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don ray
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 08:38 pm |
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| I posted an inquiry on AUG 20 concerning how to evaluate a DH Grade Parker with 2 matching barrel sets. Robert Fabian kindly asked me to post some info from a PGCA Research letter. Serial # 70796 is on the gun and both sets of titanic steel barrels. The letter points out that this originally had Damascus steel barrels , and was made in 1892. The info about the first and second owners was quite interesting, but not relevant to this query. There is no record of the gun being equiped with titanic steel barrels, but no such records are available after 1919.The gun and barrels are in excellent condition. The refitted gun now has a 26" barrel and a 30" barrel. 12 gauge w/ a skeletonized butt plate. It looks like a one barrel DH sells for around $6000 - $7000. I can't find anything that speaks to the value of a DH w/ 2 barrel sets. Any help would be appreciated. It's really not for sale, but I am quite interested. Thanks.
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 09:41 pm |
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First thing you need to look at is if the 26 inch barrels are cut down or not. Barrels that short on a 12 gauge Parker are fairly scarce.
Second do both sets of barrels have their own forend?
Is there a #2 marked on the forend lug of either set?
You're not giving out much info here man, the boys need more to make any kind of real guess at value.
And without pictures that's a complete guess.
The gun could be restocked, refinished, have other problems, you just don't know till you see it.
Look at similar threads on here that have actually gotten a decent response. They have pictures, much better descriptions of the gun, etc etc etc
You saying it's in "excellent condition" means nothing if you're not a guy that knows Parker guns. To you a really bad refinish could look great. I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, I'm just giving the facts of the matter.
Destry
Last edited on Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 10:19 pm by Destry Hoffard
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 01:36 am |
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| As the reply to your first inquiry suggested, the information on your PGCA letter would be of some interest in valuing your gun. The next step would be for an experienced Parker collector/researcher to examine your gun, and particularly the barrels, for signs of originality. Pictures would help, but an examination would be better. If the barrels show signs of factory installation, the gun would be very valuable. If the barrels were installed by local gunsmiths from salvaged barrels, the gun would be less valuable. Maybe we could send you to someone who would know. However, in an earlier post, you said that the serial numbers do match and later, you said that the serial numbers don't match. Do match suggests maybe a factory installation, don't match suggests not a factory installation. Last edited on Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 01:43 am by Bill Murphy
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Austin W Hogan
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 04:06 am |
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The first TI 3 Parker DH in the archive is 86736. I doubt that anyone took the hammer to two other Parker TI3 guns to obtain the barrels for your gun . The refit may show in later order books and I encourage you to obtain a research letter.
Check the rib for the proper rollmarks, and the barrel flats for the proper inspector's stamps.
Whether or not two barrels fitted after the gun was made constitute a two barrel set is a matter of philosophy.
It is interesting to me that I have spent 15 years trying to collect Parker two barrel sets. I have been able to find grades 0 - 4 ; ie 5 sets. It is interesting to note that in two instances, I acquired the 2 barrel set by accident; ie the seller said " Oh that gun has a second set of barrels" Whether a second set of barrels enhances a gun's value is apparently a matter of who is buying and who is selling.
Best, Austin
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 10:03 pm |
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I believe he's saying that he's gotten a letter and it doesn't say anything about the two sets of fluid steel barrels.
DLH
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 10:59 pm |
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| That is exactly why I suggested that he contact an experienced Parker collector/researcher to examine the gun for signs of factory installation of the two sets of Titanic barrels. Actual examination is about all that is left if the letter doesn't give any hints. Austin is being a bit cautious in saying that the added value of a two barrel set is in doubt. A two barrel set is more valuable than a one barrel set in all cases. The amount of added value differs in whether the second set of barrels is factory installed or not. Last edited on Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 11:04 pm by Bill Murphy
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don ray
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Posted: Mon Aug 25th, 2008 03:59 pm |
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| Thanks to everyone for the replies. I now recognize that additional info and photos will be useful. I have a friend who is working on photos to post. In answer to a couple of questions,both sets of barrels have forends, with serial #'s that match each other and match the number on the gun and on the trigger guard tang. Both sets of barrels are stamped with a # "1" on the lug. There are lots of small numbers stamped under the barrel flat. I can post these if they are helpful. I am truely impressed that there is so much information and knowledge out there concerning guns that are possibly 100 years old. I got this gun after reading a little about the history of old double guns from America( McIntosh). My interest was peaked in these beautiful and historic guns. Because they were so beautiful, I've also acquired a couple of Smith's and a 28 gauge Flues Ithaca, but none have the beauty of the Parker. As you can tell I bought the guns based mostly on their appearance , I want to fill in some history to go with the beauty. Hopefully I can get some photos posted. Thanks again. Don Ray
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Austin W Hogan
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 03:45 am |
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Bill; I philosophically agree with you; but in three of five cases; I purchased the two barrel set at no premium.
Best, Austin
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Eric Eis
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 02:46 pm |
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Austin, you were damn lucky... Eric
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 03:16 pm |
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| Austin, they would have been cheaper had they been only equipped with one set of barrels. Trust me.
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John Davis
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 03:34 pm |
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| I think I've recently taken it to an extreme. My BH 12 originally had a set of 30" Damascus barrels which were blown when I acquired the old girl several years ago. Among a ton of other work, I now have a three barrel set, all fluid steel. Titanic 26" skt. in/ skt. out; Titanic 28" Imp. Cyl/Mod; Vulcan 30" Mod/Full. I would guess I've got way more in her than she would ever bring, but then she ain't for sale.
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 05:31 pm |
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| To be honest, John, your three barrel set also gave birth to a two barrel Bernard Steel set. One of John's barrel sets for his B Grade was the result of breaking up a whole gun whose back end is now the back end for my Bernard gun which was displayed at the Vintagers last year. I'm sure these two guns are much more than the sum of their parts. My gun, for example, is outstanding. It must be closely examined to determine that it is not originally made the way it now is. Only the differing serial numbers would be a clue. I have exactly $1200.00 in mine, including the #38 Parker two barrel leather case that came with the barrels. The case letters with the barrels. Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 05:35 pm by Bill Murphy
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Dean Romig
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 05:50 pm |
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| Bill, you were damn lucky... Dean
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:38 pm |
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| Yeah, like my other projects, it only took twenty years from start to "almost finished".
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don ray
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Posted: Fri Aug 29th, 2008 06:03 pm |
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| I have taken some very low resolution photos of my DH grade which has been discussed.They are not good enough to read all the markings, but could be helpful until I can get some better photos. I don't know how to post photos, so can I send them to one of you for posting ? Thanks. Don Ray, Tullahoma, Tn
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