I attended the Morphy auction Saturday and examined the Parker's up for auction. I met a PGCA member there who I did not know and he purchased the SC SBT. It was in great condition, the only issue was about a 1/2" wood extension on the butt but it was not something that stuck out like a sore thumb. I think he got it for $2,250 plus premium and sales tax. I think it was a very good buy. I missed out on the 12ga. PH with 30" Parker steel barrels at the last second. The only issue I could find with it was checkering which did not have a mullerd border. The gavel was about to drop when someone upped the bid and I didn't follow. I would have just flipped it so no big deal and the wife would not be mad at me!
I stated on a previous post that I couldn't find this gun in the order books yet the description stated that the research letter said it was returned for work in 1887. The serial number was not in the order book database and I went through the 1887 order book for that month and day and the gun was not there. When I read the research letter at Morphy's I found that the date in the guns description was wrong, the gun was returned on Sept 27, 1879. When I got home I went to that date in order book #6 and found the entry. Who ever compiled the order book database missed that serial number. The description of the gun matches the order book entry so that mystery is solved. What "Alter to new action" means ($2.50) I don't know but I doubt it has anything to do with Lefever. It could just mean to incorporate new patients. It looks like Lefever installed new lock plates, I didn't see any evidence of holes for the hammer axles. The engraving looks more extensive and different than Parker used at that time however I'm not real familiar with those early guns. Also, the top tang where it goes between the bolsters seems to have a upward sloping ramp to the edge of the breach face that is more pronounced than later lifters. The engraving pattern on the top of the bolsters differs quite a bit from a D grade lifter. It looks more like a sun with rays shooting out more than lightning bolts. The 30" Damascus barrels were blued, the 26" Plain Twist barrels were either browned or oxidized, you could barely see the twist pattern. Overall it is a nice example of a hammer gun converted to a hammerless but I just think that stating that Parker sent it to Lefever to do the conversion is a stretch.
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07-30-2016, 09:42 PM
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