GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
INCREDIBLE, FRESH TO MARKET, HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION, 20 BORE PARKER "A1 SPECIAL" HAVING FINE SCROLL ENGRAVING AND GOLD INLAY, WITH ORIGINAL LEG O' MUTTON CASE.PARKER BROSA1 SPECIAL23448420MODERN; C&R; ESACal. 20 ga. O frame. 2-5/8" Chambers. This extraordinary gun matches all specifications in PARKER GUN IDENTIFICATION & SERIALIZATION ledger, with its 28" Peerless steel bbls, having all correct factory markings on its nicely swamped top rib (with two ivory beads), engine turned bbl flats, and damascened lumps. Loop is damascened and top of splinter is engine turned, as are ejector kickers. Breech ends of bbls have 2-1/4" triangles of well cut small scroll in front of geometric bands. Muzzles have 1/8" engraved and geometric bands. Small sized Parker hammerless action with engine turned water table and breechface, correctly marked for grade and SN, is well filed with three beads around fences, Chevron on top lever, and raised cyma curve scrolls at transition of action sides to bottom. Action also features automatic safety (S inlaid in gold) and gold plated double triggers. with checkered finger blades (front trigger is articulated, a very rare feature on Parker guns). Action is engraved with near full coverage well cut small scroll within geometric borders surrounding semi relief circular vignettes of game birds on sides of action. A pheasant flies over rail fence on left side, and a woodcock flits over conifers on right. "PARKER BROS" is in small rectangle on each side of action. Bottom of action has more of this small profuse scroll, and trigger plate has circular relief gold inlaid vignette of a ruffed grouse flying over treetops. These engravings are very unusual and unprecedented in illustrated "A1 Special" Parkers, and obviously special ordered. Gold inlays of the quality of the grouse on this gun, are generally only seen on "Invincible" grade guns, and are very scarce on any Parker. Scroll engraved trigger guard has SN relief gold inlaid on tang. Wonderfully marbled and nicely figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4" over skeleton steel buttplate. The buttplate itself has nearly full coverage fine scroll engraving, matching action. Butt checkering is of fancy outline with modified fleur-di-lis intrusions at top and bottom. Other stock embellishments are typical of "A1 Specials" but unique to this gun, with sunken checkered side panels bisected by ribbons and with floral carving at back and front. Attenuated fleur-di-lis drop points are exceptionally well carved in high relief, and especially attractive, far superior in execution to that seen on most "A1 Specials". The very fancy checkering pattern is also extraordinary, and differs from the norm, with a large amount of carved intrusion of acanthus with extra flourishes behind top tang, in front of comb, and behind trigger guard tang. Long intrusions of checkering up toward the comb and along toe line, are unprecedented. Toe line is also embellished with large fancy outline rectangular gold crest plate, with geometric engraved border, and emblazoned with initials "F. R. F." Splinter forend with engine turned iron and ejector patent date is also checkered matching buttstock with unprecedented intricacy with more foliate carving, similar in execution to that found on "Invincible" gun no. 230329, except without ribbons. Bore diameter: left -.620, right - .619. Bore restrictions: left - .024 (IMod), right - .011 (Lt mod). Wall thickness: left - .020, right - .022. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Cast off about 1/4". Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". This gun comes with its orig tan leather leg o' mutton case unmarked as to maker, but stamped "46" and "28" on end flap, and has brass plated Eagle Lock Co latch. A side pocket with three straps contains 3-pc birch BGI cleaning rod. PROVENANCE: Parker Gun Collectors letter stating that the shotgun was completed on July 25, 1930, and confirming all specifications. CONDITION: Unbelievable, original, untouched. Bbls retain 95% plus orig blue (possibly an old factory re-blue as the engraving is a bit soft) with only a few light flecks of oxidation on top of right bbl near breech, and 1" x 1/4" scratched area on right bbl toward muzzle. Breech ends of bbls show some staining from case induced storage rust on breechface and ejectors. Action retains well over 90% of its orig case hardening color with some attractive silvering to beads, fences, and thumbpiece at top lever. Color is thinned a bit from normal hand wear on bottom, forend iron (which has a couple of rust stains at bottom), and on latch. Trigger guard retains most of its orig blue, silvered on edges of bow, and considerably thinned, almost to silver, on tang. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig hand rubbed oil finish which is dry, and untouched, with some somewhat open grain, and with a few marks, most notably three dings on right side; two near comb, and one fairly deep scratch across checkering to trigger guard tang. There is also a 1-1/2" scratch along row of diamonds in left hand checkered flourish into comb, otherwise checkering has very slight wear, and is a bit dirty. Buttplate retains a considerable amount of its blue, with some flaking and discoloration due to oxidation. Bores are excellent, with no visible imperfections, except for a dent/ ding about 6" back from muzzle on side of right bbl, with pre mentioned scratches on exterior. Bbl has not had recent cleaning and there is some fouling in right tube. Action is tight. Mechanically excellent. Case is excellent, straps and handle intact, end flap detached. A fabulous find most likely the finest small bore high grade Parker in existence. THE PARKER STORY estimates eleven 20 ga "A1 Specials" were made, 3 with 28" bbls.. 51471-1 MGM142 (125,000-200,000)