Found Parker double barrel shotgun in wall of 160 year old house, help me!

[jmac]

so as the title says me and my friend found a very very old parker shotgun in the wall of a house built in the mid 1840's. the stock is broken but u can still ready some numbers on the barrel/receiver. its a 12 gauge with 30 in barrels hammer style number on it say's g18 but its hand stamped and very old, somebody here has to know a place i can find out how old this thing is.


jmac

[Apdl]

try and contact the manuf?
BTW

sorry

[Old School]

Contact them: http://parkergun.org/

Here is something to knaw on...

Parker Double
Q: I'm looking for some information on a Parker Bros. 12-gauge double. It's in nice condition and I've got the original leather break-down case. There's nice engraving on the receiver and there's a shield on the stock near the buttplate. It's got ivory beads and auto ejectors. The serial number is 2XXXXX. It was my grandfather's gun that was passed on to my dad, and then passed to me. Some day my son will hunt with it. --J.D.,Scranton, PA


A: Your gun was manufactured in 1924. All original Parkers are of the highest quality, even in the lowest grades, and have a fit and finish comparable to the best English doubles. Nice engraving on the receiver indicates that yours is at least a "G" grade, of which 4,300 were made. If yours has automatic ejectors, it's a GHE grade. To find the grade, look on the watertable of the action. You can obtain a letter by writing to the Parker Collectors, Dept. GA, 25 Bud Smith Rd., Wakee Forest, NC 27587, or visit them at parkergun.org. Many factors enter into an accurate appraisal of a Parker such as ejectors (minimum 60 percent increase), beavertail forearm (20 percent), vent rib (20 to 50 percent) and so on. Assuming yours is a GH grade standard with 90 percent original bluing, 90 percent case colors and nice original wood with factory-original butt, it should be worth $3,500. Tell your son it is not only a family treasure, but an actual one as well.

[ichy_trigger]

Im gonna find me an old house to buy so I can start ripping out the plaster...lol

congrats

[jmac]

thanks i am working on pics but our's serial number is 618 yes 618. and the parkergun.org serial number id'r says that it doesnt have records that predate 1874. dont let me try and fool you this is not at present time a working shotgun nor. is it even have 50% of the orginal blueing

[Apdl]

cough cough


sorry

[bama]

From the Blue Book of Gun Values
PARKER BROTHERS
Previously manufactured in Meriden, CT from 1866-1934. Remington took over production in 1934, and in 1938, the plant was moved to Ilion, NY. Over 4,500 'Transition Guns' (exhibiting Meriden and Ilion characteristics) were produced in Meriden between 1934-1937 and about 1,600 Parkers were manufactured at the Ilion location before production stopped circa 1942. Total production reached approx. 242,487.

During 2006, Remington Arms Co. announced the release of a new AAHE 28 ga. Parker, manufactured in the U.S. by Connecticut Shotgun Co.
95% of the original Parkers bought and sold each year are in 30% or less condition (referring to original case colors). Percentages on following pages refer to the amount of original case colors remaining on frame.
Values listed in the 95%-100% condition columns can vary a lot as there is very little supply and strong demand for these high condition 'cream puffs.'

Note: Values below are for guns without ejectors, unless otherwise indicated. An 'E' suffix indicates ejectors. Skeet models with ejectors, beavertail forearm, and single selective trigger are valued at approx. 50%-75% higher than values shown. Higher grade Parkers typically had ejectors, and ejectors typically add 50%-100% value to a Parker in all grades. Also, lower condition, high grade models sometimes have their values established by the potential gain in refurbishing these specimens. Remember, it only cost a few hundred dollars more to refinish an A1 Special compared a VH Grade.

Due to the extremely high value of Parker Guns, extreme care should be taken in their purchase. There are many upgraded and refinished guns represented as original; expert advice should always be sought. Many collectors would rather own a specimen with 30% original case colors than a refinished gun that is 100% (regardless who did the work). Many advanced collectors will discount a refinished Parker's value 40%-60% off the price for an original gun. Misrepresentation of refinished or upgraded Parkers is rampant today - especially case colors. Also, beware of fake boxes and hanging tags - if the box and Parker shotgun are an original 'pair,' the value is enhanced tremendously. If the box/hanging tag is fake, you could pay as much as $1,500 to learn this lesson! In other words, do your homework, be careful, shop carefully, and above all, get a receipt for exactly what it is that you are purchasing.

