This BHE was ordered by Frank Butler in 1903 and offered by James Julia auctions in 2009. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Weight: 7 lbs. 9 oz. LOP 14-1/4".
SN 117432. Cal. 12 ga. 24-3/4" bbls, matted tapered concave rib, dual brass sighting beads, 2-3/4" chambers, CYL/CYL chokes, ejectors and double triggers. There is no provision for a safety. The top rib of bbl is marked "Parker Bros. Makers. Meriden. Conn. Titanic Steel". The "2" size frame bears unique special order engraving on each side with classic hunting vignettes of "Little Sure Shot" dressed in her traditional wide-brimmed hat and flowing skirt posed with a gunning dog framed in a circle and surrounded by scroll work. Game birds appear in smaller circles just down range with one bird in each scene appearing to be mortally wounded. "Parker Bros" is engraved in flowing banners along side. The trigger plate features a scene with majestic stag and flighted birds surrounded by scrolls. There is single incised rib behind each fence with the balance a foliate Arabesque scroll. Mounted with fine nicely figured walnut, checkered side panels with fleur-de-lis dropper points, checkered ball grip with gold initial oval engraved with monogram "HCW" (unknown, obviously initials of a later owner), Pachmayr vented brown white line recoil pad and checkered splinter forend with finely engraved appended metal. Bore diameter: left - .733, right - .733. Bore restrictions: left - .000, right - .000. Wall thickness: left - .037, right - .033. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Weight: 7 lbs. 9 oz. LOP 14-1/4". "Parker Gun Identification and Serialization" book identifies gun as T15 which is a grade 5 with Titanic bbls, ejectors, 12 ga with 30" bbls and pistol grip. This unique firearm is pictured in the "The Parker Story" on pg 639 and suggests the gun was probably ordered by someone who greatly admired Ms. Annie. At the time of this article all the factory records had not yet been discovered and the records for this specific gun were not found, thus the assumptive tone of the article. Since this article, additional original factory records have been found and a recent request from PGCA produced a factory letter which reveals and confirm the shotgun was ordered on Feb 21, 1903 by Frank E. Butler (Annies husband)and sent to 18 Broadway New York (Welles Bldg). The gun was further specified with 4 1/2" ball grip, Silvers pad and no safety. Stock LOP: 14 1/8", Drop at Heel: 2 1/4" and WT: 7 1/2 - 7 3/4 lbs. The price was $200 plus $25 for ejectors and $4 for the Silvers pad. A credit of $200 was allowed for gun #107950 (BH 12/30).
