The first 20 gauge hammer gun

Hammer Gun · 10-19-2011, 08:20 PM

Gents, I thought I would tease you a little with these photos of the first 20 gauge hammergun and also the only $250.00 or "A" grade made. These are the only photos I have right now, but shows the unusual engraving. Enjoy !!

Autumn Daze · 10-19-2011, 08:30 PM

Gary, What a wonderful gun! All I can say is WOW! Thanks for sharing the gun with us.

Roundsworth · 10-20-2011, 07:07 AM

Wow! Wotta jewel! Thanks for sharing.

C grade · 10-20-2011, 10:06 AM

WOW!!!! Gary,you have done a fantastic job of cleaning up that treasure.
That is by far the finest underlever in existence!! Thank you for sharing it.
David

Bruce Day · 10-20-2011, 04:57 PM

Well I think several people had an opportunity with this gun and Gary had the ability to acquire it and mildly restore it. Its a wonderful gun among other wonderful lifter action guns and is particularly interesting because it is a small bore in an era when small bores were not popular and were very limited in ability. I'm not downplaying the gun, its a great little Parker and I'm fascinated by the artful engraving scenes.

Added: These early 20's were made for 3/4 oz shot and a 2 dram load. Thats a slow 28ga load by todays standards.

Bill Murphy · 10-20-2011, 07:17 PM

I don't know what Bruce just said, but I'm waiting for the edit or delete.

edgarspencer · 10-20-2011, 07:44 PM

I feel like I just walked into a party, right after the punchline was delivered. You all seem to know what's going on, where the guns been or what it looked like before it looks like it does now, which is just plain beautiful. I'm not versed enough to know the difference between $250, and A grade, as I thought they were distinct gradings at different periods. I think the OP put the pics up to share with us what a beautiful gun it is. AT least for my part, I appreciate that he did.

Bruce Day · 10-20-2011, 07:56 PM

Edgar, Gary is a friend and the owner of the gun. The Parker Story (TPS) reveals that for early guns, such as this, different grades were called dollar grades, the grades determined by the price charged. It wasn't until later, I don't recall the year, that Parker changed to A, B, C, etc. So, the $250 grade was the most expensive for the time, and would be the same as the A grade as it was later termed.

That's my understanding, maybe others can fill in if I am wrong or off.

Some of these guns get to be known by a few people before they are known throughout the collecting community, as anything desireable anywhere. I had heard of the gun, but had not seen it, and it couldn't belong to a more dedicated and knowledgeable collector than the present owner. This is a significant Parker and joins a group of other great and significant Parkers.

I hope this is understandable, I usually edit posts if my post is confusing, imprecise or incorrect to an average person.

edgarspencer · 10-20-2011, 08:26 PM

I guess the opening post implied that $250 and A were used simultaneously, which was new to me.
I'm not unfamiliar with how pieces of this significance appear in the daylight after previously thought to be mere 'urban legends'. I was offered and subsequently agreed to buy a historically significant, and well traveled gun. It had been in the same hands for nearly 100 years, and when word got out that it had been sold, it suddenly became suspect of fake, upgrade, etc. It kinda took the pleasure out of being able to show it until it was authenticated by the manufacturer's archivist, Robert Wilson and the CT State Librarian.
I appreciate any owner who is willing to share his collection with others. Invariably there will be back-chatter, but it goes with the territory I guess.
It's especially great to see the 'first' anything, and whether i has been restored, or is in original condition, the impact of seeing it isn't diminished.

Wild Skies · 10-20-2011, 08:46 PM

I'm kinda afraid to ask, but did it come with barrels?

If so, can you describe them?