"T.Parker" 10Ga. Dbl Barrel
I was visiting a friend last night and he was showing me what appeared to be a very old dbl barrel 10 ga. shotgun. The gun has been in a house fire and what little lettering that was stamped on it is now pretty hard to make out. However, with the aid of a magnifying glass, we were able to make out, on each of 2 side plates, "T.Parker". Then, also stamped into 2 seperate side plates, the word "Belgium". On the top of the barrels, in the center, and very near the very back, almost on top of the chamber area are the words, "Belgium Royal Damascus".
This gun has been passed down now through at least 3 generations and possibly 4. It has side mounted hammers. It also appears to have been pretty extensively engraved, but the fire pretty well took care of that as well.
If anyone can tell me anything about it, I certainly would appreciate it and will pass it on to my friend.
This gun has been passed down now through at least 3 generations and possibly 4. It has side mounted hammers. It also appears to have been pretty extensively engraved, but the fire pretty well took care of that as well.
If anyone can tell me anything about it, I certainly would appreciate it and will pass it on to my friend.
0
-
Trade name for a Belgian utility gun. Not worth much 100 years ago and not much more now. Lots of such names exist, but they bear no relation to the real names.
Nord0 -
I con-cur with Nord....This gun probably sold New for $12.00....Worthless except to someone looking for a piece or Part....and after the Roasting its had....I'd be very cautious about using anything from this Gun..........
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
Specifically, the gun was made by Henri Pieper who was a gunmaker in Belgium from c.1840 through about 1900 (with various family members assuming control at one point or another). The Pieper guns were known for ostentatious claims such as 'Royal Damascus' and one model in particular marked 'Grand Prize Paris Expedition 1889.'
Most of the Pieper guns were imported by Cornwall & Jesperson of New York, and then disseminated through various distribution and mail-order chains.
Some of the guns were fairly ornately decorated, but still do not bring an appreciable sum even in nice condition (except as decorators and to wierdo collectors like me). The fact its been through a fire makes it nearly worthless, unfortunately.
Scrappy Doo sleeps with the fishes.0 -
Obviously the information is not what I had hoped for, but I certainly do appreciate the speedy replies and the information. I just sent the info on to my friend. Hopefully it may save him some time and money before he attempts to restore the gun. Though knowing him as I do, I'm bettin it won't deter him much and he'll probably go ahead and make it a "project gun", if for no other reason than to keep it in the family and keep handing it on down the line. 0 -
If your friend plans to restore it, I hope he plans on using it as a decorator or wallhanger, not a shooter.
Many of these Belgian damascus-barreled shotguns were of dubious quality when new, and they certainly haven't improved over time.....especially after having been thru a fire.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments