Parker Bros.

Parker Bros., also known at various times as Parker Brothers Manufacturing Company, Parker Brothers Guns, and Parker Bros. Shotguns, was an American firm almost exclusively producing shotguns from 1867-1942. During these years, approximately 242,000 guns were produced in various grades, and are widely considered the finest and most collectible American shotgun.

All Parker Guns are break-open style actions, and most were side-by-side double barreled designs, the remainder being single barrel guns intended for use in trap shooting.

For the first 20+ years of production, Parker Bros. used an exposed hammer design, but by 1888 the first hammer-less guns were offered for sale.

Parker guns were offered in 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 28 and .410 gauges. There is an experimental example known to have been produced in 18 gauge. All else being equal, the smaller the gauge the more scarce and valuable a Parker gun would be in today's world.

Parker guns were sold at various price points, the basic gun being the same design with the price increasing as production costs (engraving, fit and finish, quality of wood grain, barrel steel, etc.). These grades included: dollars grades, Trojan & VH through A-1 Special/ Invincible.

Parker Bros. started in Meriden, Connecticut. Founded as Parker Snow Co. by Charles Parker to produce rifles for the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

Parker guns were often seen as the gun of choice by celebrities including Annie Oakley, Frank Butler, Clark Gable, as well as the top ranked competition shooters of the day.

There is an active interest in Parker guns today, most visibly represented by the Parker Gun Collector's Association.

Johnson, Peter H. (1961). Parker, America's finest shotgun. New York: Bonanza Books. 260 pages.

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