Stolen Parker 12 and 20 gauge shotguns
 

I am a full-time prosecutor in Bourbon County, Kentucky near Lexington. Recently a prominent equine landowner informed me that two shotguns belonging to his father
and mother were stolen from the main residence in Bourbon County. His parents were
married in 1939, and the shotguns were gifts to the couple from a client. The 20 gauge
would have the initials W,W.H inscribed on the gun, and likewise A.B.H. was inscribed on
the 12 gauge. There is a reward offered for the recovery of these two firearms. I am
reaching out to collectors of Parker guns to see if anyone has knowledge of these two
shotguns. The owner did not have a record of any serial numbers.

I assume from a later post that these could be high grade guns worth searching for.

Will keep an eye out. Any other details about the guns? Grade? Engraving?

This is, I believe, AB "Bull" Hancock who was one of the most influential owners in the history if thoroughbred racing. Under his guidance Claiborne Farm, their family farm,owned, raced and bred some of the seminal horses of the 20th century. Secreteriat was a product of one of his sires.

Accoriding to Wiki, he fell ill while hunting in Scotland and subsequently died at Vanderbilt University Med Center. His wife established the Cancer Center at Vanderbilt in his honor.

He was a sportsman of the first order. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find that he was hunting with the Parkers on his final hunt.

Serial Numbers
 

I can;t believe their were not recorded serial numbers somewhere. For the past 71 years since I bought my first gun (No serial number on that Winchester Model 67 single shot .22) to today where records are on an Excell spreadsheet with copies printed and saved even my meager collection has been maintained with both Reciords and photographs. To me this is just being a responsible gun owner. If I was rich I would have someone else record them for me. My wife is always telling me I can't remember squat, but I have memorized several special gun serial numbers. Can't really argue with her on that.

Assuming that the guns were new when given as gifts there were not a lot of Parkers made from 1938 to 39. If by chance the family had any pictures at all possibly hunting with them etc. a grade might be able to be identified and a serial number range also identified.

Without Serial Numbers won't ownership be impossible to prove?
Bob Jurewicz

Good luck in your search. As the others say, the more information you give us, the more likely we'll see them

Possibly if a range could be identified there might be records asking for initial's to be engraved on the escutcheon which might help ID the serial numbers?
Possibly the family would be willing to pay for the research to do this if this is something the the PGCA would consider.
I sure dont even know if detailed records are avalible this late.

If I had horses with bloodlines producing the likes of Secretariat, I probably wouldn't be too worried about serial numbers on my Parkers. :envy: