Mike,
According to the Parker Gun Identification and Serialization book your friend's gun, 18247 is listed as a D2, Underlifter action, no extra options, 10 gauge with 32 inch barrels. The 5 and 12 refer to the unstruck barrel weight. There are hammers out there for the finding but sometimes it can take some luck. I see you are a Forum Associate. I don't know what that means but if it means you are not a full member of the PGCA then you can not purchase or sell items on the forum. If you aren't a member I would suggest you and your friend become members. After that send for a research letter on the gun it will hopefully give him some very interesting information about the gun. If you can take some detailed photographs and submit them some of our experts will be able to give you much more information than I can. We would need photographs of the end of the barrels, water table of the receiver, barrel flats, barrel lug, forearm, buttstock, butt plate and of course each lock. Shooting the gun is no problem DEPENDING upon condition. Some of these older guns are in great condition and are shot all the time. Others are in relic condition and are unsafe to shoot without spending lots of money relining the bores etc. Pictures will give some idea to our experts of the condition the gun and whether it is shootable or not. Even with them looking I would suggest you have the gun evaluated in person by somebody who is familiar with Damascus type barrels to be absolutely safe. Shells are sold by a company called rstshells.com. They will have 10 gauge shells appropriate for your friend's gun if it is safe to shoot. I hope this has been some help.
Dennis
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