Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely condition side-by-side double barrel 12 gauge hammer shotgun by renowned American Shotgun maker Parker Brothers of Meriden Connecticut. Known by several names over the years, the company produced almost exclusively shotguns during the many years it existed, and offered them with a wide variety of options. For the first 20+ years of production, Parker Bros. used an exposed hammer design, but by 1888 the first hammer-less guns were offered for sale. Parker guns were often seen as the gun of choice by celebrities including Annie Oakley, Frank Butler, Clark Gable, as well as the top ranked competition shooters of the day.

This lovely example in 12 gauge is a Grade 0 (T) with a size 1 frame (marked on the bottom of the barrel lug), correct for this chambering. The first shotguns made by Parker Brothers were all "Grade 0", the last adorned, and as they introduced higher grades they used various letters to denote the grade 0, which on this shotgun is a T in a circle on the bottom of the barrel assembly. Later produced examples would have the grade code marked above the serial number, which on this gun is 38511, denoting the year of manufacture as 1884. This can be clearly seen on the trigger guard, water table, fore-end and barrel lug. It features a double trigger, fishtail top action break open lever, and lovely twist forged barrels, still clearly marked on the top with the maker information:

PARKER BROS MAKERS. MERIDEN CONN. TWIST.

Both lock plates are also clearly marked with the PARKER BROS name, and there are patent markings in many places, including the bottom of the foregrip attaching iron, the water table, and on the bottom of the barrel assembly. Parker Brothers was constantly innovating and improving their design, and with stiff competition, needed to protect their revolutionary designs.

We checked the reference book Parker Gun Identification & Serialization by Blue Book Publications, and the entry it had for this gun is "38511 PT T 0 C 12 30", which when put through the legend in the book gives the following specifications:

GRA[de] = PT = 0 grade with twist barrels
A[ction] = T = Top action
XT = 0 = No options
S[tocks] = C = Capped pistol grip
BO[re] = 12 = 12 gauge
LE[ngth] = 30 =  30" barrels

This shotgun is completely correct to the listed specifications, and shows no signs of alterations, damage, or misuse, just the usual wear from age and use. The finish has faded overall, but there are no signs of major cleaning or restoration, so this is a lovely honest used example, just how we like to see them, and we definitely recommend it be left as is. It is fully functional, with the only issue noted being that the firing pins do not spring back, though we do not know if this model is supposed to have springs for the pins. The locks both function correctly, and "rebound" as expected. The barrels still show a clear spiral forging pattern. The stocks are lovely showing wear and denting from use, but no major damage or past restoration. We checked the bores, and they are in good shape, mostly bright with some evidence of past removed fouling

A lovely honest used example of a shotgun by one of the most renowned makers of American top break shotguns, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1884
Caliber: 12 gauge / bore
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 30 Inches with 3 Inch chambers
Overall Length: 46 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side Action Rebounding Locks with External Hammers
Feed System: Top Break with Top Lever

Parker Bros., also known at various times as Parker Brothers Manufacturing Company, Parker Brothers Guns, and Parker Bros. Shotguns, was an American firm almost exclusively producing shotguns from approximately 1867 through 1942. During these years, approximately 242,000 guns were produced in various grades and are widely considered the finest and most collectible American shotgun. All Parker Guns are break-open style actions, and most were side-by-side double barreled designs, the remainder being single barrel guns intended for use in trap shooting.

Parker guns were offered in 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 28 and .410 gauges. There is an experimental example known to have been produced in 18 gauge. All else being equal, the smaller the gauge, the more scarce and valuable a Parker gun would be in today's world.

Parker guns were sold at various price points, the basic gun being the same design with the price increasing as production costs (engraving, fit and finish, quality of wood grain, barrel steel, etc.). These grades included: dollars grades, Trojan & VH through A-1 Special/ Invincible.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.