1884 hammer gun

[Dave Dzingle]

Help please . Gun Passed on to me.
Thank you first of all. ...I have inherited a dbl 12guage parker bros shotgun. could you tell me anything about it ,IE value , How many , desirable? It is marked as Parker Bros makers.MERIDEN CONN. TWIST. serial #43460 at the but of the barrel it looks to be a 4g..it also has a pat #111876 SEP.3.1872 it says patMAR 16 1875 There appears to have been an emblem behind the hammers in the stock but is missing. To me it is in rough shape but a friend says for this age not too bad. The butt plate has a chip out of the top. Oddly though my father -in -law had to show me it still fires ... and it does, barrel is pitted.any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again Dave

[Labowner]

43460 is listed as PT, T, O,P,12ga. 30" ... Grade O, Top action, pistol grip stock, no options.
I have one have a great time hunting and shooting clays with it.
It is recomended to have barrels checked out... barrel wall thickness how deep are pits and shoot low pressure loads.

[Dave Dzingle]

Thank much. Do you know if there is a value to this gun ? Pits are shallow.

[Labowner]

Just a guess Dave, but if it's a shooter I would think 500.00 up to 1000.00
They made almost 10,000 O grades and condition is everything.
That said I like taking a well worn gun out and enjoying it and not having to worry about devaluing it.
Bob

[Dave Dzingle]

Bob thanks so much for the info.It is a shooter, any suggestion on tweaking it for say maybe some skeet or birding, is modern powder ok to shoot in it ? I understand low loads. Thanks again, your knowledge is greatly appreciated........Dave

[Labowner]

I reload and shoot 7/8 oz. 12 ga. in mine... easy on my shoulder and wood of gun. I try and keep pressures at around 5 or 6 thousand pounds, if you don't reload you can purchase vintage loads at RST.
I would have gun checked first like I mentioned earlier, these guns where used with black powder and could have been heavily pitted and then cleaned up at a latter date making it unsafe.
Give us you location and maybe some one can direct you to a smith to evaluate it.

[Dave Dzingle]

I live right in the center of the lower penninsula of Michigan.49631.Is there anyone who sells parts? Like I said the butt is missing a chunk.And the right side hammer screw appears to have been welded.......Dave There must be blood or something on it, my duck dog won't get his nose off it.

[C.O.B.]

DAve please define the center of the lower pennisula. There are several of us between Muskegon and Novi.

[10ga Hammer]

"There must be blood or something on it, my duck dog won't get his nose off it. "

That dog just knows a good gun when it sees one!

[Dave Dzingle]

I define the middle as between cadillac and Mt.pleasant..... And he is a smart dog