Nice Parker Auctioned at Amoskeag
 

Today, I spent the majority of the day at the Amoskeag Auction. They sold just about 900 guns! One of the guns sold today was listed as "Parker Top Lever Hammer Double Shotgun". Serial #44995 (1885) 12 gauge, 30" barrels, choked Mod. & Full. The barrel inscription "PARKER BROS MAKERS MERIDEN CONN. TWIST". The bores shinned like a new one. The frame retains 85% original color. The barrel is beautiful. Just a joy to hold. Sold for $4,000. I wish all of you could have seen it.

A Parker VH sold for $600.00. Some slight pitting in the bores otherwise in nice shape.

Yup, John, the lesson is "Buy Condition".

another lesson is to buy what you can afford and what you feel comfortable investing in...

My philosophy is safe to shoot but not too nice to shoot.

im with ed and mills buy something safe to shoot and what you can afford...charlie

(Yup, John, the lesson is "Buy Condition".)

This coming from the self-proclaimed father of strays?

They sold a DH Titanic 12 a couple of weeks ago locally and the barrels were honed so thin you could see daylight through them in a couple of spots. Still brought 1800.Crazy.

Barrels marked Twist would be a grade 0 or 1. Must have been one heck of a 12 bore gun to bring $4k.

"auction frenzy" sometimes trumps common sense... but usually common sense makes the best decision.

I am far from an expert on Parker hammer guns, but this shotgun was in what I would consider excellent condition. The frame had 80% retention of case hardened coloring and the trigger gaurd and hammers were at 98%. It was the first Parker hammer gun I ever handled and that gun had a wonderful balance. Agian, I'm not a Parker expert. I did see some shotguns and handguns that I'm much better aquainted with that went for well under market value. Just depends on who is in the room I guess?