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LOT 465
Extremely Scarce Factory Engraved Parker Brothers A1 Special Grade Double Barrel
Shotgun - Serial no. 154991, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1911 as the highest grade ever offered by Parker besides the three Invincibles, only 79 A1 Specials were manufactured during the Parker production run according to the production statistics on page 377 of the book “The Parker Story” of which 39 have Whitworth steel barrels and only 35 guns feature the combination of 30 inch barrels and 12 gauge chambering. “Parker Gun Identification and Serialization” verifies the grade, barrel length, capped pistol grip, and ejectors. Single bead sight on
the finely matted concave rib marked “PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN, CONN. WHITWORTH STEEL”, jeweled flats with “W” and “8” markings to signify the Whitworth Steel barrels and Grade 8 configuration, 2 3/4 inch chambers, automatic ejectors, and full chokes. The casehardened receiver is fully engraved with broad, leafy, floral and scroll patterns with decoratively relief engraved and sculpted fences, large “PARKER BROS” maker’s mark on the underside, “A1S/154991/8” and patent information on the jeweled water table, fancy pierced through trigger guard engraved to match, gold washed checkered dual
triggers, and automatic tang safety. Very nicely figured, fancy fleur-de-lis checkered splinter forearm and pistol grip stock with engraved fittings, checkered flats, hard rubber grip cap with inset, engraved gold initial plaque, and matching engraved skeleton buttplate over a fancy checkered bare butt. Barrel and stock measurements are: bore diameter at 9 inches from breech .735/.735 inch; bore constriction .040(full)/.040(full); minimum wall thickness .055/.055 inch; drop at comb 1 5/8 inches; drop at heel 2 1/2 inches; length of pull 14 1/8 inches.
According to "The Parker Story" by Gunther, Mullins, Parker, Price and Cote, only 35 Parker Bros. A1 Special shotguns were produced in this configuration.
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