The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Parker Brothers

Drawing of railway tracks beside workshops and houses in Meriden.
Drawing: Meriden beside the railway.

Origins

Parker Brothers grew from Charles Parker's gun and machine works in Meriden, Connecticut, in the United States.1, 2 On 29 January 1869 Charles received Meriden Manufacturing Company's land, buildings, machinery and inventory.1 Around that time he renamed the works Parker Brothers, after his sons Wilbur, who ran the operation, and Charles Eddy, who headed sales.1, 3 The works stood on Cherry Street beside the railway.4

In late 1888 Parker completed its first production hammerless gun.5 On 15 June 1934 Remington bought the shotgun business with its finished guns, parts and machinery.6 In December 1937 Remington closed the Meriden works and moved the remaining inventory, selected machinery and fewer than twenty workers to Ilion, New York.2 Regular Remington-Parker production and assembly ended there in 1942.2

Factories and partners

Parker's Meriden gun works occupied the Cherry Street premises built in 1854 for the machine works and foundry of Snow, Brooks & Co.4 The operation took the Parker Brothers name about fifteen years later.4 After closing the Meriden works in December 1937, Remington moved the remaining inventory and selected machinery and workers to Ilion.2

Parker Gun Works was later a division of Remington Arms Company in Ilion.7 Its order form offered an AHE in under conditions effective from December 1987.8, 9 The AAHE was offered exclusively through Remington.10, 11

Drawing of a canal and towpath passing workshops in Ilion beneath the wooded slopes of the Mohawk Valley.
Drawing: Ilion in the Mohawk Valley.

Timeline

29 January 1869

Charles Parker receives Meriden Manufacturing's property; the Parker Brothers name follows around this time.1

Late 1888

Parker completes its earliest production hammerless shotgun.5

1889

Parker adds H to catalogue grade letters to distinguish hammerless guns.12

1890

Parker adds the PH hammerless grade.13

1901

King and Hayes receive a patent for selective automatic .14

1912

Parker adds the Trojan grade.15

1917

Parker introduces its single-barrel line.16

1926

Parker begins .410 production.17

1927

Parker drops the PH grade.13

15 June 1934

Remington buys the Parker shotgun business.6

December 1937

Remington closes the Meriden works and transfers the gun operation to Ilion.2

1939

Remington ends Trojan production.18

1942

Regular Remington-Parker production and assembly end.2

1 December 1987

Remington's order conditions for the AHE take effect.9, 8

Families and models

The Parker hammerless line began in late 1888.5 The early hammerless grades ran from AH to GH.12 PH followed in 1890 and stayed in the line until 1927.13 Parker went on offering its guns after it introduced the hammerless design.12

The Trojan entered the range in 1912 and ended under Remington in 1939.15, 18 Parker introduced single-barrel trap guns in 1917, marking them with an S before the usual grade designation.16 Regular production and assembly at Ilion ended in 1942, although occasional guns were assembled or refurbished for retiring Du Pont or Remington officials.2

Reading the names and numbers

Parker's numbered grades generally rise with embellishment and price.19 In a grade name H means hammerless and E means ejectors, as in AAHE.20 Because Parker accepted custom orders, an individual gun can differ from its grade's usual configuration.21

VH is Grade 0 and PH is Grade 1.22, 23 GH and DH are Grades 2 and 3.24, 25 CH, BH and AH are Grades 4, 5 and 6.26, 27, 28 AAH is Grade 7, A-1 Special Grade 8 and Invincible Grade 9.20, 29, 30

Marks

Parker's grade usually appears on the above the serial number.31 The frame size appears on the bottom of the barrel lug.32 Most Remington-Parkers carry Parker beneath the frame behind the and lack Parker Brothers on the frame sides.33 A Remington repair code on the records the month and year of a repair but not the work done.34

The Parker Gun Collectors Association indexes surviving factory records and offers research letters.35 Its research uses copies of the original factory books and Remington-era IBM cards.36, 37 The order books cover January 1877 to November 1919, with gaps.38 An IBM card can give the shipping date alongside the recorded , barrel length, grade and options.39 Research letters report the recorded gauge, grade, barrel length and configuration.37

Drawing of the action of an over-and-under shotgun.
Drawing: Detail of an over-and-under action.

Sources

  1. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Brothers name. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  2. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Ilion transfer. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  3. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Charles Eddy. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  4. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Works continuity. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  5. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Hammerless debut. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  6. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Sale. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  7. Parker AHE order form, Works. Remington Arms Company, 1987. maker catalogue
  8. Parker AHE order form, Configuration. Remington Arms Company, 1987. maker catalogue
  9. Parker AHE order form, Effective date. Remington Arms Company, 1987. maker catalogue
  10. Parker AAHE 28-gauge brochure, Configuration. Remington Arms Company. maker catalogue
  11. Parker AAHE 28-gauge brochure, Offer. Remington Arms Company. maker catalogue
  12. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Letters and grades. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  13. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, PH dates. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  14. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Ejector patent. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  15. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Trojan debut. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  16. Parker grades, Single barrel trap. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  17. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, First small bore. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  18. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Trojan end. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  19. Parker grades, Grade scale. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  20. Parker grades, AAH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  21. Parker grades, Custom orders. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  22. Parker grades, VH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  23. Parker grades, PH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  24. Parker grades, GH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  25. Parker grades, DH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  26. Parker grades, CH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  27. Parker grades, BH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  28. Parker grades, AH. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  29. Parker grades, A1. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  30. Parker grades, Invincible. Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  31. Intro to the Parker Gun – 101, Grade position. Robin Lewis / Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  32. Intro to the Parker Gun – 101, Frame position. Robin Lewis / Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  33. The Parker Gun: Its History and Evolution, Remington marks. Louis C. Parker III / American Society of Arms Collectors, 2004. magazine
  34. Intro to the Parker Gun – 101, Remington repairs. Robin Lewis / Parker Gun Collectors Association. magazine
  35. Parker research letters, Letter service. Parker Gun Collectors Association. maker website
  36. Parker research letters, Original records. Parker Gun Collectors Association. maker website
  37. Parker research letters, Report contents. Parker Gun Collectors Association. maker website
  38. Coverage of Parker factory records, Order books. Parker Gun Collectors Association. maker website
  39. Coverage of Parker factory records, IBM cards. Parker Gun Collectors Association. maker website

Revised 2026-10-14