10ga. #18247...

[Dennis]

Mike,

According to the Parker Gun Identification and Serialization book your friend's gun, 18247 is listed as a D2, Underlifter action, no extra options, 10 gauge with 32 inch barrels. The 5 and 12 refer to the unstruck barrel weight. There are hammers out there for the finding but sometimes it can take some luck. I see you are a Forum Associate. I don't know what that means but if it means you are not a full member of the PGCA then you can not purchase or sell items on the forum. If you aren't a member I would suggest you and your friend become members. After that send for a research letter on the gun it will hopefully give him some very interesting information about the gun. If you can take some detailed photographs and submit them some of our experts will be able to give you much more information than I can. We would need photographs of the end of the barrels, water table of the receiver, barrel flats, barrel lug, forearm, buttstock, butt plate and of course each lock. Shooting the gun is no problem DEPENDING upon condition. Some of these older guns are in great condition and are shot all the time. Others are in relic condition and are unsafe to shoot without spending lots of money relining the bores etc. Pictures will give some idea to our experts of the condition the gun and whether it is shootable or not. Even with them looking I would suggest you have the gun evaluated in person by somebody who is familiar with Damascus type barrels to be absolutely safe. Shells are sold by a company called rstshells.com. They will have 10 gauge shells appropriate for your friend's gun if it is safe to shoot. I hope this has been some help.

Dennis

[Mike Krall]

Thank you for responding and for the information, Dennis. I'll research here and see if I can find the D2 you mentioned... maybe I can learn something I obviously don't know now.

I don't know that my friend Frank is going to be able to join the PGCA, but I'll mention the idea to him. I do understand a person needs to be a member to buy and sell here.

I'll try to get some pictures taken and posted, though it may take a week or so.

I did see the gun a week ago Friday. It's in good used condition, for an 1880 birthday. Some pitting in barrels but not problematic to shooting. Very little pitting on the exterior. Finish largely missing. What Frank calls "finger print" damascus pattern and ribs are in good condition. Still very tight lock up, though I've not been around many Parker's.

Besides the missing hammer and screw, butt stock and butt plate, I forgot to mention the firing pins are missing. The tang, (not long) has a kink in it. Our assumption is the butt stock was a pistol grip (half grip?) type... any thoughts?

So you know, Frank is 67 and has been around black powder rifles and shotguns (both muzzle loading and breech loading) since he was 14... Out of Southern Ohio and the big black powder range there since about the time it started up. He is very well qualified to assess all the aspects of this firearm.

Seems like in some of the reading I've done here, there really is no such thing as a common stock to fit up to all same-frames. Is that a correct understanding?

We've both thought maybe Brad (last name ???) might have a near-right pattern and could duplicate and fit a butt stock. I'm going to holler at him.

Besides the buy/sell available here for members, are there places a person might look for some of the other missing parts? Or makers of those parts?

Again, thank you for your help Dennis... and thank all viewers for your consideration.

M.Krall