My first Parker

[Ralph Miller]

Dean, Bill, and John, thanks for the great info and pics from your personal SBT’s. When I first found this Parker SBT, it had been sitting in a gun shop I frequent, and it had been there for a little while. The SBT was priced outside the range for their normal shop clientele. According to the shop owner, the SBT came into the shop from two older women, one in her 80’s and one in her 50’s, mother and daughter. The daughter explained it belonged to her dad for over 50 years, who passed away a few years ago, and her mom was now ready to clean out her late husband’s personal things. I have known the shop owners for many years, so they always try to provide me with as much background information as possible on any old/used firearm. However, they did not think I would be interested in the Parker SBT, until I spotted it in their display case. They informed me that, they thought it had been altered, with a new forearm and stock and potentially had the barrel re-blued, so they would make me a great deal on it. They are not experts on Parker's either, and had to rely on the Blue Book to form their originally and value assumptions. As I looked over the SBT I thought it was beautiful, and the workmanship and attention to detail with the engraving was amazing, thinking it was made in 1928, it was exciting, welcome to the Parker world. I had the shop hold it for me, while I did some research / investigation on the SBT. I ordered several Parker books, but none had specific info on the SBT, but I gained enough general info to identify the B grade from the B & 5 above and below the S/N on the frame water-table. I also was able to verify that all the S/N’s, on the frame, barrel, trigger guard tang, and forearm attach point, all matched. I made the shop a lower offer than they were asking, based on what I knew, and they accepted it, so now I have my first Parker SBT. Thanks for the tip on the Parker Story reference, I will have to order a copy. I live in Ca, so maybe that will provide a clue to where the barrel engraver and upgraded forearm and stock were performed. Included are a few more recent pics on the barrel engraving and stock carvings. As I mentioned I could see some polishing indication on the left side of the barrel in the logo on the missing arrow quills, on the left. Is the logo roll stamped from the factory? Also, the most resent recoil pad was not fit exactly to the stock, but this could be changed several time during a trap guns life.

Thanks again on your help figuring out what I have from an originally standpoint. I will definitely plan on taking this SBT to the trap range, once in a while, as I like to shoot all my firearms.

Ralph