New Member Inherited Parker Question

[Double Lab]

Lindsay;
Thanks for the photos and the neat documents. I wish I had an inherited Parker with that paperwork. Don't ever separate the two. Who worked at the Gilliam Motor Co., was it your uncle?

[Lindsay Blanton]

Yes he was my uncle - Hubert Gilliam and he was a great quail hunter and owned Gilliam Motors in Cumberland, VA. I was too young to hunt with him before he died of cancer. He told my aunt to make sure I got the Parker. She did that! I have had it packed away for 23 years. 2 years ago I took with me to the Woodmont Rod & Gun Club in Maryland for a Company hunt and an expert out there told me not to use it. I figured I would one day have time to research it and I am happy to have found the Parker Collectors Association!

[Double Lab]

Great story Lindsay. I too have hunted at Woodmont and it's a shame that it's no longer there. The "expert" you met really did'nt know anything about double guns, Parkers in particular. Your gun should be shot and enjoyed just as your uncle did. From the looks of the wear on the gun he used, but not abused, that nice Parker. If it had been unfired and in the box that would be a different story.

[Pa SxS]

What's the frame size! Look at the bottom of the barrel lug.

[Lindsay Blanton]

I finally looked at the bottom of the barrel lug - it shows 12 and the one half - pictures attached

[Pa SxS]

As I suspected from the less than 7 pound weight, it's a 1/2 frame gun. Parker didn't start making 12ga 1/2 frame guns until after they were purchased by Remington in response to a demand for a lighter weight 12ga gun. 1/2 frame guns are scarce but not rare and do bring a higher value. There are collectors who collect 1/2 frame guns.

I'm not going to venture a guess as to value but I can tell you that I was talking to Steve Barnett recently about 1/2 frame guns and he told me he sold a VHE with a lot of case colors remaining for $7500. Your mileage may vary!

[Lindsay Blanton]

Chuck, thanks for your reply! One question - since I am a rookie at this, what do the numbers actually mean for frame size? Is it an actual measurement of something on the frame?