Am looking at a Parker Brothers double rifle in 45-90. I can not find any reference or information about it let alone a value. Anyone know anything about it??

PM member CptCurl. No nicer and more knowledgeable member of this forum.

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Possum—The other white meat!

I have never known Parker Bros of Meridian CT to make a double rifle. There is no mention of one I could find in The Parker Story

Could an aftermarket set of barrels been fitted to a Parker frame? Are the barrels marked "Parker Bros."? I am not familiar with what Parker might have offered in custom one offs, but I do know fitting aftermarket rifle barrels to high quality SxS shotgun frames was a thing at one time...

Larry

The barrels are marked Parker Brothers

It would not have been something in Parker’s normal product line, but who’s to say that it couldn’t have been a custom order for a wealthy or distinguished customer? There may be some features of the barrel structure or markings that might establish it as being made by Parker. What is its age?

Could be someone lined the barrels on the Parker. A gunsmith I worked with did tjay using a Merkel. Lined original barrels to 45-70. Shot very well with moderate loads.

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Have Canon, Will Travel

Interesting double rifle. Like the others above, it's a new one to me.

You might check the water table (the flat below the chambers) and see if it is serial numbered to the receiver.

It sure would go well with my collection of Parker shotguns.

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Keep your powder dry.

First, I want to thank 6518John for the kind endorsement. I’m not sure I can meet expectations as to the rifle mentioned by the OP.

I have spent a lifetime studying and collecting double rifles. Still, there is much to learn. My focus has been British and European double rifles. America seemed to excel with repeaters rather than doubles.

I never have pursued Parker guns and have scant knowledge of them. With the foregoing caveats I will say that I have never heard of nor seen a Parker double rifle.

There are gunsmiths who convert shotguns to double rifles. That’s not a practice I recommend. In all likelihood, the Parker mentioned by the OP is such a conversion. Detailed photographs would help make that determination. For safety and liability reasons, I would not want to own a conversion.

Curly

Pictures would be very helpful!

The Parker Gun Co records do exist.
The gun in question can be searched and how it left Meriden can usually be found.
There are some ser#'s that are missing and not retrievable in the records, but generally complete.

Parker did make a few 'Cape Guns' . One bbl a standard shot bbl, the other a rifle caliber.
There are a few 'drillings' around as well with the standard SxS shot bbls and a small bore rifle bbl planted on top of the shotgun bbl's.
The Factory records of those Drillings AFAIK usually shows that the gun left the Factory as a standard SxS shotgun. The conversion to the Drilling happening aftermarket.

There was a company in NewHaven Ct in operation at the same time as Parker was up and running in Meriden Ct.
That other company was making Auxillery rifle Bbl inserts.
I think Parker used that company to supply rifle cal inserts for special order Parker customers that wanted an CF rifle cal insert fitted as an option along with their Parker SxS shotgun.

AFAIK, when the Parker Story went to press (1996??) there where no known examples of a true Parker Factory built double rifle.
Maybe since that time one or more has come to the surface. I don't know.

It is not all that difficult to build aa DR on a SxS shotgun action. It's done all the time.
A 45-70 or 45-90 is a common caliber to choose for a large ga shotgun frame both for reducing weight (big hole,,less weight) and keeping psi down.
Using the orig top rib of part of it keeps the orig bbl address roll marking in tact as well as the signiture Parker top rib matting pattern.

Though both the roll marking address (there's more than one style) and the matting can be done with new roll dies and CNC mill cut. An expensive alternative.

Pics would certainly help.
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A trip over to the Parker Gun Collectors Forum with the info, pics and questions will draw a flury of comments.
Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums

If you can/want to post the serial number I'll look and see if it's in the serialization book. You can PM it as well if you wish.

Winchester made a 405 Win. chambered double rifle out of a model 21, so there is that. I guess you could say "within the realm of possibility".