New Guy, old gun

[Brett Lumsden]

Hi all. So I have this old gun here that I got when my Father passed away in 1976. It's a Parker Bros. And it's in pretty darn good shape. Other than a couple of small dents in the barrel she's straight. ser.# 204080. Any info would be great. Thanks in advance

[Brett Lumsden]

Oh ya I didn't mention it is a 16ga.

[Richard Flanders]

It's a 0-frame P grade made in 1923. Someone has blued the receiver. That dent you show in the barrel can be mostly removed but will likely always show. Pretty hard to get that one completely out. Could be a nice little shooter. Good for you in getting it. Someone else will come on and tell you how many P grades were made in 16ga. Could likely use a good cleaning and inspection to make sure it hasn't any issues. Maybe we have a member near you who could look at it for you.

[Dean Romig]

That's a pretty desirable PH. It would make a great little grouse gun and it wouldn't take much to get it shootable.

[charlie cleveland]

nice little gun and there always special coming down the family tree...yes there will be some folks that will answer your questions soon...wish i had a case with my gun...one interesting thing i see is the serial noseems high for a p grade but i see that it is so marked....charlie

[Brett Lumsden]

Thanks for the replys. I know the gun is stock original as my Dad got it from his Dad who was the first owner. As for the reciever being reblued I don't think so. I used this gun when I was 14(some 40 years ago) to hunt ducks and pheasents and it still shoots today. I tryed to stay away from using the left barrel. Being desirable, what do you think it could be worth?
Brett

[Bruce Day]

Here is another old family PHE 16ga with likely value $4000 to $4500. Yours being the smaller frame and a straight grip would likely make it more desireable but the poor condition with severely dented barrel, incorrectly blued frame and buggered screws significantly reduce value to maybe a quarter of that, if not less.
Fortunately there is a first rate Parker gunsmith in the Pacific Northwest but to correct the problems with your gun might well cost $1000. Let people here know if that route interests you and a referral will be made.

[edgarspencer]

P grades are scarce when you compare their numbers to the lower V grades, and 0 framed 16ga guns are desireable, Most Ps that turn up lately are damascus barreled too, Yours appears to have steel barrels. A good barrel man will make those dents disappear from the inside, but unless you spend a little bit more and have the outsides restruck and properly cold rust blued, the dent will show to some degree. Maybe it's the lighting, but the water table (flat horizontal portion of the receiver) appears blued. I can't remember the product I bought from Brownells a long time ago to chemically removed blueing. I had a very nice Winchester rifle that was made with a case harded lever, but had been cold rust blued. After removing the blueing, much of the original case colors were still present. All 0 framed straight stocked guns are so pretty. Congrats on getting hold of a good piece. Worth hanging onto.

[Hammer Gun]

Believe me steel barrel P grades are hard to find in any condition, about 1200 total made in all gauges, The rare ones 410- 4 made 28- 5 made 8ga 4-5 made, This post makes me wish I still had my P grade collection!

[edgarspencer]

Whether the cost of a proper restoration would be as much as Bruce suggests, I am not qualified to say based on the photos you posted, but it would be money well spent in my estimation.