*EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE 20 BORE PARKER BROS. A

*EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE 20 BORE PARKER BROS. A – 1 SPECIAL GAME GUN. SN 163109. Cal. 20 ga. 2-7/8″ Chambers. This exceptional gun, the Holy Grail amongst Parker collectors, being only one of eleven 20 ga. A1 Special guns ever made, (4 with 32″ bbls) is in exceptional original condition, and has a unique history. The gun was shipped on July 16, 1913 to L. S. Chitterden in Hanford, CA, (Arthur DuBray was the salesman). Gun was later owned by a Mr. Kennedy in California, from whom it was stolen and later recovered, with the help of Larry Baer, noted Parker aficionado and author of THE PARKER GUN; AN IMMORTAL AMERICAN CLASSIC (one of the early publications on Parker guns, which helped spark interest in the collecting of Parker guns). Larry Baer eventually purchased the gun, and it later ended up in the hands of Tom Skeuse, owner and president of Reagent Chemical Co, makers of White Flyer clay targets for Winchester. He was another long time Parker enthusiast, who was responsible for reviving “The Parker Reproduction by Winchester”, and who used this particular A1 Special gun at Nilo Farms, Winchester’s shooting preserve. From there it went into another collection. Now the gun is offered here to continue its legacy. It has 32″ bbls engraved “Parker Bros. Makers, Meriden, Conn. Whitworth Steel” on matted, concave rib. Front sighting bead is of gold. There are 2-3/4″ triangles of semi-relief open scrolled acanthus engraving with floral highlights and stippled shading at breech ends, and a band of geometric engraving around muzzles. Engine turned bbl flats are stamped with Whitworth tube numbers 47539 and 47540, along with “W” (Whitworth), “4”, “JG” in oval cartouche, rough bbl weight (3 pounds 5 oz), and grade (8). SN is on left side of lump, with frame size (0) and a “B” on top of rear lump. Top surfaces of lump and loop are Damascened. Base of loop and extractors are engine turned. Case hardened action is nicely filed with three beads at the base of each fence, and with stepped down transition on opening lever which is pierced at thumbpiece. Trigger guard is also pierced with three shaped holes in bow. Water table is engine turned and stamped with Parker Bros patent information, “A1S” in lozenge, SN and grade. Triggers with checkered blades are gold-plated. Engraving is listed in Parker records as “flower and scroll” and is exceptionally deep, profuse, and beautifully cut; higher quality than many other illustrated Parkers engraved in this style. It has nearly full coverage of large open scrolled acanthus, near full relief carved, with fine stippled background. Acanthus is highlighted with a variety of blossoms. Borders and outlines have continuous geometric chain, all to very fine effect. Piercing of top lever is relief acanthus carved. Piercings of trigger guard bow are framed with more high quality scroll. SN is in raised relief in scroll terminated oval cartouche at grip. Exceptionally fine, beautifully marbled and flame figured Circassian walnut full pistol grip stock terminates in original scroll engraved skeleton steel buttplate, central exposed wood portion of which has double fleur-di-lis motif surrounded by fine checkering inside border. Grip transitions through serrated gold band to composition cap to large florally engraved central gold oval. A large intricately shaped rectangular gold plate is on toe line, and is engraved with initials “L. S. C.” as is specified in order book. Checkering is of classic A1 Special style with fleur-di-lis, piercing pattern, and similarly shaped checkered extensions into comb. Checkering has nearly continuous mullered borders. Side panels with fleur-di-lis drop points have fine (approx 36 LPI) deeply inset checkering with fleur-di-lis terminated ribbons through pattern. Matching splinter ejector forend is nearly full checkered, (specified in order book) with fleur-di-lis either end of Parker latch. Forend tip is nicely filed decorated and relief engraved. The inside of iron is engine turned. Bore diameter: left -.618, right -.617. Bore restrictions: left -.025, right -.015. Wall thickness: left -.023, right -.022. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz, LOP 14-3/4″. PROVENANCE: Factory letter with specifications of this gun. Larry Baer correspondence with Mr. Kennedy regarding the purchase of his gun and his help in its recovery after being stolen. Larry Baer’s evaluation of the gun. Photocopy of 1987 GUN DIGEST HUNTING ANNUAL with this gun on cover. Sept 1966 GUNS & AMMO with similar 12 ga. on cover. This particular gun also appears in many copies of the DOUBLE GUN JOURNAL as part of the advertisement for THE PARKER STORY. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 70 – 80% orig blue, silvered at muzzles, along sharp edges of rib, and considerably on engraving at breech end to a very pleasing effect, with thinning overall. All damascening and engine turning are original. Action retains most of its orig case hardening color, actual percentage is difficult to determine because of depth of engraving, but is particularly strong in front of trigger guard bow and below fences, especially on right side of action. Stocks retain nearly all of a very fine hand rubbed oil finish, over a few large and some small marks and dings. Checkering expertly freshened. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny with some flecks, and evidence of dent removal in right bbl 12″ from muzzle. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. A truly exceptional investment grade American classic. 