Parker Brothers PT Grade (Plain Twist) 29 7/8 Inch 20 Ga. SxS Side by Side Hammerless Shotgun, Leg of Mutton Case, MFD 1906

LSB#: 141031MD51
Make: Parker Brothers
Model: PT Grade (Like Grade 0 with Plain Twist Steel Barrels) “Parker Gun Identification and Serialization” by Charles E Price and S.P. Fjestad
Serial Number: 142343
Year of Manufacture: 1906
Gauge: 20 Gauge, 2 ¾” Shells. This shotgun is sleeved. It was originally a 12 gauge shotgun but has been sleeved for 20 gauge shells. This modification removes its C&R status as it is no longer in its original configuration.
Action Type: Top-Break, Dual Trigger, Side By Side (SxS) with Auto Extraction
Markings: The sides of the receiver are marked “PARKER BROS”. The top rib is marked “PARKER BROS MAKERS, MERIDEN CONN. TWIST”. The left barrel flat is marked “W.K.” in an oval. The right barrel flat is marked “T C 42”. The barrel lug is marked “2”. The bottom tang is marked “142343”. The water table is marked “PAT’D JAN 18 1887 / MAY 7-OCT 8 1889 / PAT’D AUG 15 1905 / P 142343”. The rear of the barrel lug when looking at the chambers is marked “343”.
Barrel Length: 29 7/8” This shotgun has the wavy lines on the rib which stop a fraction of an inch from the muzzle as described in the Parker book. Also both barrels touch when looking down the muzzle end. These are both good signs to look for when looking for original barrels.
Choke: Cylinder-Skeet “Almost no constriction with our gauge.”
Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a brass bead front sight on a solid serrated rib. The serrations as mentioned above stop just after the sight bead leaving a gap of smooth steel between the serrations and the muzzle edge.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut. The buttstock is of straight English style. The fit of the wood to the metal is near perfect and is better than most new guns we see. There is a metal shield inlaid into the belly of the buttstock. There are only the faintest of handling marks on the stock. The LOP measures 14” from the front of the forward trigger to the back of the Parker Buttplate which rates in Excellent condition. The stocks rate in about Excellent overall condition. The Parker book describes this shotgun serial number to have been shipped from the factory with a capped pistol grip. However, it currently has a Straight English stock which the guns surrounding this serial number were said to have been shipped with. Either there was an error in the factory records or this gun was possibly sent back to Parker to have a straight stock installed or there was a fantastic gunsmith who did the flawless work.
Type of Finish: The receiver and forend hardware are beautifully case colored and the barrels are blue.
Finish Originality: Restored (This restoration was so superb, We missed it the first time) This may be a Del Grego Restoration.
Bore Condition: The bores are bright with a bit of gray haze. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 99% of its current metal finish. The balance of the finish shows only a tiny compression mark on top of the right bore 8” from the muzzle. It does not protrude into the bore. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Excellent condition. There are a couple of tiny pits on the bottom tang and top tang forward of the safety. As we mentioned before, this restoration job was so flawless that we couldn’t spot it the first time around.This may be a Del Grego restoration job as the work is nearly undetectable. This is one of the most beautiful Parkers we have seen.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this shotgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This shotgun comes in a Leg of Mutton Case which is marked “PATENTED / DEC. 17. 07 / SOF/ 30”. This patent date is just a year after the gun was produced. The case has many scratches and scuffs in the leather. The handle has separated on one side. The long leather strap is missing. The case rates in about Good condition.
Our Assessment: This Parker Brothers PH grade is just like the Grade 0 except it has Plain Twist barrels rather than Damascus. It is the most beautiful Parker Brothers we have seen. This shotgun is a very interesting example as it has a straight English stock though it was described from the factory as being shipped with a capped pistol grip. Also this has been sleeved to chamber 20 Gauge Shells. The work done to this shotgun looks so original that we would believe that this was sent back to the factory to have the stock fitted and the tang installed. Upon second review, we noticed a couple of small pits below the finish. The work done to this gun falls in line and is of the perfection of a Del Grego sleeving and restoration as we have mentioned previously. We spoke with Del Grego and they were unable to trace which guns have been through their shop but when the work was described to them they believed it has been at one time in their care. If you are looking for a beautiful Parker Brothers to set your collection over the top, this is the one that everyone will be looking at.