VERY RARE PARKER BH GRADE DAMASCUS DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN.

Revised: 3/17/2008

(Additional Information) Please note that this is a “live bird” gun with factory 2-3/4” chambers and choked Imp Mod/Mod. Consignor states Damascus bbls have been professionally re-browned and retain most of their delicate Damascus pattern. Records also confirm Silvers pad as ordered from factory.

VERY RARE PARKER BH GRADE DAMASCUS DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN. SN 83855. Cal. 12ga. Wonderful Parker built on a No.2 frame with 30″ Damascus steel bbls, choked IMP-CYL/CYL with matted concave tapered rib, single bead, dolls-head rib extension, extractor and double triggers. The receiver is beautifully Gough engraved with extremely fine foliate arabesque patterns and a wide chain border. The left side has the vignette of two pointers on point, the right side two setters on point, and the floorplate with a running stag and hind. The trigger bow also has a running stag. The fences have a single raised rib around the back radius and are engraved with a flying duck on the left side and a partridge on the right side. It is mounted with very highly figured streaky marblecaked French or Carcassian walnut with checkered splinter forearm and straight stock with raised, checkered, fleur-du-lis side panels 14-1/4″ over a smooth solid red pad. Bottom of stock has a gold initial oval engraved with “C. S. B.” This shotgun will letter as found. Accompanied by a Parker records letter fully identifying this shotgun as having been ordered January 22, 1896 and shipped to Fred Gilbert of Spirit Lake, IA. The letter futher states that on April 17, 1896 it was sold to Parker salesman S. A. Tucker of Joplin, MO, and on March 9, 1897 was sent to the New York Exposition. On December 21, 1900 it was sent to Bassett and Reeves of New Haven, CT, on loan to Browny Robinson. And finally, on August 24, 1905 it was sent to the Parker Company’s New York office on loan to a Mr. Grerning and it’s price was listed at $200. Also accompanying is a copy of a five-page article which appeared in the January/February 2007 Shooting Sportsman Magazine by David Trevallion and J. E. Fender. This article goes into great detail about Mr. Gilbert’s life and how he became a Parker factory shooter. Mr. Parker was born in Spirit Lake, IA in 1865. Apparently, as a young lad, he hunted game for the table and market and continued into his early life until about age 30 when his prowess with the shotgun came to the attention of one of the world’s best known exhibition shooters, Tom Marshall, who apparently arranged an invitation for Mr. Gilbert to enter the 1895 World’s Pigeon Shooting Championship in Baltimore. Mr. Gilbert, beyond the occasional bit of market hunting saw no commercial end to his shooting skills, and, apparently, reluctantly entered this prestigious shooting event. In that day live pigeon shooting was the rage of the age, and champion shooters were treated like royalty similar to sports celebrities today. They traveled in private rail coaches with their own chefs and were sponsored by the various shotgun manufacturers as well as private individuals. If they were sufficiently skillful, they earned thousands of dollars annually and in some cases in single shoots. Mr. Gilbert entered this prestigious championship in the company of Tom Marshall, who was the salesman for the DuPont Powder Company which sponsored the event along with Capt. Adam Bogardus, J.A.R. Elliot, Annie Oakley, and other champions of the day. When the smoke had finally cleared on that fateful day, Mr. Gilbert had won the DuPont trophy with 25 straight kills after which he triumphed in a lengthy shoot-off to become Pigeon Shooting Champion of the World. Shortly after that he was employed by DuPont and the Parker Gun Company as their exhibition shooter. Apparently, Parker lost no time in making this shotgun for him but as the record shows he was unable to retain it for long. Mr. Gilbert went on to win every major and minor shotgun shooting championship in America and a lot of Europe, except for for the cast-iron metal which was the pinnacle of the trap-shooting world. He was never able to best J.A.R. Elliot who successfully defended it five times until it was retired in 1902. Mr. Gilbert defeated Elliot in a number of other shoots and even in a challenge shoot, but it, reportedly, rankled him that he was never able to win the cast-iron medal. Mr. Gilbert died on August 8, 1927 shortly after attending a trap-shooting event at his home club in Spirit Lake, IA. Throughout his career, he remained humble and was highly respected and loved by all he met, particularly Annie Oakley. Also accompanying is a five page article titled “The Wizzard of Spirit Lake” from an unknown publication which details much of Mr. Gilbert’s life and includes copies of published articles and a copy of a letter from Annie Oakley to Mr. Gilbert’s daughter. This beautiful shotgun is a living testament to the skill and workmanship of the Parker craftsmen who created a thing of beauty which will remain a testimonial not only to their skill but to the memory of an era that has past, never to be revisited. Specifications: Drop at the comb: 1-1/2″. Drop at the heel: 2-1/4″. Wall thickness: left .026, right .023. Bore diameter: left .752, right .752. Bore restrictions: left .028, right .018. Weight: 7 lbs, 8.0 oz. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. The bbls retain most of their beautiful delicate original brown Damascus pattern slightly thinned over the forearm area with a couple small spots of pitting near the muzzle on the right bbl. The receiver retains traces of case colors in the sheltered areas with the balance a silver-gray patina. There is a small splinter missing from the forearm, otherwise, the wood is sound with minor nicks and scratches and retains about all of a fine professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bores. 4-31989 JR263 (17,500-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008

