Parker Brothers Hammerless Side-by-Side
Parker Brothers · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1889
Also known as: Old Reliable, Parker Trojan, Parker VH, Parker DHE, Parker A-1 Special
Overview
America's most famous side-by-side double, the Parker Brothers hammerless boxlock was built in Meriden, Connecticut, and offered across a wide grade ladder from the budget Trojan to the ornate A-1 Special. Known for its tight Purdey-underbolt and doll's-head lockup, graceful lines and fluid-steel barrels branded by grade, it remains the benchmark American classic double.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3345 g (118.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1143 mm (45.00") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Case Hardened |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12GA, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Action
- Safety mechanisms: Automatic Tang Safety
- Features: Side By Side, Hammerless Boxlock, Double Trigger, Purdey Underbolt, Dolls Head Rib Extension, Optional Ejectors
Variants
- Parker Brothers Trojan — Field Grade
- Parker Brothers VH — Field Grade
- Parker Brothers A-1 Special — High Grade
Production
Estimated total produced: 242,000 · Production years: 1866-1942
About 242,000-243,000 guns total across all grades; the VH grade alone exceeded 78,000.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1942
Notes
Parker Brothers made its first shotguns around 1866; hammerless boxlock models date from about 1889 and the VH grade from 1899. The gun line was acquired by Remington Arms in 1934, with production continuing in Meriden to 1938 then Ilion NY; the Parker name was discontinued around 1942. Weight, overall length and barrel length are typical-range approximations - figures varied by grade, barrel length and order. Also offered in 10, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410.
Background
Parker earned the affectionate nickname 'Old Reliable.' Charles Parker began making repeating rifles for the U.S. government during the Civil War, then turned to shotguns in 1866 with his sons - the Parker becoming America's most celebrated double, with the everyman Trojan at one end of the range and the near-bespoke A-1 Special at the other.