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Old December 24, 2011, 10:16 PM   #1
lemon4879
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Parker Brothers Double Barrel 12 Gauge

I'm hoping that i am asking this in the right section, but the question i have is possibly what exactly i have on my hands and maybe a ballpark of its value or rarity of the shotgun. Its sentimental so i don't plan on selling it but curiosity kills me and i would like to see if anyone can help.
Ill do my best to describe the gun. The serial numbers (all four of them) match and indicate the number 87499. I think it has a gold plate on it, or at least i think. Its engraved nicely and is like a flour pattern on the flat of the action. I think there is a number 7 above the serial number but i dont think there is a grade letter like most go by. Made from whitford steel which i also dont quite get. Pigeon gun is also indicated on the barrel spine i think is what that is called. There is some other information but i dont know what matters and what doesnt so any opinions is very much appreciated!
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Old December 24, 2011, 10:49 PM   #2
Jim Watson
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I don't guess you could post a picture.

87499 = 1897
That is Whitworth Fluid Steel, good steel imported from England and used on some of their finer guns as Damascus was being phased out.

Number 7 indicates an AA grade. They were marketed towards competitive pigeon shooters, which agrees with the marking.

These are very rare (5 hammer guns, 238 hammerless) and extremely valuable. See description and pictures at:
http://www.parkerguns.org/pages/grades.html
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Old December 24, 2011, 11:03 PM   #3
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The problem is my gold shield isnt really inscribed like the one in the picture and the triggers arent gold and one last thing the inscription on the barrel isnt really there either not the extra part on the actuall barrel. The rest is the asame except its not in such good shape. Ill post a picture because i dont feel like its grade 7 but it does say whitford steel and pigeon gun, does lower grade use that steel? And i will put pictures thank you very much!
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Old December 24, 2011, 11:16 PM   #4
Jim Watson
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The gold shield was sent out blank to be engraved with the owner's initials.
I have seen a lot of guns with them left blank. Maybe they didn't care or did not want to do anything to hurt the resale value by personalizing it.

At the top of the page, it says:
"Not all Parkers will exactly meet these descriptions because Parker would alter a gun to meet a customers requirements if possible. Parker shotguns are custom guns and descriptions found here are those of their most common features."

So if yours is not just like the pictures, that may mean the original owner ordered it that way.
And if it is not in such good shape, too bad, but somebody paying $400 for a gun in those days was probably going to use it.
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Old December 24, 2011, 11:19 PM   #5
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So it being in poor shape even though its a high grade makes it not too valuable, too bad is right although i didnt want to sell it. Was my great grandfathers but he was born around the time the gun was made so he got it used and used it himself because it is really worn ill post pictures in the next post and maybe that can finalize your thoughts.
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Old December 25, 2011, 12:16 AM   #6
lemon4879
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It didnt let me upload pictures due to a missing security token?

Edit: i found a way to get pictures available

Last edited by lemon4879; December 25, 2011 at 12:31 AM.
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Old December 25, 2011, 12:21 AM   #7
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http://imgur.com/pTaCC of serial and grade number
http://imgur.com/XFmYG of whole gun
http://imgur.com/ejMjA of missing but-stock
http://imgur.com/dlJmg of pigeon gun on barrel spine
http://imgur.com/hXPcB of gold shield

Last edited by lemon4879; December 25, 2011 at 12:33 AM.
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Old December 25, 2011, 12:36 AM   #8
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Pretty well worn all right, but this is such a scarce gun that does not mean it is valueless. Thousands of bucks, still.

I hope a real Parker expert comes along.
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Old December 25, 2011, 12:52 PM   #9
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Looking at the Blue Book, a Parker grade GH is the same as a 3. So if I counted up the lettered grades, a 7 is an AAH - one below an A-1 Special. "The early AAs have Whitworth barrels, the later AAs have Peerless." The grades just below AAH (like the AH, BH and CH) have Acme steel barrels.

