1895 12 GAUGE PARKER..DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

[RON SCORES]

thank you it is 1 1/16" center to center i measured incorrect. would this all add to the value? i am trying to get an insurance estimate,along with learning more about it for myself. thanks again

[RON SCORES]

so the research letter should document the work done if it indeed it did go back for all the upgrades? i do not see any initials in the engraving. the only letters i see are parkers bros over the game scene. so if runge worked at parker he would not be able to personalize with his initials? correct?

[RON SCORES]

still an extractor.

[Dean Romig]

Ron, If the work was done at Remington there will be no record that we know of documenting their work. There may be a Remington date code stamped in the barrel flats but for the most part there is nothing available to us that tells us what was done.

There are very few and rare examples of Robert Runge's signature on his work. Don't expect to find it on your gun - the odds are like hitting the Mega-Millions.

[Bill Murphy]

Can you experts tell Mr. Scores whether his gun seems to be engraved to C or B Grade level? Of course, there is no bead at the breech balls, but what about the engraving coverage?

[Bill Murphy]

Mr. Scores, I would order a PGCA letter on your gun to confirm that it was actually built as a Grade 2 gun. You will likely get some information on the original purchaser, even if it is a large sporting goods firm. At some point, you will want all the research information on your gun that you can get. It is a very interesting gun.

[RON SCORES]

THANK YOU I WILL ORDER A LETTER WHAT GRADE SHOULD I PUT? WHERE IT ASKS THE GRADE? I AM ADDING A FEW PICTURES NOW TO THE ALBUM. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. SO WOULD YOU SAY THIS GUN IS A 1 OF A KIND?

[Bruce Day]

G, with added engraving. Its not C or B, because it says G. I am not an expert , but to me, if it says G, its a G. And it has extra engraving , but its still not a C or B. Just like these embellished V grades, they are still not A-1 Specials.

How can anybody say that it is one of a kind without seeing all Parkers? It is definitely different and if the owner is looking to sell it by creating interest here instead of going quietly to an expert and getting a private valuation letter, somebody may be interested in the unusual. J R Larue makes a living doing valuations, advertises as such, and if a person wanted an experts opinion and would pay or it, that is an accepted and credible source, not a bunch of us chatting.

Bruce Day, novice third degree and certified non expert

[RON SCORES]

IT IS HARD TO FIND AN EXPERT WHO STAYS HONEST WHEN HE THINKS HE CAN GET SOMETHING AT A GOOD PRICE. I HAD THIS EXPERICE WITH A NEPTUNE KREIGOFF DRILLING THE ONLY GUN I EVER SOLD AND KICK MY SELF EVERYDAY ABOUT IT...A FEW EXPERTS AT ORVIS HERE IN NY WHEN THE DID THE ANNUAL SHOOT. VALUED IT LOW AND TURNS OUT I SOLD IT FOR A THIRD OF ITS VALUE. BUT EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE AND I AM NOT SAYING THE GUN IS FOR SALE BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS WITH TAXES CLIMBING FUEL COSTS AND I HAVE TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS I AM WORKING ON THERE FUTURE. BUT YES MY QUEST IF TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN ABOUT THIS PARKER. AS WE CAN ALL AGREE IT IS DIFFERENT? WHO KNOWS WHO IT BELONGED TO AND WHY IT HAS BEEN ALTERED SO MUCH. MIGHT OF BEEN SOMEONE OF HIGH STATUS OR WEALTH. IT COMES FROM A PART OF NY WHERE MANY WEALTHY AND NOTABLE MEN WALKED OR SHOULD WE SAY HUNTED AT ONE TIME.

[edgarspencer]

Many more qualified guys than me, have politely commented on your gun, and while I may be relatively new to the forum, I'm not new to Parkers.
First off, let me say you have a very pretty gun, That said, an original Parker can only be original once, but it can be embellished, altered, upgraded and modified as many times as there are people wanting to do it,and willing to spend the money.
I think from your album, it's apparent that the gun was originally a Grade 2, or, G grade, and was most likely a Damascus barreled gun when it left Meriden. The lack of rib inscription, and other markings would seem to suggest it was re-barreled by Remington at a much later date.
Whether the butt stock is original to the gun might be able to be determined if it were removed, but it doesn't mater that much. In my most unqualified opinion, the upgraded checkering, checkered side panels and fleur-de-lis do not resemble those on grade 6 or 7 guns done at Meriden, but that doesn't mean it wasn't done by Remington. The same holds true for the engraving. Add to your album some pictures of the fore-end so that we can see if that matches the style, or grade, that the gunsmith had in mind when doing the stock and engraving. It's really unfortunate that Remington repair work can't be documented.
While your gun is unique, and quite nice, I'm not certain it would command much more than a good Grade 2 from a purist Parker collector, but might well from the many who appreciate good workmanship on it's own merit. Whats nice is that the work wasn't done to misrepresent it as a much higher grade, or, bluntly, a fake.