Need Expert Advice on What I Have
 

Good evening,

I am helping my mother figure out the value of a Parker Shot gun that was inherited from our grandfather. We are just trying to figure out exactly what we have and what it is worth so we can make sure it is insured properly. I know little about the gun other than it was my great grandfather's. Any advice or guidance is greatly appreciated. I have included the relevant photos for review.

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More photos

Last batch

Diamond in the rough.

It is a BHE that is in well worn condition. But is all there.

BHE that should be restored. The B grade is a Grade-5 and is right in the middle of the high grade Parkers and are very desirable.





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As Brian said above, you have a BHE grade 5, on a size 2 frame, with Acme steel barrels that appear to be either 30 or 32 inches long. I would think it is a 12ga.
Value in it's current condition is mostly sentimental value, however for insurance purposes I would venture a guess between $3000 to $4000 depending on the bore condition being good to excellent and the forend lug being solid to the barrels and the ejectors working properly. If the barrels and trigger guard were refinished correctly including touching up the engraving, and a professional refinish of the wood, with chased checkering and a proper period type recoil pad installed on the butt the value could increase to maybe $7000.
I personally wouldn't recommend doing any more than just a careful cleaning of the receiver. If you went for a total professional restoration it would make a beautiful heirloom piece but the cost might be more than you'd be comfortable spending.
This is just my $.02 opinion. Others may think differently.

Excellent advice David

Depending on your location, maybe you could get in contact with one of our members or a recommended restorer to get a better idea of the condition of your gun. There are points that can't be addressed by a photo. By the way, your photos are wonderful.

Contact Turnbull

What a treasure! The gun clearly gave your great grandfather, and grandfather, many days of joy afield. A $2000 - $4000 Turnbull or Dudley like new restoration will remove the evidence of your family's holding and using the gun. Be aware that any work done wrong will significantly diminish the value.
It does need to be refurbished, checked and cleaned internally by a qualified double gun specialist, and the recoil pad replaced with a period appropriate pad, hopefully to be returned to the field in a younger family member's hands.
I would suggest a research letter which might document your great grandfather as the original purchaser.

Parker BHE
 

BTW, the book says your gun was made in 1915 and that's information only. It has nothing to do with the value.

Will brothers restoration

Nothing NEEDS to be done to the gun. However, if the owner wishes, there are some things that can be done to improve the overall appearance of the gun that do not include a full restoration. The outstanding de condition of the barrels is a shame. I hope the bores are still in good enough condition. That is what kills the “value” of a gun when it really comes down to it.

I always see these questions about “insurance value”. And my answer is always to just refer to the most recent edition of a blue book. Usually those values are a bit inflated from actual market values, but it is a documented number that can be provided to a company to back up your request for coverage. Speculative numbers tossed around on an internet message board do not carry as much weight.

This is all excellent advice, so thanks to all responded so far, at this point I am not sure the direction I am going to head in as no one in the family really wants it besides me. So, I am inclined to have it restored and display it. However, that could change as well. Thank you all again.

Some folks get the Insurance Value thing from watching Antiques Roadshow where they appraise something’s actual value but then give an Insurance Value of considerably more.






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I feel that you can argue and reach an insurance value with documented information after the "loss" has occurred. Companies like Gun and Trophy Insurance don't ask for values when the policy is written.

The rust on the barrels looks quite deep and ugly. The rest of the gun looks great/fine. I would replace the pad and re rust blue the barrels. I terms of value it's all about the restoration of the barrels in my opinion. If the pitting is too deep to restore the gun has very modest value. It also appears the forend lug was resoldered at some point and the LOP looks very short based on the distance from the gold oval to the end of the stock. If the barrels can be restored the value doubles. It's a roll of the dice gun but it's a B!!.

If it were mine and I knew very little about Parker Shotguns I would spend the time necessary to learn about what I actually have. You’re making a good start by asking questions here. You were lucky to inherit a high grade Parker. I would suggest you send it to Brian Dudley and have him evaluate its overall condition and let him make suggestions about the different avenues and options available to you. Please keep us posted about it. These kind of situations are fascinating to many here.

Yes I think Mike F is spot on! Many years ago I bought a real train wreck of a Parker that had suffered so many abuses (VH stock attempted to fit, hole drilled thru TG engraving to try to make it fit, split cheeks, amateur cold blued, left barrel stamped "Invincible Grade"!!) A real nightmare but some quick research and excellent help from some members here made me take the plunge. It was a really rare gun that deserved to be brought back to its original beauty. I invested a good bit of money in it and sent the required work out to the best gunsmiths referred at the time. Turned out to be an 1897 AH Grade Damascus 16 ga. 26" on a 0 frame, originally ordered by a real estate attorney in Tidewater VA. One of only 2 documented in Parker records as having been built in that configuration. Oh what quail tails it can tell!!

So, thank you for all of the advice and information via your posts and DMs. I am curious of anyone knows of someone who lives in the NE, greater Boston area, who can take a look at my gun and possibly restore or at least give me a good idea of what its actual condition is and what it would need to be restored. Any advice or leads are again greatly appreciated. TIA

Where are you Brian? I'm in Andover, MA





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Hi Dean,
Natick area, so not far at all.
BM

PM Sent...





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I went and Visited with Brian and his family this afternoon. As Dean Hanson said in the first comment after Brian's pictures, it is truly a "Diamond in the rough"!

The bores are beautiful and the exterrior of the barrels can be lightly carded and polished and reblued. There are two tiny dents in one of the tubes which can easily be lifted.
The engraving needs NOTHING at all. There are no cracks in the wood and all that the wood needs is a strip and refinish with TimberLuxe and to have the checkering expertrly recut and the nasty old pad replaced with a nice period-correct pad.

It has the 'trap comb' and double ivory beads on 32" Acme Steel barrels which lead me to believe this gun was originally ordered by a dedicated trap shooter.

I think Mr Morrison has a firm grasp on where to send it for the work it needs.
My advice was to not re-case-color the frame... it would be harder to see the beautiful crisp engraving.

I hope Mr Morrison keeps us in the loop regarding what he'll be doing for his heirloom Parker.





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I use Dan Cullity in Sandwich Mass for all work needed. He's a master gunsmith and engraver as well.

I'm sure by now a PGCA letter has been requested and received. We would like to see what such a letter reveals about this great gun.

A huge 'thank you' to Dean Romig for coming to my home and inspecting my Great Grandfather's Parker Bros Shotgun. It was an absolute pleasure meeting Dean and his wife. I think we have a good plan on moving forward and I will be reaching out to Dan Cullity to see his availability on doing the needed work. This has been a fun process and I look forward to restoring the gun. I will do my best to keep those interested updated on the process.

I have not applied for a PGCA letter, but I will do so soon. Thank you to all for the advice and help so far.

Cheers!!

Save your money Brian - I have a letter on order that I will gift to you.
It was equally a pleasure for Dorothy and I to meet you and your family.
I’ll have the letter in hand in just a few days and then I’ll get it to you either by mail or by personal delivery.





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Nice gesture, Dean.
I also agree that I would not have it re-case colored.