My grandfather's shotgun

[Chad smith]

I have a shotgun that my grandfather left me in his recentpassing.he was 94. The shotgun was given to his father by his law partner when my grandfather was born.
Any help would be appreciated and a possible value.

[Dean Hanson]

Please provide a picture of the barrel flats. The serial # is not available in the PGIS book.

[Chad smith]

119133 . Is the number stamped in like 3 different places on the gun

[Dean Hanson]

I can see the #, its the barrel flats and rear lug that will help determine what you have.

[Researcher]

Your gun was made in 1903. The gun is a Quality VH, the entry-level Parker Bros. shotgun at that time. From the 1901 catalog that introduced the option of automatic ejectors, which your gun does not have.

Quality V.H. Ejector Catalog.jpg

Note that price of $50 is the "List Price." The actual Net Price was $37.50.

If your gun is a 12-gauge, the 12-gauge VH-/VHE-Quality is the most common Parker Bros. shotgun made with some 51901 made. This is not to say they are not great guns for hunting and shooting, but they don't draw a lot of dollars unless in exceptionally high original condition or sport a lot of the options offered later in production.

[Chad smith]

Thank you for the info the shotgun is a 16ga and probably wasn't shot more than 25 times or so according to my grandfather. Any suggestions on preserving the gun. Or possible value to a collector

[Researcher]

It takes a lot more than 25 shots to produce the amount wear shown on the standing breech. More in the thousands. The pictures show virtually no remaining case colors on the frame, and the barrel blue is very worn. Wipe it down with a good product such as Ballistol, Eezox, etc. and don't store it in a gun case.

[Woodcock survey]

Many times on this forum i have seen requests such as yours, sometimes weekly. A Parker gun is not a ticket to riches. Only a very few almost pristine guns have " collector value". Most are shooters and very good for that purpose. No one can put a value on your gun with out having it in hand.
Many people have looked at mine and after asking what it is respond with '' that must be worth a fortune '' and when told no about a thousand look at me with skepticism. Look on Guns international and see what you find i tell them.
No a Parker for the most part is a great value.

[Chris Pope]

This shotgun will have a HUGE value as a family heirloom to someone in future generations of your family. I have my great grandfathers deer rifle and consider it to be one of our prized family posessions that will never be sold but rather continue to be passed down through the generations of our family. Please please do not sell that shotgun. Find a member of your family that is responsible and has an interest in firearms. Gift it or will it to them, just make sure you write down the Parker's story. If you are struggling financially perhaps you could sell it to them. Just place a condition on it that it is to stay in the family.
Can you imagine if someone still had your great grandfather's Ford Model T Runabout and it was in driveable condition. Wouldn't you want to be able to sit in the front seat that he sat in and grip the wheel that he had gripped a hundred years ago? Sorry if this sounds preachy here but you have something that will be of great value to a future member of your family or extended family. You are very lucky to have this. Best to you.

[J. A. EARLY]

Since it was your "grandfather's gun" it would be worth the few dollars to have the stock shield engraved with his name, so it will be clear to a future generation as to whom it belonged. At some time if you keep it it may be worth cleaning it up a bit for the next generation, say starting with barrel rebluing, stock refinish, etc. You can't hurt it or just pass it on as is.