Parker 12 PHE

[Jim Thoma]

Looking at a Parker PHE 12 gauge with 26 inch original steel barrels gun needs checkering recut and wood redone otherwise looks like no one ever messed with it, It has a 1 1/2 frame my question is what is this gun worth?has no case colors left which does not bother me.Have gun on hold please advise at what is a good price to pay for the gun.

[Dean Romig]

Wish we could help... we aren't here to evaluate guns but if you show us some good quality pictures with the serial number along with the price you're considering paying we'll try to keep you from making a mistake.

[Jim Thoma]

Thank you for the quick reply the gentleman wants $2000.00 is that whey out of line?

[Dean Romig]

We still need several high quality pictures.

[B. Dudley]

It does have fluid steel barrels?
Fluid steel barrels will definitely carry a premium over the more common twist steel, considering that there were not many made before the PH grade was phased out.

As dean said, pictures would help out greatly. But, I can say that a if it is a more common twist steel PHE with no case colors and needing wood work... $2k may be a tad high. If fluid steel, maybe not. But you are in the range where condition can make or break it.

[Researcher]

If it is a rightious 12-gauge, 26-inch Parker Steel barrel PHE-Grade, there were only 60 made according to the tables in The Parker Story.

[Mark Conrad]

The number of Parker Steel PH grades is much greater than 60. The stock books listed the PH as PT(plain twist). When the fluid steel barrels became standard on the PH, PB continued to use the PT in the stock book to identify the grade. They also wrote in "Black Barrels". These early black barrel guns were missed in TPS and the Serialization Book. Latter the PH grade guns were referred to as PS (Parker Steel). So, there are about 60 guns in the stock books with the PS reference. Austin and I worked on this many years ago. I believe there is some reference to this subject in an early PP. Mark

[Researcher]

The number of Parker Steel PH grades is much greater than 60.

Sure. According to the book there were 1339 total, but only sixty 26-inch barrel 12-gauges.

[Bill Murphy]

I would be measuring those bores and chokes to confirm originality of the 26" barrels. Even though scarce, original field used 12 gauge 26" Parkers are not at the top of collectors' and shooters' want lists. Make sure you like it a lot before you take it home.

[Mark Conrad]

Dave, let me try again on this. The Serialization book says the first Parker steel gun is 192515. This is incorrect. Austin and I found that the Parker steel guns started around 170000. I don't have the records any more so I am going from memory. There are 20000 serial numbers were all the PH grades were listed as PT (Parker Twist) and they were probably Parker Steel. The 60 number is based on the Parker Steel guns starting at 192515. I agree the number of 26 inch guns would be low but you need to add the ones made from 170000 to 192515. I believe Austin had a PH or a PHE that was in the Serialization Book with PT barrels and it actually had Parker Steel barrels. That's how we got interested in this. Mark