Trying to know more about Uncles Parker
 

My uncles has asked to help him know more about what he says was his fathers Parker.
Serial number seems to indicate a 1907 with Damascus barrel.
I have several pictures but not sure how to upload them since it seems to want a URL address...they are on my laptop.
Any advice?

George, when making a post, you can select the "paper clip" icon on the top row of the message box. From there you select "Browse" to locate the pictures on your laptop. You can select five pictures and then hit upload. You can then repeat the process for as many pictures as you want to upload.

I hope that helps.

Thank you...will give it a try...
 

Here are some images...trying to identify the grade...it looks like a 3...

I have more if it helps...

Yes its a grade 3 looks like a nice old gun

Thank you. I have been told that due to the age it should not be fired and that NEVER to use today's ammo under any circumstances. Does that sound right?

That demands a lot of discussion, but if the barrels can be measured for wall thiskness, dents and pitting by an EXPERT in the field of 100+ year old shotguns and is deemed safe to shoot, there are modern shells that can be used in it. Chamber pressure should be kept below 8,000 PSI and less is better. And DON'T use steel shot.




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I’m screwed if that’s the case ! My #1 hammer gun was made in the early 1880’s . I’ve probably put a couple thousand of my handloads thru the gun 30 grains of SR7625 pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot . Works nicely on clay targets and tower pheasants .

Not sure if you stock has been repaired by the looks of the checkering on the cheeks there could be a repair there that the checkering was done to hide the repair; better picture of that area might help. Grade 3 guns did not normally have checkering there.

George,

You have a very beautiful Parker. The "D" grades were often referred to as "Doctors" guns. The book indicates it came with 30" barrels. You have received sound advice on determining its shoot ability. I on the other hand have not had any of my Damascus and Twist Parkers barrel wall thickness checked. My thought is this, if the barrels appear not to have been tampered with they pass my test. I have two Parkers from 1881 with Twist Steel barrels. The 10 gauge I reload for. The 12 gauge and all other twist and Damascus 12 gauge shoot reloads or any off the shelf shotgun shells that are 1 oz or less at 1180 fps or less. The following are some of my choices: Federal Top Gun 12ga 2-3/4" 1oz #8 1180fps 25rd box, Winchester Super-Target Shotshells 12 ga 2-3/4" 1 oz 1150 fps #7.5 25/ct, and here is the one I love, Winchester AA Low Recoil/Low Noise Target Loads Shotshells 26 gram at 980 fps. They will break any target on a sporting clay range and cleanly take all small game birds. RST Shells are probably the best shells for our older guns. They are specifically tailored for appropriate pressure and shot payload.

Harry