feel better showing them a grade 5 gun, not a grade 2 gun.
I'd also be hard pressed to come up with a premium value. If it's priced as a grade 2, plus some little bit of 'Aunt Mary' money, and you want it, just buy it.

List it and what is paid is what it's worth. I wouldn't pay much for it, but others might empty a wallet.

I can't find it. There is a "completed items" tab, but that shows auctions that have ended

Ron,

Keep scrolling through them. Some ended and others sold.

Best,
Brett

Got it -- didn't realize you need to click on the item. Nice GHs selling for $2000. Interesting! Thanks

Ron, “nice” can be a relative term. The more you see, handle and learn from, the more weight the term carries. (BTW, good to see Fred Bear quoted. He’s a long time hero of mine.)

As a general rule, where there are numerous bidders, I agree. But, that can't be said as a blanket statement, IMO. We all know of instances where something slipped under the wire at auction and was bought for a song. I've been fortunate enough to do so on more than one occasion.

Thanks -- just fyi, I have been actively around guns for 50 years. I know a nice gun when I see and handle it. Good quality workmanship is unmistakable. Nicely figured walnut is far superior to straight grain crap. So when I say "nice" I mean it's a gun I would be happy to own today (which a lot nicer than the guns I owned growing up). I have a matched pair of Dickson Round Actions for example -- I wouldn't part with them. I also know what they are worth. I'm just surprised at the vague answers you get from people about gun values. Stuff like: "It's worth what you are willing to pay for it." duhh

Not many smart people -- especially smart people with money will just pay ridiculous prices for guns. No one wants to be taken advantage of. We want to pay a fair price. Guns will come and go -- there will always be another gun to buy.

What's a "nice" (good condition, shiney bores, etc -- you know what I mean) standard 12 gauge Parker GH worth in today's market? That should be a fairly easy question for a collector to answer. $2000? $5000? $7500?

Now add on the unique factor (the mistake of making a set of barrels with two different styles of damascus, and then actually finish the gun and sell it) -- now what's it worth? It's not $20,000 ... is it $10,000? $5000 -- someone on this forum should be able to answer that question -- at least be able to give a range: "It's probably worth between $5 - 6,000." Whatever... I know if I had been collecting Parkers for 20 years I'd be able to give a better answer than: It's worth whatever you want to pay for it.

I did get a few very helpful answers and I appreciate them and I do not mean to offend anyone. Sorry if I did. Happy New Year and Cheers!

Ron, thanks for the background. It helps in understanding what your “nice” might mean. There are so few mismatched barrel Parkers, I doubt anyone could place a value with any authority of knowledge. I don’t know of any collector intense interest, at least among those i know (which is pretty limited). Frankly, I’d view the gun as a collectible aberration, but I would think you could get it for what the going rate was for a “nice” gun in that configuration.

I know what you mean about the Dickson RA, as I, too, have (alas, only) one. They are in a class unto themselves. One our members has a RA 20 bore that I hope to handle some day.

So buy that Parker! Join our Association, meet us at the Southern in April and bring it along for folks to take a gander at.

They had already invested hours into producing the gun so why would they scrap those barrels and start all over again? Parker Bros. was a very cost conscious company so they cut their losses and sold it at a discount. As you say, it is a perfectly functioning gun…

Buyers weren’t collectors back then, they just wanted a decent Parker that they could shoot.





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Reminds me of one of our former neighbor's dog, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever. The dog had one blue eye and one brown eye (think David Bowie). The wound up naming it "Brue".

What's a "nice" (good condition, shiney bores, etc -- you know what I mean) standard 12 gauge Parker GH worth in today's market? That should be a fairly easy question for a collector to answer. $2000? $5000? $7500?


Mr. Scott, I can tell you what I paid and sold this Parker 12ga. GH grade...
$1500

RD

Trap3, I would say that you got a great deal. Beautiful gun, Thanks for sharing.

Here's the page from TPS

https://photos.smugmug.com/Damascus/...20Story-XL.png