What do I have?

DeAn Durham · 02-16-2011, 03:07 PM

This has a serial# of 126696 and I gan gather that it is a DH but cannot get the barrell off to look at the other stamping and give more accurate info. Also, on the barrell it is stamped Titanic Steel. Here are a few pictures that I took of it, if anyone can decipher anything from it. Thanks in advance for any info! I'm also adding a pic of my Great Grandfather with the gun that I found in the case it was stored in....

guns 004.jpg

guns 007.jpg

Family 010.jpg

Dean Romig · 02-16-2011, 03:19 PM

Unfortunately Dee, that gun was "rode hard and put away wet".

Restoring that gun would cost far more than it would worth when done.

How sad for your Grandfather's Parker legacy.

But welcome to the PGCA Forum. I'm sure someone will look up the specifics on that gun.

George Lander · 02-16-2011, 03:34 PM

Hello Dee: I'm going to disagree with Dean on this one. What you have (according to the "book") is a Parker hammerless T14 or CHE Grade 16 gauge with capped pistol grip stock and 28 inch Titanic Steel barrels made in 1904. Your gun needs total restoration in that it is in, as Dean pointed out, very poor condition and off the face. What you have is a fairly rare Parker with family provenance. I would suggest ordering a research letter from PGCA for $40 and see what information it would provide. Tell us where you are located and perhaps we can recommend a Parker restoration expert to bring your Great Grandfather's gun back to life. It won't be cheap but IMHO this gun deserves it.

Best Regards, George

DeAn Durham · 02-16-2011, 03:40 PM

I am located in Hurst, TX. I found this under my Grandpa's bed just recently after my Dad, Grandma and Grandpa all passed this past April, May, and June. I took the pictures just as I had found it due to reading about not trying to "clean" it up or do anything to it until I had it appraised. Thank you for all of the information and advice you have given. I appreciate it.

George Lander · 02-16-2011, 03:55 PM

Dee: Whatever you do don't try to "clean" it yourself. Let an expert do that. Others here who are more familiar with Parker restoration experts in Texas will, probably, post here shortly. If you wanted to you could call my chosen expert, Jim Kelly of the Darlington, Gun Works, Darlington, South Carolina at (843) 393-3931 and discuss it with him & e-mail him some pictures. He could probably give you a "ballpark figure" on restoration.

Do go to this home page and click on "research letters" and order one. You'll be glad that you did. I am sorry for your loss.

Best Regards, George

DeAn Durham · 02-16-2011, 04:02 PM

Again, thank you so very much! Rest assured that I would never "clean" it myself..lol. I was taught to NEVER do that and to always take it to a professional. May I ask what is the value of this gun by chance? And is it worth the cost of the restoration vs the value of the gun?

Autumn Daze · 02-16-2011, 04:05 PM

Dee, Welcome and thanks for stopping in. Because this is a great family gun if I owned it I would have to at least try to bring it back and the money be damned. You have gotten some very good advice here about who to send it to.Just don,t try to do it yourself. Maybe its just me but I get a little sentimental about family guns and a C Grade Parker is a "special" gun.

Is there anyway you could enhance that great picture of "Grandpa"?

winplumber · 02-16-2011, 04:06 PM

How can that gun be that far off face and still fit into the dolls head slot

Labowner · 02-16-2011, 04:10 PM

My guess is that the gun isn't closed in the last picture.
Bob

Bill Murphy · 02-16-2011, 04:12 PM

I don't believe the two pictures were taken with the gun in the same state of "closed". Dee, take a picture of the entire gun from the side for us. Also, take a closeup of the action of the gun again from the side with the gun as closed as you can get it, like in the picture taken from the top of the action. The gun in fine condition is worth from $8000 to $12,000, maybe more. In restored condition, it would be worth much less.