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

[Wild Skies]

Thank you gents, I appreciate each and every one of your responses. I have made arrangements to see the gun in the morning -- stay tuned.

[Craig Budgeon]

The letter supplied by James Sport Shop is dubious at best and only supplies you with the grade and serial number. The captains during the Civil War that became famous were promoted to colonels and generals so Captain Ambrose ownership adds 0 to the value of this gun. If your knowledge of Parker values is not sufficient have a Parker expert present before you reach for your wallet and try to deal with the guns current owner. The 30K value maybe correct but must be construed as a lucky guess by its author.

[Foxgun]

If Mr Ambrose died in 1949 at the age of 100 he would have been 12 in 1861.

[OH Osthaus]

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...&GRid=40251950

"Ambrose was only 16 when he enlisted as a private in Company A, 53d Kentucky mounted infantry, five months before the end of the war."

" After the war he was a captain in the Ohio-Indiana militia for several years."

[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.

[Craig Budgeon]

If you were prepared to spend 30K for a good Parker A grade such as described by Craig Larter then you don't want to have to apologize for the flaws in this one. The gun pictured may sell for between 10-15k but I'm not convinced its worth 10k. The gun needs to be returned to its as manufactured by Parker original specifications which involves eliminating the ejectors, refinishing the gun complete, and lots of dollars.

[Kevin McCormack]

Thanks for the photos! The ejectors look like an installation after the Fischer patent design - not Wolfsperger & Moran since their ejector hammers are long and tubular, like the original Baker (British) design, which are also similar in appearance to those in the M21 Winchester ejector system. These are closer to the later Parker 'half moon' hammer shape, but with that noticeable rebate halfway down the face of the hammer.

[edgarspencer]

Those ejectors appear to be of the same manufacture as the ones on that interesting CH(E) Larry Frey recently bought from Tony Galazan. Look back to late may for that thread. He had the gun at Haussman's and I handled it. The installations seemed pretty nice.
Steve Barnett has had an AH 16ga with very unusual engraving for quite some time. I was quite interested in it until I had it in hand and didn't feel it was worth the $19,500 firm price. How does one compare a steel barreled 16 against a damascus barrelled 12, Both with the same aftermarket ejectors?