4-46655 MGM154 (125,000-175,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2540	$166,750.00	EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE 20 BORE PARKER BROS. A – 1 SPECIAL GAME GUN. SN 163109. Cal. 20 ga. 2-7/8″ Chambers. This exceptional gun, the Holy Grail amongst Parker collectors, being only one of eleven 20 ga. A1 Special guns ever made, (4 with 32″ bbls) is in exceptional original condition, and has a unique history. The gun was shipped on July 16, 1913 to L. S. Chitterden in Hanford, CA, (Arthur DuBray was the salesman). Gun was later owned by a Mr. Kennedy in California, from whom it was stolen and later recovered, with the help of Larry Baer, noted Parker aficionado and author of THE PARKER GUN; AN IMMORTAL AMERICAN CLASSIC (one of the early publications on Parker guns, which helped spark interest in the collecting of Parker guns). Larry Baer eventually purchased the gun, and it later ended up in the hands of Tom Skeuse, owner and president of Reagent Chemical Co, makers of White Flyer clay targets for Winchester. He was another long time Parker enthusiast, who was responsible for reviving “The Parker Reproduction by Winchester”, and who used this particular A1 Special gun at Nilo Farms, Winchester’s shooting preserve. From there it went into another collection. Now the gun is offered here to continue its legacy. It has 32″ bbls engraved “Parker Bros. Makers, Meriden, Conn. Whitworth Steel” on matted, concave rib. Front sighting bead is of gold. There are 2-3/4″ triangles of semi-relief open scrolled acanthus engraving with floral highlights and stippled shading at breech ends, and a band of geometric engraving around muzzles. Engine turned bbl flats are stamped with Whitworth tube numbers 47539 and 47540, along with “W” (Whitworth), “4”, “JG” in oval cartouche, rough bbl weight (3 pounds 5 oz), and grade (8). SN is on left side of lump, with frame size (0) and a “B” on top of rear lump. Top surfaces of lump and loop are Damascened. Base of loop and extractors are engine turned. Case hardened action is nicely filed with three beads at the base of each fence, and with stepped down transition on opening lever which is pierced at thumbpiece. Trigger guard is also pierced with three shaped holes in bow. Water table is engine turned and stamped with Parker Bros patent information, “A1S” in lozenge, SN and grade. Triggers with checkered blades are gold-plated. Engraving is listed in Parker records as “flower and scroll” and is exceptionally deep, profuse, and beautifully cut; higher quality than many other illustrated Parkers engraved in this style. It has nearly full coverage of large open scrolled acanthus, near full relief carved, with fine stippled background. Acanthus is highlighted with a variety of blossoms. Borders and outlines have continuous geometric chain, all to very fine effect. Piercing of top lever is relief acanthus carved. Piercings of trigger guard bow are framed with more high quality scroll. SN is in raised relief in scroll terminated oval cartouche at grip. Exceptionally fine, beautifully marbled and flame figured Circassian walnut full pistol grip stock terminates in original scroll engraved skeleton steel buttplate, central exposed wood portion of which has double fleur-di-lis motif surrounded by fine checkering inside border. Grip transitions through serrated gold band to composition cap to large florally engraved central gold oval. A large intricately shaped rectangular gold plate is on toe line, and is engraved with initials “L. S. C.” as is specified in order book. Checkering is of classic A1 Special style with fleur-di-lis, piercing pattern, and similarly shaped checkered extensions into comb. Checkering has nearly continuous mullered borders. Side panels with fleur-di-lis drop points have fine (approx 36 LPI) deeply inset checkering with fleur-di-lis terminated ribbons through pattern. Matching splinter ejector forend is nearly full checkered, (specified in order book) with fleur-di-lis either end of Parker latch. Forend tip is nicely filed decorated and relief engraved. The inside of iron is engine turned. Bore diameter: left -.618, right -.617. Bore restrictions: left -.025, right -.015. Wall thickness: left -.023, right -.022. Drop at heel: 2-1/2″, drop at comb: 1-9/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz, LOP 14-3/4″. PROVENANCE: Factory letter with specifications of this gun. Larry Baer correspondence with Mr. Kennedy regarding the purchase of his gun and his help in its recovery after being stolen. Larry Baer’s evaluation of the gun. Photocopy of 1987 GUN DIGEST HUNTING ANNUAL with this gun on cover. Sept 1966 GUNS & AMMO with similar 12 ga. on cover. This particular gun also appears in many copies of the DOUBLE GUN JOURNAL as part of the advertisement for THE PARKER STORY. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain 70 – 80% orig blue, silvered at muzzles, along sharp edges of rib, and considerably on engraving at breech end to a very pleasing effect, with thinning overall. All damascening and engine turning are original. Action retains most of its orig case hardening color, actual percentage is difficult to determine because of depth of engraving, but is particularly strong in front of trigger guard bow and below fences, especially on right side of action. Stocks retain nearly all of a very fine hand rubbed oil finish, over a few large and some small marks and dings. Checkering expertly freshened. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny with some flecks, and evidence of dent removal in right bbl 12″ from muzzle. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. A truly exceptional investment grade American classic. 4-46655 MGM154 (125,000-175,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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