External Hammer identification help
 

Good Evening,
I have a Parker Bros external hammer shotgun with the following identification marks, but cannot determine what I have. Any help is appreciated.
Serial number 131577
Year - 1878
Frame size - 1
Barrel weight - 3 with 14 to upper right
Grade - “P”
Barrel - Twist

Thank you,
Jason

Jason,
That serial # is not in the Parker ID and Serialization book. That gun was made in 1905, a very late hammer gun. Sounds like a grade 1 or P grade as you have suggested. I assume the barrels are 30". Pictures would be very helpful. Feel free to PM me if I can be of more help.

Yes, a VERY late hammer gun.

The 1878 stamp is a patent date, not a YOM.

The barrel weight could even help to determine it possibly being a 16 gauge.



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How is the overall condition? Interesting that it's a "P" grade, but does not have laminated barrels like earlier grade 1 hammer guns. Though twist barrels are what a PH would have at the time if they were not fluid steel. It would be great to see some pictures!

True Jay, in certain time periods there were Twist Steel barrels intersected with Laminated Steel barrels - then later there were Parker Steel barrels.

To every season, turn, turn, turn, there is a reason, turn, turn, turn, and a barrel steel for every purpose under Heaven.






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