Parker Brothers Double Barrel 12 Gauge

L

lemon4879

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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!
 
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
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
It didnt let me upload pictures due to a missing security token?

Edit: i found a way to get pictures available
 
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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.
 
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.

www.gunsinternational.com/PARKER-AAH-PIGEON-12-GAUGE-WITH-LETTER.cfm?gun_id=100213128
 
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..
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

.
 
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. :p
 
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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