My Parker Hammer gun

[David Cobb]

Hello All, I am new to the forum. I own a Parker Hammer gun. It is serial number 02895 which puts its date of manufacture at 1874. The PGCA indicates there are records available so I'm going to get a research letter for sure. It has been in my family for a long time and we may be the original owner.

It's not a fancy grade, has surface rust in places and dents and dings in the wood but it appears to be intact with the same serial numbers on the receiver, barrel, and forearm. There are no cracks in the wood, all the screws and pins are there. I'm not going to try to do anything to it until I do more research, but in the long run I'd like to restore it if the unrestored intrinsic value is low.

It's marked as a decarbonized barrel, and there's a few other markings. On the bottom of the receiver is stamped "PAT NOV13 1866". The watertable has the serial number with the number 1 above it.

The barrel lug has the serial number on one side and on the back and the letter "S" or number "5" on the bottom of the lug (frame size?)

The letters J.D. are next to the lug on the flats. That's the only marking on the flats.

The numbers 0 1 3 are on the bottom of the left barrel near the flats.

The gun disassembles easily, triggers cock, the forearm is a little loose because the bracket holding it is beginning to detach from the bottom of the barrel. Hasn't been shot in many many years.

Any comments would be appreciated;

[John D.]

Hi and Welcome,

While you may have not noticed, all of us login/post with our first and last names (as it states several times during th registration process). If you PM me - or post your first/last name - I'll get you set.

Thank you,

John

[David Cobb]

Here are some pics:


IMG_13972.jpg

IMG_13982.jpg

parkerbarrel2.jpg

watertable2.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

Regardless of surface rust and the loose forend lug, this gun may be in way higher condition than is seems, for its age. Don't do anything to restore it until you get a better set of pictures for appraisal.

[David Cobb]

first pic shows the loose forearm lug and the 0 1 3 on the barrel

021.jpg

this pic shows the patent date of Nov 13 1866 on bottom of receiver
017.jpg

straight grip with checkering about 2" past the end of the trigger guard extension
016.jpg

metal buttplate all the screws have some detailing to them; barrels are 30" and it is 16 gauge
015.jpg
the stock is scuffed up but no cracks and the wood fits very well against the metal in all places, no gaps
013.jpg

[Autumn Daze]

David,Your gun is in the "Serialization Book" as a Decarbonized Steel 12 gauge with 30" barrels.

[David Cobb]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

David,Your gun is in the "Serialization Book" as a Decarbonized Steel 12 gauge with 30" barrels.

Thanks I appreciate the info. I've mailed out funds to join the PGCA and obtain a research letter so I'm looking forward to seeing who the original owner was. I first thought it was a 12 gauge but a shell I had handy didn't fit; I guess those old paper shells were thinner.

Thanks again.

[Dean Romig]

A sixteen gauge would have been a surprise

[David Cobb]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

A sixteen gauge would have been a surprise

Well you can always dream...in any event although I've been around guns all my life I am ignorant of the Parker breed. So it's time to get educated and do right by this old gun.