April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/27/2021
Made in 1925 for John M.P. Thatcher as one of a pair. This gun is a 12 gauge 1 1/2 frame with 30" original Peerless steel barrels. The rib is machined and concave with a white front bead sight. The barrels rib reads "PARKER BROS.MAKERS.MERIDIEN.CT.U.S.A.PEERLESS STEEL". The case hardened frame is engraved in fine scroll with "Parker Bros." at base on each side. The trigger guard is engraved in a similar fine scroll. Original Parker Bros. single selective trigger, auto ejectors, and auto safety. The straight grip stock is carved from beautiful Circassian walnut showing strong color and rich contrast with deep figure on both sides. The beautiful buttstock with thick trap comb, also has a hand rubbed oil finish, oval with initials "J.M.P.T", and an engraved skeleton steel buttplate. Checkering is crisp and ornate displaying fleur-de-lis drop points in a flowing wave pattern extending well down the stock and including checkered stock shields all done exceptionally well and executed with an incredibly high degree of craftsmanship. The splinter forearm rates excellent and is almost completely covered in the same fine checkering as the buttstock with a finely engraved tip. Forend with Deeley release which is near fully engraved and finely polished on inside if fully checkered. Barrels have the reinforced forend lug and unstruck barrel weight of 4 lbs 2 oz. Accompanying this gun are the original hang tags identifying the gun as found today and an original Abercrombie and Fitch hang tag for the gun as well as a card identifying the original owner and his address - John M.P. Thatcher / 510 Park Ave / New York City. Also found in the case is the original Parker Bros. "Peerless Steel" letter. An unheard of piece of Parker Paper! The gun is housed in a period oak and leather case with the original owner's initials "JMPT" embossed. This gun was ordered as a consecutive pair in identical configuration. CONDITION: Excellent. The expertly maintained barrels retain nearly all of its blue which is starting to age and tone brown. The action retains about 65% of its original case color. Stocks are excellent and once again show they have been expertly maintained. The buttplate has toned gray. Bores are bright and shiny. Mechanics are crisp. Case is good to very good for its age with leather straps having dried and cracked with one torn. With the original hang tags, and also pictured in "THE PARKER STORY" this is an important and beautiful AAHE Parker for any discerning collector. Putting the pair back together would be a landmark in all of Parker collecting if it could be done! JSL
Item Dimensions: 34" x 11" x 5"
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .020 (R) .026
Internal Bore Diameter
(L) .737 (R) .740