What type of Parker do I have?
 

Hi All -

I have a Parker 12 gauge shotgun but I cannot find the serial number or any significant markings on how to tell what I exactly have. Any helped would be greatly appreciated. Please see the pictures for detail. Thanks!

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is not a Parker bros shotgun from Meriden.

What you have is a foreign Parker “knock-off”. The one hammer is from a Parker Bros. Shotgun though.

Right Brian, the left hammer appears to be from a Parker Bros. shotgun.






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belgium proofs and not of better quality - the hammer from a Parker Brothers may be the most valuable part

Thank you all for the help. Any way to tell the age of this shotgun?

i think i see a star over a letter on the picture of the underside of the barrels-

if so that inspectors mark started in 1877

For good reason "Parker" was a very popular Belgian knock-off name on guns intended for the U.S. market, as was your gun with "Laminated Steel", which is Twist.
Here is another

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../405800111.jpg

possibly made by Arnold Lochet

Does yours have this Parkerish buttplate?

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../407792232.jpg

Inspector's marks can not be used to date a Belgian gun; they were re-used and the significance of many has been lost. The best we can do is likely pre-1893. Odd that is only carries Provisional Proof and not the final Banc D'Epreuves de Liege mark.

Under no circumstance should you attempt to shoot the gun, with any load.

the letters were reused - but it was my impression (which could be wrong) from many proof mark listings, that the star replaced a crown as a top mark for the letter in 1877

1853-1877 inspector's marks were crowned rather than spangled.
The mark shown appears to have a star, and the bore mm (18.2) without the muzzle constriction was used 1878 - 1897, usually with NON POUR BALLE if choke > .2 mm = about .008".