1866 Parker Bros
 

I'm trying to find the value of a 1866 Parker Bros shotgun, serial number: 048 with the patented date Nov. 13, 1866. It was just brought in from an estate into my antiques shop here in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
The gun needs restoration but I am leaving it as is.
Any info will be appreciated.

Sounds like a Miller Patent "T-Latch" gun. Is that right? It should be marked "Meriden Manufacturing, for Charles Parker" on the locks.

If so, most of those guns are in Relic type condition and not really shootable or very serviceable. And for such reasons, they are not really good candidates for restoration. They are more collection pieces for someone who wants a representation of one of those guns (which was the first double that Charles Parker offered).

Value is quite subjective, and unless in very good condition, may not be as high as you may think, or hope.

Locks have no marks or writing

Between the barrels it has: Parker Bros Makers Meriden Conn Decarbonized Steel

Robert, at the top of this page to the left, click on PGCA Home. Then from the home screen, select 'Parker Grades' under Collector information. Scroll to the bottom and click T latch, Back action, etc, and identify which model you have, then come back here.

Thanks,
Parker grade o under lifter

Just guessing but it's probably a back action pin lifter with a straight grip.

it looks just like the O under lifter shown

but with the SN, it must surely be a back action, yes?

Well,
They started the clock over with the Charles Parker Maker guns and Also the Parker Brothers guns.

The Nov. 13 1866 patent was for the lifter button mechanism. So this patent applied to all of the versions of the guns.

A Parker Bros marked gun with serial number 048 would have been made in late 1869.

Hi Robert, some pictures would definitely help. I have serial# 46 a 10 gauge back action with 30" Laminated Steel barrels. Mine doesn't have the "0" prefix in the serial number though. Here are pictures and info from the thread I started when I bought the gun:

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23414