!0 ga, lifter, Damascus
 

So not too long ago this old girl landed on my doorstep. I welcomed her in She's a, 1887, SN 13271, 10 ga, 30" Damascus steel, on a #2 frame. I take it from the very prominent letter "U" stamped on her water table that she's what was then called a grade "U", later bunched in with other far down in the alphabet letters into grade 0 (zero). Quite a bit of Case blue is still showing. Comments welcome.

Congratulations on your acquisition. Looks like a solid example.

Very nice Lifter there Leon, thanks for showing us your new Parker!

Looks to be an $80 dollar grade. Very nice representation, enjoy!!

Wait a minute,
 

Look at page 260 in Vol. 1 of the Parker Story pair of books. These additional picture of mine look a great deal like what's called and pictured there a grade 2. Since mine and the one on P. 269 are made in 1887, only 272 guns apart, could mine be a grade 2?

What a nice gun.

Then again
 

As I get older dyslexia seems to slip in sometimes, all throughout this discussion the manufacture date of both my "lifter" and the one referred to in the Parker Story book Vol 1. P 269, should be 1878. Book's right, I was wrong. Here's a photo of the picture in the book. Mine sure looks almost identical to it. I don't know what the "U" stamped in the water table of mine is, but I'm thinking mine is way more like what became grade 2 than "U" or "0" Thoughts?

A PGCA Research letter will tell you.





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I looked but don't see a path to PGCA research letter. Where/how do I access it?

Go to "Home Page", click on "Research Letters" and follow the instructions. By the way, your gun is in exceptional condition.

That's a great lifter! With damascus barrels I would call it a grade 2. A 10 gauge on a 2 frame is just wonderful. I am guessing it has 2 5/8" chambers?

I hope you will take her into the field. I shoot both smokeless and black powder out of my old lifters. They are fantastic shooters and a 10ga. just patterns well.

I hope you will considering joining PGCA. That will make getting a research letter easier and this is such a great group.

Congratulations on that great Parker!

Thanks

Thanks, got 'er done.

Both bores shine too. I see no dents. Looks like she's been mostly a gun rack queen for the past century

With the help of an old manufacturing engineer and friend, very long time hunter, collector and gunsmith, machinist, we settled for 2 9/16 "for the chamber, which in reality is probably 2 5/8".

That’s a dandy lifter. Have you weighted it out of curiosity? I hope you share what you find out from the letter. I love learning the history on these old guns.

Seems like more, but weighs 8 lb, 11 oz. Oh, I'm paid and signed up for membership to PGCA.

Welcome to the club-and the malady!

Welcome Leon- thanks for sharing! Do you know much about the previous owner? And we would all love to see what the research letter says.

Will try to remember to post what I learn. Bought it from a guy in CA who apparently takes 'em in on consignment and then sells on gunbroker - anyway I bough this one thru gunbroker. No idea of history before that.

Jay, I'm trying to figure out how to reply to your private message. I obviously don't have it figured out yett

Leon, I got it. I will send you one back in a second...

Research letter:

Parker shotgun, serial number 13271, was ordered by Thos.Carter on January 23, 1882 and shipped on February 1, 1882. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 12, it was a $80 Dollar Grade, Lifter Action Hammer Gun, 10-gauge. It featured Damascus steel barrels with a length of 30 inches.
The stock configuration was a straight grip. The order was part of a large order by Carter. The order was taken by Charles Eddy Parker.
The price was $80.00.