Thinking about purchase of a 16ga Parker-
 

Serial number is 203985. I have seen a picture and am aware that it has 28" barrels. Can someone advise any other details that might be available. I am reluctant to purchase the Parker letter this early in the game.

Thank you

Linn,Gun number 203985 is in the"Book" as a Parker Special Steel G grade 20 gauge with 26" barrels,pistol grip stock,added barrels and ejectors.

Sounds like a nice gun...:)

David-By the term added barrels are you implying it's in the book as a two bbl two guage set??

Well Richard...I gotta tell ya...Linn says its a 16 gauge and the book says its a 20 gauge. If those 16 gauge barrels are marked 2 that would seem to be the case. Wouldn't that be a nice suprise!!?But the book has been wrong before..:crying:

Linn is the gun listed as a two barrel set?

Gun shown with one set of barrels and is still called a 16ga. I have forwarded the info and asked for some more discussion. Mysterious isn't it?

I appreciate the interest and help.

Linn

Linn: You'll want to push hard as to whether there is a second set of factory barrels with the gun. That would make a HUGE difference in the value. Try to dig up any previous owners if you have to. If they're not available now, it sounds like they were at some point and searching for them would be well worth it.

Thanks Richard--I will do so but first I want to make sure that it is the same gun.
Appreciate your help and interest

Linn

For what it's worth serial # 203986 doesn't match the book either.

Linn,

As luck would have it, Parker 203985 is in the Von Lengerke & Detmold records that are in the custody of Griffin & Howe, Inc. The VL&D records came to us when we were all part of Abercrombie & Fitch. G&H is the only surviving business still in the firearms trade. The shotgun was received at VL&D on November 23, 1923 and is described as being a GHE and having "2 bbls". The record indicates that the gun is a 20 gauge with 26 inch barrels choked Cyl & Mod. but there is no description of the second set of barrels, just that there is a second set! Nor is there a record of the weight of the gun. The explanantion may lie in the fact that the date of disposition is the same as the date of acquisition. That usually meant that the gun was a special order for a customer and, as such, there was not as much need to record every specification since the firearm already had a buyer. This has often been noted in the records - special order guns are not a completely described as guns for stock. Written documentation, along with the name and background of the origianl owner, is available from G&H. Now if we could only help you find those 20 gauge barrels!

Compliments of Griffin & Howe, Inc

Bob Beach
Records Archivist

Thank you very much for the research, Bob.
I did determine that the gun is an "0" frame with the S/N on the barrels. There is no "2" stamped on the barrels. So, it looks like the gun is missing a set of 20ga barrels with the same S/N--and I would guess that they are the 26" set indicated
I am most appreciative of all the help that I have received. Thank you

Linn