Are Grade 1's all but Forgotten?

[Kurt Sauers]

there doesn't seem to be a lot of talk about them of even see many. So many grade 0's out there. Everyone seems to skip them and go pretty much right to 2's or even 3's. Are there not many around? Are they worth looking for? Or isn't there enough difference from the 0's to really bother?

[edgarspencer]

It's simply a matter of the numbers. All grade 1 guns, Lifter, Top lever, and hammerless didn't even come to 20,000, but there were nearly 120,000 Grade 0 guns.

There were just over 15,000 hammerless Grade 1 guns, which were either the PH(E) or the 10ga variety, the NH. This includes only 1340 steel barreled guns.
Compare that to almost 80,000 VH guns alone.

Grade 1 guns are far from ignored. It's only because there are far fewer that you don't hear as much about them.

[Craig Larter]

In 12ga it made much more sense for the entry level buyer to purchase a 0 grade during the hammerless era unless the customer wanted a 10 ga Parker, then the only choice was a grade 1. That may be why many large frame 10's show up as N or grade 1's. From my perspective, in the modern day, I much prefer twist barrels over Vulcan steel but not the buyer of 100 years ago.

[Kurt Sauers]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

In 12ga it made much more sense for the entry level buyer to purchase a 0 grade during the hammerless era unless the customer wanted a 10 ga Parker, then the only choice was a grade 1. That may be why many large frame 10's show up as N or grade 1's. From my perspective, in the modern day, I much prefer twist barrels over Vulcan steel but not the buyer of 100 years ago.

Could you explain your preference for twist barrels?

[Craig Larter]

They are just more appealing to my eye versus steel barrels and just as durable.

[Researcher]

I don't recall who did it, but someone had a display of all the gauges in Grade 1 hammerless guns in the PGCA tent at one of The Vintage Cups at Pintail Pointe. Maybe it is because my Grandfather's gun was a heavy PH-Grade 12-gauge, of 1890 vintage, I've always thought of them as the quintessential Parker. Grandpa's gun passed to my Father's older brother and is still in that family, so I got this NH to make up for it --

1894 10-ga NH-Grade right.jpg

1894 10-ga NH-Grade stock left.jpg

[Craig Larter]

Dave that is a beautiful example, way more gun than a VH in my opinion. Here is my PH bargain which I was able to purchase for under 1K plus it came wit a leg-of-mutton case.

[edgarspencer]

To this day, I remember walking from the hotel to a German restaurant, with a couple of guys with me on a business trip to Cleveland. We walked by a pawn shop, so I went in for a quick browse. I asked the owner if I could see the 20ga. P grade. It was $100. I remember how clean it was, so when we got to the restaurant, I called my dad to ask for his advice. I remember his exact words; "No one in their right mind would pay that much for a gun you can't shoot." Clearly a victim of the smear campaign, but I have forgiven him.

[OH Osthaus]

and another

[edgarspencer]

and another. oops, my bad. wrong gun. still, love that twist