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

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by 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.

Please use the lower case. All caps is hard to read. Also all caps is translated as shouting, and you are not shouting. Thanks.

[Bruce Day]

You will sell at fair market value, whatever it is, by placing it at auction. Look at Gunbroker, or example, or Julias, Rock Island Auction, Littlejohns, etc. Because this gun is outside the norm for its grade, it will be hard, if not impossible, to look at comparables and guess at a value. An auction will be the only way to find value.

Or you can go to J R Larue and pay for his opinion, as others do. He is not a gun dealer and has no other self interest. If you are truly looking for a valuation letter for insurance coverage purposes, forum chat guesses from people who have not examined the gun in person and who have no demonstrated expertise in valuation will not be acceptable. My guess is that a Larue valuation will have considerable range.

[RON SCORES]

THANKYOU I WILL CONTACT LARUE AFTER I SEND FOR THE RESEARCH LETTER SHOULD I ADD ANY EXTRA INFO WHEN I SEND FOR THE RESEACH LETTER? WILL THEY REFERENCE MY ALBUM HERE IF I TELL THEM ABOUT IT. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? THANKS RON

[Bruce Day]

When you write Mark Conrad and ask him for a research letter, you could reference the album photos here, he may have already seen them. He will comment as he sees fit.

You might look at the thread, Readily available Parkers, below. There are photos there of some outstanding G grades that are original or partially restored condition. I think many of those guns would have high interest to many Parker collectors as true to their type.

I've given you my thoughts and I see many other Parker people are on this thread now, who may have other valuable views. I'm strictly one person with my own half assed views, as my friend John Dunkle well knows.

[RON SCORES]

THANKS EDGAR FOR YOUR INPUT I ADDED THE PICTURES YOU REQUESTED. I AM NOW WRITTING MY REQUEST FOR A RESEARCH LETTER.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by RON SCORES

THANKS EDGAR FOR YOUR INPUT I ADDED THE PICTURES YOU REQUESTED. I AM NOW WRITTING MY REQUEST FOR A RESEARCH LETTER.

Thanks for the fore-end pics, Ron. It appears that the fore-end was left unaltered from it's G grade configuration. If you look at the hammerless pictures of the various grades you'll see that the tip iron had a raised edge beginning with the D grade, and the fore-end iron, latch and tip iron were engraved, also beginning with the D grade. Seems an odd oversight these weren't also upgraded when the action and stock were.

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Thanks for the fore-end pics, Ron. It appears that the fore-end was left unaltered from it's G grade configuration. If you look at the hammerless pictures of the various grades you'll see that the tip iron had a raised edge beginning with the D grade, and the fore-end iron, latch and tip iron were engraved, also beginning with the D grade. Seems an odd oversight these weren't also upgraded when the action and stock were.

Edgar, from GHE SN 155, 033, a typical gun of the period.

[edgarspencer]

That'll teach me to try and keep up with the big dogs. My GHE 16 is 179Kish and it's tip iron is engraved, but no raised edge.
Did you get your Colt spring?

[Bruce Day]

B stock.

This gun has only been shot a few times and has lots of case colors, which wash out with camera flash. The rib around the breech balls is what Bill Murphy was talking about. The Fleur dis lys carving is what Edgar Spencer was talking about.

[RON SCORES]

YOU ALSO HAVE A PURRRDY PARKER...