Here's an ad for a very nice AAH Pigeon Gun. How does yours match up? Note that the factory letter states the gun came with 2 buttstocks - a straight and a pistol grip. All for $35,000.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/PAR...n_id=100213128
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Old December 25, 2011, 01:25 PM   #10
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Unfortunately not in the best shape I don't know if the picture shows the condition. And of course the but-stock is missing. Kind of cool though how rare it is either way and it's been in my closet for years..
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Old December 25, 2011, 05:58 PM   #11
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It will look better when it's cleaned up. Here's what they're calling an AAH grade 6 Pigeon Gun that has been "factory refurbished". $26,900.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/902650734...igeon_Gun.htm#
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Old December 25, 2011, 06:51 PM   #12
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It's not missing the stock just the butt plate and looks like the grip cap is missing as well.
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Old December 26, 2011, 02:05 AM   #13
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Didn't notice the grip cap, but thanks for all the opinions and knowledge. I wonder what factory refurbished means, I thought it was bad to do that, but I guess I found myself a piece of history.
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Old December 26, 2011, 09:31 AM   #14
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Refurbishing often reduces the value of certain collector weapons, mainly for US collectors of guns like a pre-WWI 1911. Collectors of high end weapons often want a AAA condition, and if that means shelling out several thousand dollars for a factory overhaul, so be it.
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Old December 26, 2011, 10:37 AM   #15
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Really? Who does them? I know I don't want to really sell it but I still like it in the best condition.
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Old December 26, 2011, 01:36 PM   #16
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The Parker Restoration forum of the Parker Gun Collectors Association -

www.parkerguns.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=8


Doug Turnbull - www.turnbullmfg.com

Article on refurbishing guns - www.terrywieland.com/Doug-Turnbull.htm


DelGrego http://www.parkershotgunrepair.com/p..._services.html
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Old December 26, 2011, 01:40 PM   #17
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Repairs are expensive, but so are nice Parkers.

Remington is having Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. make an original Parker for sale, but only in the AA grade 28 gauge. Base price before options is $49,000.

www.connecticutshotgun.com/Remparkers.html
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Old December 27, 2011, 05:55 PM   #18
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Connecticut Shotgun Co makes/sells replacement buttplates & PG caps.

I would do nothing else with that AAH, except give it a very mild cleaning ( NO abrasives) & oiling, and treat the wood with Howard's Feed 'N Wax.

ANYTHING else would seriously devalue it.

.
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Old December 27, 2011, 08:16 PM   #19
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I know that I would fix it up and shoot it.

The folks at the Parker Gun Collectors Association would love to see pics and give you advice.
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Old December 27, 2011, 08:54 PM   #20
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Wow, Mr DelGrego's heirs still in the business.
I think a DelGrego Parker was the first restored firearm to become socially acceptable back when "5% blue in protected locations" was preferable to a full factory refinish on anything else.

I would have a heart to heart talk with those Parker afficianados and decide whether to just clean it up, put on a butt plate, and go shooting; or to spend the money on a true restoration. And go shooting.
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Old December 28, 2011, 02:10 PM   #21
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Thank you all very much! I will go to that site since they seem parker enthusiasts. I brought it in to a gunshop as it is just to see if they said i could shoot it, since they are a better judge than I, and they said it was in perfect condition to shoot, just a really worn gun in all other respects.
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Old December 30, 2011, 10:25 AM   #22
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www.parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5968

Here's the link to his thread on the PGCA forum. 47 posts in less than two days.
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Old December 30, 2011, 01:58 PM   #23
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Interesting to see (or imagine) the reactions of different collectors.

Parker - Spend a ton of money to restore it to showroom appearance and it will be worth a ton and a half of money.

M1 Garand - Army Ordnance repaired it, find a part no 49-85769 so it will be "correct."

USGI 1911 - Don't dare pretty it up and certainly don't shoot it.

S&W Heavy Duty - Send it to Hamilton Bowen and have it rebored to .38-40.
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Old December 30, 2011, 03:48 PM   #24
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haha They are proving to be very helpful as you all were too. And ya, as a kid I always thought old guns or old anything was best left unused in its condition it was found in. I guess not Parkers.
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