Need help with an old Parker

[frankbates]

I've recently inherited an old Parker Bros double barrel and I was hoping to find out some more information. I would really appreciate some help further identifying the piece. This piece has been in my family for a very long time but it has been mostly stored in closets. I would like to make it a display piece. What would be the best method to clean up the gun without damaging it?

This is what I have been able to learn so far:
Frame size - 1
Grade - T, which is equivalent to 0 and Trojan
Serial # - 5244 Edit - 19932
Barrel - Plain twist, which was an American made barrel
This model is a black powder gun?

Someone had mentioned that the butt plate doesn't look standard and may have been shortened. I also have the gun case and it needs some TLC.

I have posted some pictures here: http://imgur.com/a/iVb65

If you need any other info just let me know. Thanks for your help.

[Researcher]

The serial number is 19932, which would make your gun about of 1880 vintage. The engraving on the lockplates smacks of a Quality 2 gun, but the Plain Twist barrels and the plainness of the receiver smacks of Quality 1 or 0. Perhaps someone with the serialization book can jump in with some information.

Or, even better join the PGCA and order a letter on the gun. Check the Research Letters link on the home page.

[Gunner]

Welcome Frank,
Your gun is a lifter hammer gun. The correct SN is 19932.
There are surviving factory records and you can order a letter on your gun.
The SN dates the gun to 1880 which predates the hammerless Trojan by decades.
Finding a replacement left hammer and screw will be a challenge and an exact match harder.
You may want to use a product like Hoppe's, Balistol or something similar to clean the gun and remove rust. Let the cleaner soak for several hours or days even and then use a fine bronze brush or fine steel wool. You absolutely don't want to do any heavy scrubbing to remove patina, remaining case color or barrel browning in my opinion. Less is more when cleaning an old gun. Don't in any circumstances use any power tools/wire wheels to clean the metal. Go slow.
Best Wishes with your heirloom,
Erick

[frankbates]

Thanks for your response and clarification on the serial number. I'm a little lost with the discussion of the quality. I'll look into the research letters link. I wasn't previously aware of that approach. Will I just be sending them some pictures?

[Gunner]

I see Dave already responded with pertinent info while I was composing my response.
Erick

[Eldon Goddard]

Book says grade 0 plain twist, straight stock, 12 gauge, 26'' barrels

[frankbates]

Just curious, but what does the 5244 number signify? Is it a part number?

[Dean Romig]

5244 is the order number.

The lock plates are roll-pattern 'engraved' which was common to the grade 0 guns of that particular era. Roll-pattern engraving was a much less expensive process than paying an engraver to hand tool the pattern into the lock plates.

[frankbates]

I just want to say that you guys are awesome. Would the roll pattern engraving process explain why the last '4' is kicked off to the side? I'm thinking there was a rotary sequence that was manually turned.

Also, is there any hope for the case? Should I get it fixed? And if so; where?

[Dean Romig]

No, those numbers were hand stamped with a separate die for each digit. Notice that the 4 at the right is done with a different die than the 4 next to it..... this is something I don't understand and can't even speculate on.