Got my letter on 59683--let's talk!!
 

I received my letter the other day on PH # 59683. It's an early 12 ga. PH shipped in Feb of 1890. It has the early unslotted one piece hinge pin. It meets all the letter specs except the barrels and ejectors--and that is what prompted me to purchase the gun. It's got 30 inch Vulcan steel barrels that are correctly serial numbered. It was also converted to ejectors, I assume when it was re-barreled. The forend latch has the patent date of March 26. 1876. The ejector forend iron--also numbered 59683--has the patent date of May 7, 1901--which I understand from the Parker Story is the correct date for the ejectors. The gun has a number 1 frame and weighs 7lbs with the 30" Vulcan barrels. I was hoping that the Parker records might have shown the gun coming in for these modifications. It seems pretty evident that these are factory changes to the gun. Everything else seems as it was when it left Meriden in 1890. The grip cap looks correct and original to the gun, but is not marker Parker Brothers and is brownish in color! I'd love to hear from others who have updated/factory altered guns. Are there any earlier guns with ejectors out there? I plan on chasing birds with it come this fall and have a nice supply of Gamebore shells to put through her! I hope to see many of you at the Southern SxS. Thanks for any comments you deem appropriate.

Yes, I have a comment. Your ejector and barrel replacement modifications are probably factory, although a picture would give more proof of that. There are other ejector retrofits that are not Parker. The grip cap without logo is proper for that era of Parker. I could have sworn you were going to tell us about the letter, but I guess I was wrong.

Bill, I have BHE 64887, not much younger than your gun. Its letter shows it was delivered with 30" Damascus tubes and a couple of years later was sent back for 28" Damascus tubes. That's it, no more gun specs info. The gun now has 30" Acme tubes with ejectors; serial numbers all match up, and no doubt, all Parked made. It does have Remington repair code stamped on the barrel flat indicating that it was worked on at Meriden in 1933. I am going to assume, without evidence to the contrary, that it received its Acme barrels and ejectors at that time. Does your gun bear any Remington code?

Fred, what is your actual full repair code, letters and numbers? I have not heard of a repair code from 1933 on a Parker.

It's PD3. Sorry, I was going from memory; I guess that means March 1935. Not sure what the P means.

There is a link to the codes on the home page

The "P" is the month code

PD is June 1935. The 3 indicates a repair.

Bill M---The letter reads as follows:
"Parker shotgun serial number 59683, was ordered by E.K. Tryon in Phia;delphia, Pa. on January 25, 1890 and shipped on February 27, 1890. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 26 it was a PH hammerless, 12 gauge. It featured Twist steel barrels with a length of 30 inches. Its stock configuration was a capped pistol grip. The chokes were patterned RH full(180 #8 pellets in a 24 inch circle at 45 yards) and LH full(180 #8 pellets in a 24 inch circle at 45 yards). According to Parker Stock Book No. 21, its specifications were: Length of Pull 14 1/4", Drop at Heel 2 3/4". Weight 7 pounds and 4 ounces. The price was $65.00"

That was the body of the letter with no mention of any upgrades!

Thanks.

I should add that I purchased this gun only 20 miles from Phila, so it's likely it has spent the last 120 plus years close to Tryon's!!