A new (to me) gun.

Philip Smith · 05-16-2010, 05:56 PM

Bruce Day · 05-16-2010, 06:15 PM

Yes. A valuable and uncommon Parker. The condition is a little rough but it can be cleaned up without much difficulty. Guns like this commonly sell for $6000 to $10,000.

And a C M Powers rod to boot.

Autumn Daze · 05-16-2010, 06:15 PM

Phil,First thing is that this tells me I should spend more time at estate sales!Congratulations on a great find! From the pictures the Parker looks to be in very decent condition.I would not do anything to it but a minor cleaning after having the bores and overall mechanical condition checked by a competent doublegun gunsmith. If you tell us were you are located someone may be able to recommend a smith to you.

This gun is also very interesting as it is listed in the "Serialization Book" as a Grade 4 12 gauge gun with 26" Bernard steel barrels,capped pistol grip stock and added barrels and ejectors.

There are few Parker guns documented as having "Added barrels" Be still my heart.....

I will add that research letter from the PGCA will add to the value of the gun and may answer questions of previous ownership

Bill Anderson · 05-16-2010, 06:18 PM

The serial number book lists your shotgun as a B4 (Bernard steel grade 4) two barrel set, capped pistol grip stock, 26" barrels with ejectors. The damascus set should have "Bernard Steel" on the barrel top rib.

Bill

Bruce Day · 05-16-2010, 06:30 PM

They are Bernards, and I collect Bernards. At 26" , my guess is that the gun is a 1 frame.

This is an important Parker, and refinishing/refreshing/cleaning up by a non Parker expert gunsmith will degrade value. Best to leave alone until you know what you are going to do with it and then be careful about the selection of the right person. I urge you not to try it yourself.

Bill Murphy · 05-16-2010, 06:45 PM

A PGCA letter may tell you whether the gun was made with a set of Bernard barrels and a set of Titanic barrels (very, very rare) or with two sets of Bernard barrels with the Titanic barrels made later (very rare). Rarer even is the fact that the next gun in line, #130,370 was another multibarrel 26" Bernard C Grade. Maybe they were made for the same person. Please share the information you receive from the PGCA researcher on these two guns.

StubTwist · 05-16-2010, 07:50 PM

Wow... What an awesome find! Nice gun and keep everyone posted on the PGCA research letter.

Frank

Double Play · 05-16-2010, 07:56 PM

I was thinking Philip should run right out and buy a lottery ticket. But why, it seems he already hit the lottery. Great find Philip.

George Lander · 05-16-2010, 09:21 PM

Phillip: What a great find! The PGCA letter on my CH shows that it was ordered originally with 32 in Bernard Steel Barrels in 1899 (alas they now measure 28 inches). The letter then shows that it was sent back to Parker on at least two occassions the second time in 1906 to have a set of 30 inch Titanic barrels fitted. Larry, Frank, Dave, Bruce and the two Bills are correct. Please get a PGCA letter. You will be glad that you did, I promise you!

Best Regards, George

Philip Smith · 05-16-2010, 09:27 PM

Actually I must first say that my wife bought the gun, I knew enough about the gun at that moment, but my she is good at bidding. We only had one blind bid against us (that was a gun dealer). I knew he wouldn't over bid. It was a very exciting Saturday morning. Now I think I need a gun safe.

I don't know how to tell frame size of the gun but I am fairly sure the barrels are frame 2. Could I have a gun with one frame size and barrels with different frame sizes? I think I saw somewhere that you could order a barrel later and it would come with the same s/n is that right?

The Damascus certainly needs work and it lost it's color, it looks really nice under the fore stock. The Titanic looks good inside and out. This gun was used a good bit, which I don't mind because thats what they are for.

I don't quite understand the difference between Damascus and Bernard.

Oh..I'm in L.A. (lower Alabama), I wouldn't have a problem send this gun to someone who really knows them.

Thanks for your replies, I'm so excited about this.