We have this older Parker Bros. side by side. Last patent date is 1876, S/N is 53620. It has two barrel, both 12 ga. 32" (different choke diameter) that serial number to the gun, as well as two fore-ends, one for each barrel. Exposed hammers, highly figured damascus steel on the barrels and highly engraved on all receiver surfaces. Fine patina on all steel surfaces obscuring engraving and damascus figuring. Steel butt plate, also highly checkered like the grip and fore ends. Has a later-type fore-end release(s) and receiver hinge pin. Bores are oxidized loosely but not pitted or unserviceable. Nicely checkered and sharp pistol grip stock (not well pictured) It is also in the original leather bound box. The leather is intact though dried, and the interior felt is tattered and mostly gone. The original wood and brass cleaning rod is there, though the rod-end(s) is/are missing.
This has been in the family (hers) since new. Story is it arrived in this box inside a shipping carton from Sears, Roebuck and Co. in the Arizona Territory in the late 19th century to replace the civil war Sharp's that they were still using (got that, too). The family was in AZ from shortly after the civil war until recently. She would have been fourth generation Arizonan if her mother hadn't had the bad sense to travel to New Mexico while eight months pregnant. How sad.
I haven't found a source for the date, though I am guesstimating late 1880s or early 1890s based on others I've seen.
My questions are:
1) Date
2) What to do with it?
3) Who to restore it and cost?
Like our esteemed Saxon Pig, I don't like guns that can't be shot. And this can't be shot in this condition. I'd like to restore it and then maintain it. Also, I would do that as a gift to her Dad, who could enjoy his family piece. He's an engineer, so he'd deeply appreciate the work and take care of it until it is passed on again.
The pictures below mostly hide one of the barrels (behind the wooden divider, my mistake in taking the photo).
1)
2)
This has been in the family (hers) since new. Story is it arrived in this box inside a shipping carton from Sears, Roebuck and Co. in the Arizona Territory in the late 19th century to replace the civil war Sharp's that they were still using (got that, too). The family was in AZ from shortly after the civil war until recently. She would have been fourth generation Arizonan if her mother hadn't had the bad sense to travel to New Mexico while eight months pregnant. How sad.
I haven't found a source for the date, though I am guesstimating late 1880s or early 1890s based on others I've seen.
My questions are:
1) Date
2) What to do with it?
3) Who to restore it and cost?
Like our esteemed Saxon Pig, I don't like guns that can't be shot. And this can't be shot in this condition. I'd like to restore it and then maintain it. Also, I would do that as a gift to her Dad, who could enjoy his family piece. He's an engineer, so he'd deeply appreciate the work and take care of it until it is passed on again.
The pictures below mostly hide one of the barrels (behind the wooden divider, my mistake in taking the photo).
1)
2)
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