Need help on 1886 Parker Bros. G Grade Hammergun 12-Gauge

ALLAN MITCHELL · 05-15-2014, 08:48 AM

This Parker Bros. G Grade Hammergun 12-Gauge SN# 47116 was donated to a benefit auction and fund raiser "Camo and Bows" (www.theauctionway.com) that will be taking place on June 1st. The gun has a letter from THE PARKER GUN Collectors Association that says it was ordered on June 12, 1886 and shipped on June 15, 1886 to T.H. Truax of Albany, New York. However, the gun has a plate embedded in the stock behind the pistol grip which has a round knob with the name L.W. BROWN Albany, New York, 1886. The gentleman that donated this to the auction states that this gun is 95%. We should have some photos uploaded within a few hours. Any information regarding the gun or the possible value will be very much appreciated.

Dean Romig · 05-15-2014, 09:25 AM

Many good hi-def pictures are necessary in order to evaluate any gun.
We're looking forward to seeing the pictures.

ALLAN MITCHELL · 05-15-2014, 10:47 AM

These are the photos I have taken. If we need different ones, I will be happy to take additional photos. Again, we really appreciate any information or suggestions.

B. Dudley · 05-15-2014, 10:59 AM

That is a VERY NICE Grade 2 Top action Parker with relatively high condition.

The inlay in the toe line is likely added after the gun was purchased. You will see that there is a shield in the stock on the top. This is the factory plate for a brass inlay on all Parker hammer guns of this grade. If a gun was ordered with the plate to be engraved, it would have been on this. Now... all that engraving on that plate would not have fit on the shield. So, it could be debated that parker put that one on there as well, but... would they have still put the one on the top???

The biggest clue is the letter. If your letter states that there is ORDER Book info, then it would reference if the gun was ordered that way. Also, it sounds like your gun was ordered by a sporting goods store of sorts. So, unless ordered specifically for that customer, it would not have had the gun engraved with that plate at the factory. Likely it was sold to Mr. Brown by the store in Albany and they added the plate and had his name and city engraved on it.

Fishtail · 05-15-2014, 11:25 AM

I agree....I think the plate is old but not by Parker. I think Parker would not have been able to use such a plain rectangular plate....they would have done something to make it more Parker-like.

B. Dudley · 05-15-2014, 11:31 AM

Likely an oval on the bottom of the grip.

Hammer Gun · 05-15-2014, 01:58 PM

It is nice to see a really high condition old hammer gun surface once in a while. A nice gun for some lucky bidder, are the inside of the barrels clean, any pits? Gary

ALLAN MITCHELL · 05-15-2014, 06:01 PM

The inside bores are clean with only light scuffs where it has been fired. No pits.

Bill Murphy · 05-16-2014, 09:20 AM

This gun is in the 99th percentile of G Grade hammer gun condition. It is a great find.

ALLAN MITCHELL · 05-17-2014, 08:12 AM

Thanks to everyone that has responded. We really appreciate the help. Unfortunately we aren't very familiar with these guns, and as stated before it was donated to a benefit to be auctioned off on June 1st. That being said, does anyone have an idea what the starting price should be or what it should bring? It isn't a gun auction. There is a '55 Bel Air autographed by Dale Earnhardt in the auction as well as several hunting trips. so, there will be other nice items being auctioned off, but not just a gun auction. I don't know if that might hurt what we could get for the gun. Again, any help is very much appreciated!