April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
(1875) 32" barrels are engraved "Parker Bros. Makers. Meriden, Conn. Damascus Steel." on narrow swamped game rib. Barrel flats are stamped "D" (Damascus) "4.4" (Unstruck Weight) and "6" (grade). Left side of rear lump is stamped with serial number. Bottom of rear lump is stamped "S". Lifter action is fitted with rebounding front spring locks with 4 pin pierced bridles. Dane patent (rebounding) date is stamped under mainsprings. Action is filed in highest quality manner with deeply scalloped fences and raised beads forming full length teardrops at sides. Action is of early type with tapered bar and square transition to breechface. Action is engraved with sprays of scroll and geometric borders with fancy outlined scene of stag on bottom. Locks are near fully engraved with exceptional shaded scroll at rear portions, diamond shading at fronts surround "Parker Bros", and very nicely detailed central dog and bird scenes; pair of setters on left lock watching a departing grouse. Right lock depicts a pointer climbing over a rock and pointing a woodcock nestled in vegetation below. Hammers are very nicely filed with scrolled tipped flat faces and highest grade flourishes at bottom of rear curve. Trigger plate is marked with 1866 patent date, and trigger guard is engraved with scroll surrounding scene of hunter and retriever with duck. Serial number is on tang. Although listed in the ledger as only a grade "D", the quality and extent of this engraving and action filing equals or exceeds that on any early gun illustrated and described in THE PARKER STORY as a grade 6, except for the gun made for the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition. Very nicely marbled European walnut round knob pistol grip buttstock measures 14 - 1/8" over checkered wood butt. Checkering at grip has fancy border at front and stock features drop points and a vacant gold shield on top of grip. Matching splinter forend with shaped metal tip attaches to barrels with sliding side bolt through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons. CONDITION: Good, as partially refinished. Barrels retain nearly all of a re-brown with good definition to pattern. Other metal parts are cleaned to silver gray. All engraving remains clear, except for trigger guard bow which has some light frosting. Stocks retain most of an old oil refinish, checkering cleaned. Bores are pitted, slightly rivelled toward muzzle ends, and with quite a few dents, most noticeably an area 8" back from muzzle on left barrel with some welded repair. This is also the thinnest point in this barrel. Action is tight. Locks are good. MGM185.
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .009 (R) .016
Choke
(L) .040 (Full) (R) .045 (Full)
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .770 (R) .789