Parker Brothers Under Lifter 10 GA SXS Hammer Double Shotgun 1880 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2150
LSB#: 210610CG01
Make: Parker Brothers
Model: Grade 0 Hammer Gun
Serial Number: 19743
Year of Manufacture: 1880 (“Parker Gun Identification & Serialization”, Price & Fjestad)
Gauge: 10 Gauge, 2 7/8” Chamber, Black Powder Only
Action Type: Side by Side, Lifter-Opened, External Hammer, Double Trigger Shotgun with Extractor
Markings: The top of each barrel rib is marked “PARKER BROS MAKERS. MERIDEN CONN.”, the 32″ barrel’s rib marking is followed by “TWIST”, the 24″ barrel with “STUB TWIST”. The left of each barrel lug is marked “19743”. The 32″ barrel flats are marked “PAT’D. APR. 11. 1876” and “26 52”. The 24″ barrel flat is marked “T46”. The inside of each forend iron is marked “19743”, one is also marked “2”. Each lockplate has “PARKER BROS”. The water table is marked “19743 / PATD MAR. 16. 1875.”. The bottom tang is marked “19743”. The trigger plate is marked PATENTED NOV. 18. 1866 / ” MAR. 23. 1875″.
Barrel Length: 32″ and 24″
Choke: The 32″ set’s barrels are each choked Full, the 24″ set’s barrels are each Cylinder Bore, all fixed.
Sights / Optics: There is a bead at the front of each rib.
Weight: 32″ barrel installed: 8 lb., 14.8 oz., 24″ barrel installed: 8 lb., 0.1 oz.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut with splinter forends, pistol grip, straight comb and smooth steel buttplate. The forends have triangular inlaid steel tips. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The 24″ barrel set’s forend has a short crack at the rear edge on the bottom-right. There are short cracks at the rear of each lockplate and a crack running between the top tang and right lockplate. There are cracks at the heel on each side. There is a small loss at the front edge of the wrist below the right lockplate. The checkering ranges from well defined to worn smooth. The drop at comb is approximately 2″, drop at heel 3″. The cast is about neutral. LOP measures 14 1/4″ and 13 3/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a light patina with scattered oxidation, erosion and wear. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Damascus & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original to the parts, based on the different twist types used for the barrels, one of the barrel sets was likely fitted to the gun after the shotgun was originally made.
Bore Condition: The bores are gray with scattered erosion and pitting.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 40% of its metal finish. The 32″ barrel set has generally strong damascus patterning, showing scattered light wear and surface oxidation. The 24″ barrel set has mostly gone to a light patina with similar wear and oxidation. The receiver’s case color has mostly muted with some faint figuring visible on the water table, showing scattered surface oxidation and light wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the serial marking on the guard is partially obscured by wera. Overall, this shotgun is in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Each barrel set locks up to the receiver with minor play. The shotgun features dual triggers and an extractor. The action is opened using a lifter on the bottom of the receiver in front of the guard. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This Parker Brothers Under-Lifter Hammer gun comes to us from all the way back in 1880, early in Parker production. The earliest guns had an interesting mechanism with a release lifter on the bottom of the receiver paired with damascus steel barrels and exposed hammers. For a gun more than 140 years old, this example is in surprisingly good shape, showing some honest wear consistent with use as both a field and defensive gun. It is an interesting set with a 32″ damascus barrel set choked Full as well as a 24″ stub twist barrel set which is cylinder bore. This would have been quite the set back in 1880, able to do just about anything you would want out of a double gun. This set will make a great addition to any collection, especially an avid Parker collector. Please see our photos and good luck!