Looking for Information

[greenTR6]

I am in possession of a percussion cap side by side shotgun and am trying to learn as much as I can about it. The sides of the hammer mechanism say "Parker", but I have been in contact with the Parker Gun Collectors website and they have informed me it does not appear to be a proper Parker. Also indicated that the proof markings on the barrel indicate it was manufactured in Birmingham, England. I know nothing of the history other than it came out of a farmhouse in southwestern Indiana.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Might just have a set of Parker sidelocks on it... also the Parker experts might be wrong. This looks like a pretty nice old fowling piece, but DON'T shoot it. Oil it up and put it on the wall.

Take lots of photographs of it, then visit a library with the photographs in hand. Do some SERIOUS research. You MIGHT find some information. That said, there were millions of shotguns made over the years and most of the manufacturers are out of business. Some of the more obscure ones are virtually unknown today... so when one turns up, it becomes a Great Mystery and is often never solved. If I had a dollar for every old shotgun that people brought into my store...

 

[oldwood]

Back action locks like the ones on this gun could be Belgian , and especially on a shotgun. I'm not an expert on the Proof marks on the underside of the barrel , but don't think they are English?? Someone here on the forum will know.

 

[TransYank]

You can google English proof marks and there is a lot of information on the web to date it. Looks to me like 1840's-70's English at least the barrels. My understanding (I'm no expert) is a lot of barrel makers made barrels for a lot of different supply houses to assemble their own private label shotguns. Think like ACE hardware, Sears & Robuck's, ETC. A lot of them added the words Fine Twist or English Twist down the center of the top rib.to look more high end. English steel was in high demand and was thought to be better quality. Every English SxS I have ever seen the barrels are Soldered and will come loose at times. Every Belgium one I've seen the barrels are Brazed and don't seem to come apart. Take the forearm off and scrape down the rib on the bottom of the barrel with a pocketknife. If you see brass or silver. Hope that helps.