GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
SUPERB CONDITION AND ATTRACTIVE PARKER "BHE" SHOTGUN WITH STRAIGHT GRIP (THE EARLIEST REPORTED PARKER EJECTOR GUN). PARKER SXS BHE 111224 12GA MODERN; C&R (ca 1901) Cal. 12 ga. 2-5/8" Chambers. 2 Frame. 30" Tightly patterned Damascus bbls are marked "PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CONN. DAMASCUS STEEL" on concave matted rib. Bbl flats are stamped with steel type, grade, weight, and patent date. SN is on left side of lump. Typical case hardened hammerless action features automatic safety (SAFE engraved) and nickel plated dbl triggers. Water table is stamped with all correct markings. Action has nicely filed bead around fences. Top lever has filed in chevron. Action is engraved with 70% coverage nicely cut varying sized scroll within geometric borders. This scroll surrounds oval renderings of double dogs; pointers on left, setters on right. "PARKER BROS" is in serpentine banners behind dog scenes. Trigger plate has nicely detailed scene of stag and hind. Blued trigger guard has scroll on bow. SN is on tang. Nicely marbled and stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over skeleton steel buttplate. Sunken side panels are checkered and end in well carved fleur-di-lis drop points. Checkering at grip is of typical "B" pattern, with fleur-di-lis flourishes into butt. A vacant gold oval is on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend is nearly fully checkered and has usual steel tip and typical Parker release. Interior of iron is stamped with SN and 1901 patent dates. Bore diameter: left -.733, right - .732. Bore restrictions: left - .039 (extra full), right - .038 (extra full). Wall thickness: left - .031, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Neutral cast. Weight: 7 lbs. 14 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". Gun is not listed in the PARKER GUN IDENTIFICATION & SERIALIZATION ledger. PROVENANCE: Parker Pages (Spring 2014 et al) "The Current List of Earliest and Lates Survivors" lists this gun as the earliest known ejector. Prestigious and lifetime Parker and Winchester collection of Dr. Tom Bouwkamp. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain approx 80% orig Damascus finish, silvering and thinning overall with some light marks. Action retains approx 85% orig case hardening color, silvered on fences, sharp edges, and around bottom from normal hand wear. Trigger guard retains most of its orig blue, thinned and flaked at grip. Stocks retain approx 80% of their orig finish with loss mostly on right side of butt due to cleaning and repair of some stress cracks (which are not uncommon in stump figured wood); One about 3" long parallels line of buttplate, with another about 1-1/2" long 3" in front of and perpendicular to first crack. There is a small chip missing at right side of tip of trigger guard tang. Grip checkering is lightly worn, checkering of forend shows considerable denting and flattening on left side toward rear. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Ejectors are in time. A lovely untouched high grade Parker. 52170-6 MGM141 (8,000-12,000)