Need help identifying an old Parker

Jake Schultz · 12-12-2010, 11:34 PM

I'm new here, so I apologize if this thread is in the wrong area or redundant. I've been looking into buying this side by side from this old guy. He said it was a Parker so I've been researching to see what it might be worth, but I'm having trouble identifying it.

The serial number is 134123 and I couldn't find anything denoting the frame size. On the water table the only reference to the grade was 'V'. I looked very closely and I'm about 80% sure it was NOT marked 'VH' but just 'V'. Also marked onto the water table was 'ATD March 2, 1878'.

The serial number matched everywhere it was stamped and the gun seemed to be in great condition, although it appeared that nearly all the case coloring was gone. Just looking at it, it looks like a 12 ga, open choke, hammerless, with a double trigger and minor engravings (if that helps any).

Mainly, I was just wondering what price range might this gun be worth, and if it was usable for shooting or just as a collectors piece.

Thank you

Richard Flanders · 12-13-2010, 04:04 AM

You'll have to post some pictures so we can judge the gun

Brush Buster · 12-13-2010, 09:28 AM

Hello Jake and Welcome aboard ,The gun you have listed ,134123,is listed in the Parker Serialization book as a ," D2,H,O ,C,12 ,30 ", Translation ,a Damascus barreled gun ,in Grade 2 " GH ,Hammerless ,No Extras , Such as "Ejecters Etc. , Capped pistol Grip ,12 Ga. With 30 " Barrels . Hope this helps ,price help will only come with condition , please send pictures .

Brush Buster · 12-13-2010, 09:33 AM

Jake ,One other idea ,Click onto our home page ,then go down the column on the left side of the page ,click onto Grades ,Go down the list to Grade 2 ,and see if any of the guns resemble your gun you are searching ,the engraving in the lower grades were pretty much standard ,you should see the gun in one of the pics. on that page ! Russ

Harry Collins · 12-13-2010, 09:39 AM

Jake,

This is my thought on the Parker as described with the give or take of several hundred dollars. Nice Damascus pattern on the barrels and no case colours $1,500, Grey barrels $800 and blued barrels $400.

Many other factors to consider.

Kindest, Harry

Jake Schultz · 12-13-2010, 11:36 AM

Thanks for all the posts everyone. I wasn't expecting this much information this quickly, you guys are great. Now with all this info, I really want to go take a look at it again, I'm not sure if he'll let me take pictures of it though.

A few new questions:

Is it possible for a Damascus barrel to loose that patterning that you associate with Damascus steel? Because when I was looking at it, it just seemed like normal steel. I guess I'll have to checkout the barrels a little more closely to see if it's stamped on there.

Does the 'ADT March 2, 1878' denote the year it was created?

And does any buddy know why the water table would be stamped 'V' ? I took Brush Buster's advice and looked up the grades and the markings are very similar to the hammerless grade 2. I don't think it'd be a replacement part because it was also stamped with the same serial number.

Thanks for all your help

Pa SxS · 12-13-2010, 05:33 PM

Jake,

The Parker was manufactured in 1905.

It's possible the damascus barrels were blued which would hide the pattern.

Check closely the serial numbers found on the water table, trigger guard tang, side of the barrel lug, and the forend iron, they should all match. What does the rib inscription read, does it say damascus steel or vulcan steel? Does the configuration match that which Brush Buster stated? Detailed closeups would help of the water table, rib inscription, and barrel flats.

The frame size is the number on the bottom of rear barrel lug.

Brush Buster · 12-13-2010, 06:30 PM

Jake ,Also you may want to remove the forend and take a look at the barrels in this area ,if they have been blued ,often the bluing is worn off in this area because of the forend being removed over and over for cleaning etc. , possibly you can see the Damascus pattern in this area if it is a Damascus barreled gun ! Russ

Bill Murphy · 12-13-2010, 07:44 PM

Jake, are you sure you got that serial number right. 134,123?

Jake Schultz · 12-17-2010, 11:50 PM

So I went back today to check out the gun. The serial number is in fact 134123, marked on the trigger guard, water table and the metal piece that holds the forearm. Based on what Brush Buster said in reference to the serial number the gun should be a damascus barrel , grade 2, with no extras.

So here is the weird part, I checked out the gun today and the barrel said 'vulcan steel' and it also had shell ejectors. Although, I wasn't able to locate a serial number on the barrel.

Do you think the barrel was an upgrade at some point?

Also, I noticed that the engravings differed from the ones shown for the grade 2 guns on the website. They were very similar to the engraving on this gun.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/948991966...ge_Shotgun.htm

Does having the steel barrels and the ejectors increase the value of the gun or will it decrease because it's not original? I'm guessing it depends on who did the modifications, and the best way to get information would be to pay for a letter, right?