doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parker PH grade

Would appreciate insight as to history of this lower grade Parker gun. I had thought about trying to buy a copy of the serial number book offered for sale on this Forum by a gentleman from CA--but that may not develop, so I am asking from the "Parkeristas" extant for their knowledge. My limited understanding is that for some period of the hammerless Parkers, the PH or grade 1 was the "bottom grade" numerically, at least until the Trojan came out. After it was dropped from the line )early 1920's??) the V or Vulcan grade took over that position in the lineup.

I have a PH (grade 1) 12 gauge- 28" Parker Steel barrels, no. 1&1/2 size frame, DT, EXT-- pg stock with DH buttplate with the inletted spur design Logo BP--chambers check out at 2&5/8"--chokes mike out at .010" right barrel (front trigger and .016" left barrel (rear trigger)-- splinter forearn with std.latch release and steel front cap--serial number (not in script on the pg bow however-SN is 224516- marked on barrel flat, water table and forearm iron. No barrel makers initials, as on my 12 GHE-that being WK. My guess is mfg. early 1920's-- No fotos, and as I don't plan to offer it for sale at this juncture in time, no need for them that I can discern.

Thanks-- RWTF

According to the SN list in the "other useful information" section on this BBS, your gun was made in 1928.

When the hammerless Parker Bros. gun was introduced circa 1888 the Grade 2, Quality GH (EH in 10-gauge) was the lowest grade offered. The Grade 1, Quality PH (NH in 10-gauge) was added to the offerings in 1890. It remained the entry-level hammerless gun until 1898 when the Quality VH, Grade 0, with Vulcan Steel barrels was introduced. The Trojan didn't come out until 1912.

If you can't make yourself buy a Serialization Book, you won't want to buy a PGCA letter either. Your gun is "what it is" in front of you. It is a fluid steel Grade 1 Parker shotgun. Lucky you. By the way, I'm softening up a bit and you can call me when you are in town. Did I actually say that?

1927 according to the Parker association. You can search serial numbers on their first page

If you have any interest in Parker Guns I would highly recommend you join the Parker Gun Collectors Association and order yourself a parker factory letter for your gun. It is always fascinating what you can learn about individual guns from the factory letters. I checked your serial number and the Association website says that factory records are available for your gun.

Obviously, you don't know the disdain that Fox with the Runs feels toward the Parker Gun Collectors Association and the members of that great organization. However, I am willing to let the past be the past and I actually invited Fox to call me when he is in town visiting his progeny who live close to me.

I might beg to differ Bill, with your choice of words regarding my past feelings towards your distinguished gruppen. IMO, distinguished indifference might have been a better choice of terminology. But I am 80, and also have mellowed in my outlook. Not meaning to "pick fly poop out of black pepper", but my progeny more properly consistsof our three grown daughtes, all of them live nearby to Mae and me here in MI--

I do have a married sister, who lives with her lawyer hubby in Silver Spring MD. I will gladly accept your invite to meet and share some gun chat, and possibly a wee dram of Bushmills on the rocks to "tamp down the buried hatchet" between us and your PGCA. How-some-ever, with the Covid rampagine all over Creation, that trip our East,( and we love MD crabcakes and Big Pecker's restaurant in Ocean City-) has to be on the back burner, for the nonce. But thanks for the kind thoughts- RWTF