How can I evaluate my Parker shotgun

George Spyridakis · 12-01-2009, 02:28 PM

Hi everybody!
At first I need to apologise for my english since they 're not in good shape...

My name is George and I 'm from Greece.
I found this portal while searching on the internet for information about Parker shotguns and thought that it could be usefull to ask you some things...

So, some years ago, a family friend gave me his father's shotgun as a gift, since he has no children.
It is a 12 Parker double barrel shotgun, made in 1920 (as I found from your site with the help of the serial number). It has two triggers. Under the barrels, there is printed :
PARKER BROS
PAT'D JAN.18, AUG.16.1887
PAT'D OCT.25.1910
PATD. AUG.15.1905

OV

Since I' m not a collector nor a hunter, I don't have any interest on keeping this gun. Searching on the internet, realised that some of these shotguns worth some good money and some other don't.
I will try within the week, to put some photos of the shotgun as I realise that it could' be more usefull than writting a few more things...
But until then, is there anyone who has an idea of what is the value of such a shotgun?
I will take it to someone experienced but since I am unaware of such things, I can't trust him at once...
So, thanks for your time reading this and I will apreciate any answers!
And I' m sorry for any mistakes I might have done...

Dean Romig · 12-01-2009, 02:40 PM

Hello George, and welcome!
Most of the guys I shoot skeet and trap with are Greek. We have a lot of fun - they speak Greek among themselves because they know I don't speak it so they tease me this way. We have good times.
The Parker you have is a Trojan, the least expensive of the Parkers and the Trojan is not even graded. The Trojan was introduced in about 1912 and was a very stout, servicable shotgun. The value is primarily dependant on condition. If it is in very high condition it could be worth between 2 - 3 thousand dollars, US and if in very worn poor condition maybe in the hundreds of dollars.
Looking forward to your pictures.

George Spyridakis · 12-02-2009, 02:33 AM

Thank you Dean for your response!
I 'd say that my shotgun is in a very good condition, but as I already said, I'll upload some photos as soon as possible.

I'm not sure that I understand this part of your reply:
"the least expensive of the Parkers and the Trojan is not even graded"...
If you could explain with some more words, it would be very nice of you.

Thanks a lot!

VH20 · 12-02-2009, 03:38 AM

The "OV" that you see stamped on your gun is the grade stamp given to the Trojan grade gun. All the guns above Trojan grade have a corresponding number grade, i.e. a GH is Grade 2, a DH is Grade 3, all the way up to the A-1 Special which is Grade 8. The Trojan has no number grade, however, because it was introduced after all the other Grade numbers were assigned to other models (the lowest number was already assigned to the VH, and Trojan is one grade below VH).

It should be noted, however, that the quality of design of a Trojan is no less than the top grade guns. It is the same gun internally as a top grade gun. The Trojan lacks a release lever for the forend (Trojan forends snap on), and a doll's head rib extension (except for the earliest Trojans, but even they have a different rib extension than all other Parkers), and certain options were never available that could be had on other grades, but it is as robust and operates as well as any other Parker. For the most part the differences between Trojan and the higher grades are cosmetic. The concept of the Trojan was to offer a true Parker shotgun for the working-class sporstman as inexpensively as possible without sacrificing any of the shooting/handling/operating/reliability qualities that Parkers were known for. So, what you end up with is plain, unfigured wood, plain checkering, less sculpting of the action, no engraving, plain buttplate, etc., and the other differences I mentioned above. But the inside parts where it counts are the same as any other Parker, and it shoots as well as any other Parker.

Jim

George Spyridakis · 12-02-2009, 04:21 AM

Jim, thank you also for your answer!
Actually, I read it 3 times to understand...

(not the way you write of course, but my lack of knowledge of technical terms in this subject).
There is one more question though... what do we mean by "Trojan grade gun"???

thanks again!

edit: You 're absolutelly right about the lack of release lever for the forend and generally your description fits perfactly to my Parker. There isn 't much sculpting on the gun. Only the classic mat sculpting on the butt, forehand and on the top of the barrels.

Pittypatdugan · 12-02-2009, 11:22 AM

Look on top of the rib, It says Trojan
My friend Dave Purnell had an absolutely gorgeous 12 Trojan that sold for about $800 on Gunbroker that I thought would go for $1200. So who knows, put it on Gunbroker and you will find out, it will not bring more than its worth to the ultimate buyer.

PDD

George Spyridakis · 12-02-2009, 11:51 AM

Thanks Pat but I really can't still understand what Trojan means.
Is it the model's name or some kind of nickname for guns that were produced out of the production schedule?

Anyway, since its value is tops 2000$ or about 1400 Euro, I don't think that I will sell it anyway.
From everything that I read from you in this forum, I must be some kind of "proud" owning a Parker shotgun and maybe start working with it. Shooting plates at first and maybe hunting later. I like guns and hunting anyway. It just happened to turn to sea hunting... (spearfishing)...

Dean Romig · 12-02-2009, 12:41 PM

George, Parker Brothers marked the top rib of most all of their later hammer guns and the hammerless models (up until the time Remington began making their own barrels and ribs) with the type of fluid steel that was used in the barrels. It is widely believed that within certain manufacturing eras the steel used in all but Whitworth (British) barrels was probably the same but names of steel type were invented to help set apart one grade from another. The names used were intended to impart a sense of 'superior strength or performance and quality' to the grades of guns these barrels were used on. Hence, the 'grades' of steels were marked on the rib were... Trojan, Vulcan, Parker Steel, Parker Special Steel, Titanic, Acme, Peerless, and Whitworth. The Damascus and other composite barrels were not so imaginitively named. They were... Decarbonized, Stub Twist, Twist, Laminated, Damascus, and Bernard.

I hope this helps.

Dean

George Spyridakis · 12-02-2009, 01:26 PM

Dean, that was really helpfull! Thanks a lot!
Probably in Monday I 'll upload some photos of my shotgun, just for you to see it!
My only hesitation now, is how can I be sure that this gun is safe to be shot after so many years of being inactive...
Maybe if you see it, you could tell me some things...

THANKS DEAN AND EVERYBODY for being so kind to answer all of my silly questions, even though I am new to this forum!

By the way, is it easy for you to understand my english? Aren 't they that bad???

Thank you all!
George

VH20 · 12-02-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Spyridakis

There is one more question though... what do we mean by "Trojan grade gun"???

George,

Go to the Home page here:

http://parkerguns.org/

In the far left column, find the heading for "Parker Grades" and click on it.
This will take you to a page that illustrates the differences in all of the different Parker grades from the lowest (Trojan) to the highest (A-1 Special) including pictures and a written description. Scroll down to the bottom to find the Trojan.

But to clear up your confusion, "Trojan" grade is like saying "Trojan-model". It is the plainest, least-fancy version (grade) of their shotgun that Parker produced.

Jim