Frame size on Parker shotguns is determined by the number on the bottom of the rear barrel lug on breech. Frame sizes (from largest to smallest) include 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 1/2, 1, 1/2, 0, 00, and 000. 8 ga. guns typically are framed 6 or 7. 10 ga. guns typically are 3 or 4. 12 ga. guns typically range from 2 through 1 (more desirable). '1/2' frame 12 ga. guns are very rare and desirable. 20 and 16 gauges range from 2 through 0 (more desirable, rare in 16 ga.). 28 ga. guns are either 0 or 00 (more desirable and twice as expensive). .410 bore shotguns are 00 or 000 (most common and most desirable). 8 and 10 ga. steel barreled shotguns are very rare, and prices can equate .410 bore values if the original condition is there.
The grade on Parker shotguns is a number or initials located on the water table of the frame. An alphabetical designation would indicate the grade immediately. For numerals, a '2' would indicate a GH, while an '8' would specify an A-1 Special - interpolate for the others (numbers 3 through 7). Parker shotguns manufactured by Remington will have date codes stamped on left barrel flat that correspond to the month and the year (see Remington serialization in the Serialization Section). Also, if a Parker gun was returned to Remington for repair, alteration, or refinishing, it will usually have the date code stamped with a suffix of 3 (i.e., OK3 represents some type of rework completed in either July of 1941 or 1963). There is some ambiguity with the year as the year codes repeat.

A note about Parker condition: Percentages of condition indicate the amount of original case colors remaining on the frame, but sometimes these colors are faded and the rest of the gun is excellent - hence, all the separate condition factors must be considered when determining overall condition.

A Parker IS NOT 60% if the barrel bluing and stock/forearm varnish are 60% but case colors are only 10%. Typically, a 60% case color Parker shotgun will have 90%+ blue and varnish, yet this does not mean the gun is 90% overall. Similarly, a 20% case color Parker will probably have 90% barrel bluing remaining. Strong, original case colors are the key in determining Parker condition and subsequent values. However, for shotguns under 30% condition, the overall condition of the gun should determine value.

The Parker Story, Vol. I was published in late 1998. This book has production statistics derived from factory records, and the quantities manufactured listed in this text for steel-barreled hammerless Parker guns are taken from this book. This new publication also has more detailed production statistics on Parker guns produced from 1869-1942, including a breakdown by action type (lifter, top lever, and hammerless), grade, barrel steel, gauge, and barrel length. Some grades, gauges, etc., are fewer in number than previously estimated. All the grades are pictured in color, including the Invincible. Parker Reproductions are also covered in detail, including production statistics. Vol. II was published in late 2000.

Parker Gun Identification & Serialization was published in late 2002. Compiled by using records from The Parker Story, Vols. I & II, this title features more than 100 detailed images and over 155,000 serial numbers to help verify an original Parker configuration. If interested in Parkers, these publications will be invaluable. The author wishes to thank Mr. Charles Price, William Mullins, Roy Gunther, Louis C. Parker III, and Daniel Cote for sharing the following Parker production statistics with this publication.

The Parker Gun Collectors Association can also provide research letters on certain Parkers. Please refer to their listing under Firearms Organizations in the back of this text for contact information.

[kevin7]

Come on, where are the pictures. I want to know what to look for when I go ripping apart old homes.

[jmac]

this is the only pic of it that i have, right now if u look in the left side of the picture u can actually see it hanging in side the wall, behind an old wood stove. its gettin cleaned and trying to get dated at my friend that is a gunsmith right now.

[Brickboy240]

First...WOW...I am jealous! Parkers are VERY desirable collectors pieces. They were stout guns and many people still shoot early ones.

The one you found sounde like a VERY early model. Probably has damascus steel barrels and 2.5" chambers. This means NO smokeless loads in it..ever.

However, if you have it checked by a smith that is familiar with early damascus barreled doubles and everything is ok, you could maybe shoot some light black powder 2.5" loads in the thing. (wouldn't that be fun)

A good source for info and someone to check out this early Parker would be Woodcock Hill in Benton, PA or Doug Turnbull of Turnbull restorations. These guys know alot about early double shotguns. I would have it checked out top to bottom and not by just anybody if you want to shoot it. Otherwise, it would look nice on the wall and might fetch quite a price to the right Parker collector.

Wow...thats quite a find!

- Brickboy240