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
	553	$20,700.00	Revised: 3/17/2008 (Additional Information) Please note that this is a “live bird” gun with factory 2-3/4” chambers and choked Imp Mod/Mod. Consignor states Damascus bbls have been professionally re-browned and retain most of their delicate Damascus pattern. Records also confirm Silvers pad as ordered from factory. VERY RARE PARKER BH GRADE DAMASCUS DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN. SN 83855. Cal. 12ga. Wonderful Parker built on a No.2 frame with 30″ Damascus steel bbls, choked IMP-CYL/CYL with matted concave tapered rib, single bead, dolls-head rib extension, extractor and double triggers. The receiver is beautifully Gough engraved with extremely fine foliate arabesque patterns and a wide chain border. The left side has the vignette of two pointers on point, the right side two setters on point, and the floorplate with a running stag and hind. The trigger bow also has a running stag. The fences have a single raised rib around the back radius and are engraved with a flying duck on the left side and a partridge on the right side. It is mounted with very highly figured streaky marblecaked French or Carcassian walnut with checkered splinter forearm and straight stock with raised, checkered, fleur-du-lis side panels 14-1/4″ over a smooth solid red pad. Bottom of stock has a gold initial oval engraved with “C. S. B.” This shotgun will letter as found. Accompanied by a Parker records letter fully identifying this shotgun as having been ordered January 22, 1896 and shipped to Fred Gilbert of Spirit Lake, IA. The letter futher states that on April 17, 1896 it was sold to Parker salesman S. A. Tucker of Joplin, MO, and on March 9, 1897 was sent to the New York Exposition. On December 21, 1900 it was sent to Bassett and Reeves of New Haven, CT, on loan to Browny Robinson. And finally, on August 24, 1905 it was sent to the Parker Company’s New York office on loan to a Mr. Grerning and it’s price was listed at $200. Also accompanying is a copy of a five-page article which appeared in the January/February 2007 Shooting Sportsman Magazine by David Trevallion and J. E. Fender. This article goes into great detail about Mr. Gilbert’s life and how he became a Parker factory shooter. Mr. Parker was born in Spirit Lake, IA in 1865. Apparently, as a young lad, he hunted game for the table and market and continued into his early life until about age 30 when his prowess with the shotgun came to the attention of one of the world’s best known exhibition shooters, Tom Marshall, who apparently arranged an invitation for Mr. Gilbert to enter the 1895 World’s Pigeon Shooting Championship in Baltimore. Mr. Gilbert, beyond the occasional bit of market hunting saw no commercial end to his shooting skills, and, apparently, reluctantly entered this prestigious shooting event. In that day live pigeon shooting was the rage of the age, and champion shooters were treated like royalty similar to sports celebrities today. They traveled in private rail coaches with their own chefs and were sponsored by the various shotgun manufacturers as well as private individuals. If they were sufficiently skillful, they earned thousands of dollars annually and in some cases in single shoots. Mr. Gilbert entered this prestigious championship in the company of Tom Marshall, who was the salesman for the DuPont Powder Company which sponsored the event along with Capt. Adam Bogardus, J.A.R. Elliot, Annie Oakley, and other champions of the day. When the smoke had finally cleared on that fateful day, Mr. Gilbert had won the DuPont trophy with 25 straight kills after which he triumphed in a lengthy shoot-off to become Pigeon Shooting Champion of the World. Shortly after that he was employed by DuPont and the Parker Gun Company as their exhibition shooter. Apparently, Parker lost no time in making this shotgun for him but as the record shows he was unable to retain it for long. Mr. Gilbert went on to win every major and minor shotgun shooting championship in America and a lot of Europe, except for for the cast-iron metal which was the pinnacle of the trap-shooting world. He was never able to best J.A.R. Elliot who successfully defended it five times until it was retired in 1902. Mr. Gilbert defeated Elliot in a number of other shoots and even in a challenge shoot, but it, reportedly, rankled him that he was never able to win the cast-iron medal. Mr. Gilbert died on August 8, 1927 shortly after attending a trap-shooting event at his home club in Spirit Lake, IA. Throughout his career, he remained humble and was highly respected and loved by all he met, particularly Annie Oakley. Also accompanying is a five page article titled “The Wizzard of Spirit Lake” from an unknown publication which details much of Mr. Gilbert’s life and includes copies of published articles and a copy of a letter from Annie Oakley to Mr. Gilbert’s daughter. This beautiful shotgun is a living testament to the skill and workmanship of the Parker craftsmen who created a thing of beauty which will remain a testimonial not only to their skill but to the memory of an era that has past, never to be revisited. Specifications: Drop at the comb: 1-1/2″. Drop at the heel: 2-1/4″. Wall thickness: left .026, right .023. Bore diameter: left .752, right .752. Bore restrictions: left .028, right .018. Weight: 7 lbs, 8.0 oz. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. The bbls retain most of their beautiful delicate original brown Damascus pattern slightly thinned over the forearm area with a couple small spots of pitting near the muzzle on the right bbl. The receiver retains traces of case colors in the sheltered areas with the balance a silver-gray patina. There is a small splinter missing from the forearm, otherwise, the wood is sound with minor nicks and scratches and retains about all of a fine professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bores. 4-31989 JR263 (17,500-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008 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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