"P" serial number

[Bird Dog]

I know most of the Parker Reproduction numbers start with their gauge followed by their production number. Is the "P" for a prototype gun or does it have some other meaning? Is their anything intrinsically different with these guns or their value?

[Don Mills]

I own P 420 and this what I was told when I asked a similar question of Richard Skeuse.

Hi Don, Thanks for your question. The P guns were Prototypes that were the first of many Parker Reproduction guns made.

The only difference I am aware of is the P prefix. Value seems to be similar to any of the other repro given the same condition and configuration. Some might be willing to pay more for them but I am not aware that it is a significant amount

[Bird Dog]

Did it come with the same "parker reproduction" leather case and canvas sleeve?

[Don Mills]

The same case but the canvas cover wasn’t with it. I purchased it used some years ago.

[esetter - Gerry Addison]

I have owned several of the P marked reproduction guns and if memory serves me correctly they came with a very light colored cloth cover for the case, not the cavas and leather cover that was on the later guns. The cloth cover was very thin and would easily be soiled and worn so I'm assuming many were discarded. I'm going my memory so don't take this for gospel, but I know several of the ones I've owned did have this cloth cover.

[GH-16]

Originally Posted by Gerry Addison

I have owned several of the P marked reproduction guns and if memory serves me correctly they came with a very light colored cloth cover for the case, not the cavas and leather cover that was on the later guns. The cloth cover was very thin and would easily be soiled and worn so I'm assuming many were discarded. I'm going my memory so don't take this for gospel, but I know several of the ones I've owned did have this cloth cover.

This makes sense in regard to the those early awful case covers. I look at them as prototypes that didn't make the grade & were changed out for the canvas covers fairly early-on.

Personally, I wouldn't pay extra for a "P" gun because I like to judge every gun on its own merits. Wood figure & layout would far outpace my choices in repro's over an early gun with a "P" designation.

I'd like to give a shoutout to the original poster. Thank you for joining the PGCA and welcome to the group!!!

[Dean Romig]

There were so many P (Prototype) guns made in each gauge, they really don’t hold any interest for me.





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[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

There were so many P (Prototype) guns made in each gauge, they really don’t hold any interest for me.
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Dean or anyone else . . . have you ever seen a "P" gun in any gauge other than a 20-ga.? Please post a pic or provide a link as I'd like to see one.

[Dean Romig]

I don’t have any links or pictures but I’ve seen a couple of 28’s and have seen some shipping records by serial number.
Do we know if P 20-0209 indicates it was the 209th twenty-gauge P made… I certainly don’t.





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[Wild Skies]

Thanks Dean. I sure would like to see a 28ga. DHE "P" gun. I've thought that I've been paying attention ever since the dark ages, but obviously not. If you or others should come across one of these so-called prototypes in any other gauge other than a 20, please let us know.

In the 2nd part of your response above, is the gun stamped "P 20-0209" or simply "P-209"? (It's been reported they've been stamped both ways.) In either case, one would logically have to believe that it was the 209th 20ga. produced. But, in that wonderful SHOOTING SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE article written by David Trevallion entitled "A PARKER REPRODUCTION COLLECTION - A visual feast of rare smallbores" ( https://shootingsportsman.com/parker...tion-shotguns/ ) Trevallion reported in that article that there were only 41 .410 Repros ever produced. If that information is 100% accurate, it leaves me scratching my head to explain the pic below.