2051

FINE & RARE 20 GA. PARKER AHE SHOTGUN WITH UNUSUAL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:22,500.00 USD Estimated At:45,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
FINE & RARE 20 GA. PARKER AHE SHOTGUN WITH UNUSUAL
ENGRAVING OF DEER ON SIDES AND RELIEF RENDERING OF DOG AND GAME ON TRIGGER PLATE, ESSENTIALLY "AS FOUND". Cal. 20 Ga. S# 184302. Bbl. 26". The Parker Story indicates that 44 20 Ga. AH guns were made with Acme Steel barrels; only 11 were 26". These bbls. have standard concave matted rib, marked with Parker Bros. address and “ACME STEEL”. There are bands of scroll engraving around breech ends. Bbl. flats have all correct markings and lumps are stamped with S#, ga. and frame size "0". Small sized, hammerless action with all correct markings on water table is nicely filed with single beads around fences. Top lever has filed in chevron at center. Action is engraved with typical well cut varying size scroll within scroll and geometric borders which surrounds unusual circular vignettes of antlered deer on sides. On left side a large buck drinks from river bank. Large semi relief trees are in background. On right side, what looks to be the same deer as alert and looking into open meadow from edge of woods. “PARKER BROS.” is in rectangle on both sides of forward part of action. Bottom of action is engraved with pair of pheasant. Trigger plate is engraved with what is most likely a specially ordered scene of quartering pointer retrieving wood cock in semi-relief. The execution of this dog is better than most work found on Parker guns, and is quite life like. Well detailed stalks of grass are in foreground, background is finely stippled. Trigger guard bow is engraved with small size scroll. S# is on tang. Lightly veined and somewhat figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14 1/8" over skeleton steel butt. Side panels are recessed and nicely checkered. Drop points are of well carved fleur-de-lis type. Closely spaced checkering continues over top of grip and is of intricate pattern with fleur-de-lis intrusions into comb. Hard rubber grip cap has large gold oval inlet into bottom which is engraved with the initials “DCA”. Matching splinter ejector forend has typical release, is near fully checkered and steel tip is nicely filed. 1901 Ejector patent date is on iron. DIMENSIONS: bore dia. left .619, right .617. Restrictions: left .024 Full?, right .012 Mod?. Min. Wall Thickness: left .022, right .021. DAH 2 9/16". DAC 1 7/16". LOP 14 1/8". Cast 0. WEIGHT: 5 lbs. 10 oz. CONDITION: very good overall, mostly original. Bbls. retain approx. 80-85% original blue with myriad of minor marks overall, silvering considerably at muzzles, thinning on sides, action retains a considerable amount, maybe 15%, original case hardening color where protected; but is mostly pewter gray with some light brown highlights. Engraving remains sharp and clear. Stocks retain a considerable amount of what appears to be original finish over numerous coats of newer applied oil as maintenance over the years. Surfaces exhibit a fair number of marks and scratches as well as dents; some fairly heavy, associated with a good amount of field use. There’s a fairly deep ding on right side bottom of grip at juncture of grip cap and wood. Checkering shows considerable wear and appears not to be recut with the exception of a small area on right side of grip above aforementioned ding where some checkering has been rerun. There is evidence of dent repair in left bbl. 11" from muzzle, otherwise bores are bright and shiny. Action has a touch of looseness with forend removed; tight and on face with forend installed. Ejectors are strong and in time. Gun matches all specifications as outlined in serialization leger, except that it’s listed as a non-ejector. A classy high grade small bore with great dimensions and few apologies. (21-281/MGM). MODERN. $45,000-60,000.