Parker AH, give me a ballpark figure, please!!

[Craig Larter]

I own a AH 10ga with damascus barrels that was a Parker exhibition gun. Here is the description from Julia's: "Excellent, as found. Bbls retain 85 to 90% orig Damascus pattern with some streaky staining (which may clean). Action retains 60 – 70% strong orig case hardening color, with some brown staining (which also might clean). Trigger guard retains 60-70% of its strong orig blue. Stocks retain most of their orig gloss finish, areas darkened where worn through, and oil soaked, with a considerable number of light marks and scratches. Bores are very fine with very light minute frosting. Action is tight. It is estimated that only eight 10 bore grade 6 guns were made with 32″ bbls." I paid $26.5K delivered to my home. It seems in line with the BB values. Craig

[Wild Skies]

Well gents, I examined the gun this morning and it didn't have as much condition as I was hoping for, in fact, it needs some work. This 12-ga. 30" 1-frame was used a lot as it's quite loose and rattles a bit, there are three dents in the left tube--one of them visible in the bore and another at the muzzle that now makes the muzzle out of round. Because the gun was sent back to Parker for choke alteration in 1904 and ejectors first became available in 1901, I was hopeful that the ejectors might have been retrofitted at the factory at that time, but unfortunately that wasn't the case--maybe someone can decipher whose they are by the attached photos (see forend pics and also note the small pin near the hinge pin)? I don't have a wall thickness gauge and the seller didn't have one either, so we do not know the MWT. The bores showed some pitting and light frosting. The SSBP has some light pitting on its surface and one of its screws appears to be a replacement with a narrow slot. Chokes measured .000/.015 and the chambers measured 2 5/8" with my Po' Man's Chamber Gauge. The damascus pattern has suffered some significant pattern loss and the checkering is somewhat worn where handled. Although the stock's finish appeared to be original, the forend appeared to have been refinished as there was some finish applied over the checkering. The PGCA letter states the gun left the factory with a 2 7/8" drop at heel and weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. My tape showed it actually having a 3 1/8" drop and somehow gained 4 oz. since birth.

Knowing what we know now, anyone care to offer up an opinion on its worth based on its present condition?

[C.O.B.]

What do you want to do with it? A hunting gun or a target gun? Cut, dented, out of round barrels, after market ejectors and assorted issues. IF I was looking for a high grade gun I'd keep looking and pass on this.