New Member from AL
 

Hello fellow members, I am excited to be here and learn all I can about Parker Bros. guns. I have an opportunity to purchase 2 guns that have been locally owned. One appears to be a 1929 GH from the serial number and the water table stamping, probably a 75% gun based on wear, etc. The other has me puzzled. By the serial number it is a 1894 production model with a #3 frame; however, the barrel appears to have a vent rib and I am wondering if it was added later. I would really appreciate your opinions.
First pic is the 1929, the next four are from the 1894.

Welcome Chad. The GH is really a GHE based on the pic of the frame. The other with the 800** is a 12 gauge 2 frame Grade 3 or DH. Extractor gun. The Ghe has ejectors. More pics will be useful in better determining condition.

Thanks Jim. Is the vent rib something that would have been on that gun in 1894?

I think it was made prior to vent rib installed by Parker but I don't have my serialization book with me.

The 1894 gun may have originally had Damascus barrels and went back to Parker to get a set of fluid steel barrels. That could be when the vent rib was added also.

If the seller can wait a few days, it may be that joining PGCA and ordering letters for the guns might help you make a good decision. Long story short is if the guns are priced so that you feel good, go for them.

Possibly the rib was added by Simmons. They did a lot of rib work over the years. If I'm not mistaken, if Parker Bros added a rib it would have Parker legends on it. Parker ribs that were added should also be serialized to the gun under the rib. Not easy to see, but it can be found if you look carefully, so I'm told.

Chad, The vent vibe does not look to be Parker. I think Mike has it correct...Simmons. Also the barrel hook looks to have been altered to fit. Do the serial numbers of the barrels match the rest of the gun? Also it has the rear lug improvement, which would suggest the barrels are post 1910 if they are indeed fluid steel. Possible the 1894 gun was sent back for repairs.

Thanks guys. I have requested to see if the current owner has ever had a letter written on these guns. I am suspect of the 1894 model’s barrel, although it does have a matched serial number on the barrel pad and the water table. Hopefully there will be more answers forthcoming early next week.

It appears 80078 was rebarreled sometime between 1926 when Parker Bros. began using the PARKER BROS. OVERLOAD PROVED stamp and the acquisition by Remington when it changed to PARKER GUN WORKS in the middle of the stamp. The letter P in the circle shows the owner opted for a lower priced set of barrels than would have been "standard" for a Quality DH. The P in the circle stands for Parker Steel normal for a Quality PH gun. At that time a Quality DH would have a T in the circle for Titanic Steel, a Quality GH would have a P.S. in the circle for Parker Spec. Steel.

Very sure the vent rib was done after market by someone other than Parker Bros. Doesn't look like the Simmons ribs I've seen tacked on top of the original Parker rib. Possibly a Moneymaker?