The side-by-side, double-barrel shotgun you see here is one of the icons of American gunmaking.
It’s a Parker Bros A.H.-quality with ejectors (which makes it an A.H.E.) and ACME fluid steel barrels. Back when it was built in 1917, it was Parker’s third-best gun, two down from the top-of-the-line A1 Special and a single step below the company’s famous AAH-quality shotguns.
As you can imagine, it was expensive in its day. It cost more than most guys took home in six months, and that’s one big reason why Parker only built a total of 306 AH-grade shotguns. They were just too expensive for most folks.
But if you had the money ($250 in the 1920s), you could buy yourself a great looking gun.
VERY RARE AH GRADE PARKER 12 GAUGE SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN: Gun features a 30 inch barrel with an unusual 2 Ivory beads on it. Choked improved cylinder and modified. AH stamp on the water table as well as a number 6. 175k serial range. Original straight grip stock measuring 14-5/8 inches to the end of the Josten pad. Excellent condition with most original varnish. Sharp checkering. It has a gold inlaid unused inscription plate in the stock. This Parker is in beautiful shape with 85-90% bright case colors on the frame. Bottom of the receiver retains just traces of case color. The trigger guard is nicely engraved with a dog and has traces of blue remaining. Bottom of the receiver has a beautifully done dog with a bird in it’s mouth and a running deer. Both sides of the receiver are game scene engraved. Quite delicately done. Gun has the correct splinter forearm as well automatic ejectors. Also has the correct barrel markings “Acme Steel” on top of the rib. Overall this just a great gun. This is the 3rd A grade I have bought this week. This one came from an estate out of Fargo North Dakota. It has been identified in the Parker gun identification and serialization book having all the mentioned features. Has never been on the market before. Gun weighs 7pounds 5 ounces. Price: $ 41,500.
