New to the forum from Chicago, but my Uncle Richard Flanders is a long time user
 

Hello everyone,
I was very happily inducted into the world of Parker Shotgun ownership back in May of last year. My Uncle Richard was kind enough to pass on the Parker that had originally belonged to my Grandma onto me. Unfortunately for me though I live in the Chicago suburbs, I know I know, and there are not any outdoor shotgun ranges near me. So it took me a long time to finally get to shoot it, but over this last Christmas I got my chance to take it back to my mother's farm and try her out. It may not have been a proper demonstration of it's capabilities, being that we only had water bottles to throw up in the air and shoot at, but I loved it! This little 20g fits me so perfectly, I must be similarly sized to my Grandma. Although I never got to meet her, because she passed many years before I was born, I can at least have something close to me that meant a lot to her. I may have missed a few shots out of the 50 shells I went through, but I definitely blame myself and not the Parker! I am out of practice and plan on working on that at a little outdoor range I just discovered about an hour from my house. https://i.ibb.co/1vTw9sn/Ruffie-from...-9-28-06-o.jpg, https://i.ibb.co/L09tJc2/Spruce-grouse-10-07-11-o.jpg https://i.ibb.co/wSbn2GN/IMG-3506-o.jpg
Here are just a few pictures from my Uncle, they may have been posted here before though. And I took a few videos of me shooting it too. You can view the Youtube playlist here. I plan on cherishing this shotgun for the rest of my life, and passing it onto one of my own children some day. Thank you again Uncle Richard for letting me be a part of this family history. It is wonderful to meet you all!

Welcome Ruth! Great to have you here

Thank You for your post and welcome, Ruth. Extremely heart warming testimonial for keeping certain special family heirlooms, in the family. Good shooting too!!!!!

I had a cousin that lived in Glencoe and would take me to shoot skeet some 52 years ago when I was on boot camp leave. Unfortunately he is dead and I have no idea of the name. It was fun watching you shoot the bottles. All the Best, Harry

Hi Ruth -

Any friend (or relative) of Richard’s is a friend of ours!!


And what a great little heirloom too. We hope you can get out and shoot it more and perhaps a few walks in the woods with it will allow you to use it for the purpose it was made - putting fresh, non-GMO, meat on the table.





.

Good Job Ruth!

Ruth I have a friend who lives in a I believe Antioch just north of Chicago. I'm probably spelling it wrong but he goes to a preserve not far from him and I could find out it's name and location for you if you wish.

Richard and I have hunted together several times when he was home during Thanksgiving. You have a special Parker there and a lasting legacy. Welcome to the forum.

I'm happy for you!
I can see the serial numbers in the first picture, maybe someone can give you some information on it. 236007

Your Uncle Richard gave you a very special gift and I am so glad you cherish it as he hoped. Rich and I have hunted with your Uncle a few times when he made it back to Michigan hopefully we can do it again and maybe you could join us. Just a thought !

Welcome Ruth. We're practically neighbors as I live in Wilmette. We're going to have to shoot some clays together. Sounds like you already found a place. I've been going to the Winchester Gun Club near Racine, nice little facility, its about an hours drive.

Also you need to come out to Pheasant Fest at the Schaumburg Convention Center the weekend of Feb 22,23,24. There will be 40+ Parkers on display and you'll meet a bunch of very knowledgeable PGCA members. Hope to see you there!

Hi, Ruth,

Welcome to the Forum, and congratulations on your "new" Parker. I'm pretty sure that we have been introduced to you in a way by posts from Richard, but in any event, I hope you enjoy your new gun and get lots of opportunities to shoot it. You have already had some good tips on some ways to connect more with the vintage gun shooting community. I hope you can find a good buddy or two to discuss your gun your new, developing passion for Parkers. I know you can come to "know" some of us through this Forum. There are lots of knowledgeable, good-hearted folks just a click away.

Thank you so much everyone for your heartwarming welcome! I am not sure how to reply to people directly in the thread so I am going to private message those of you who offered to help me find some nice places to shoot near me. I am getting a new camera soon for work so I will be uploading some pretty photos at some point too. Plus it is supposed to be a fantastic low light video recorder too so hopefully I can get some nicer videos shooting at something other than water bottles! Thanks again everyone and I am happy to be a part of this world.

Your uncle Rich is one of my favorite hunting partners, I have seen your Parker many times and knew that he was saving it for you. Rich is a special and gifted person. Come meet his friends at Pheasant Fest February 22-24 in Schaumburg. Second floor by the stairs.

Rich and Charlie Herzog west of Broadus Montana by the Wolf Mountains and following the trail Crazy Horse took from the Rosebud battle to the Little Bighorn Valley.

Not sure if anyone noticed, but this VHE20 I gave to Ruth does not have "Parker Bros" engraved on the side of the receiver. It's not on the bottom either. It's a 1931 gun. Strangely enough, I never noticed this myself until Ed Muderlak was at my house and brought it to my attention. Does anyone else have one like that?

That is what's known as a "transition gun" but yours is kind of early to be lacking Parker Bros. or Parker on the frame. We generally see that on 1933/34 guns.
Perhaps the serial numbered 'barreled action' for some reason, was not completed until during the transition years when Remington and Parker were striking the deal.

I have seen a few like that. A friend owns 236199 a beautiful GHE 16 with loads of condition that has no Parker Bros. or Parker on the exterior of the frame at all but the barrel rib legend is typical for a late Parker Bros. GHE.

Incidentally, I attribute the engraving on 236199 to young Robert Runge.


.

Roger that Dean. I was aware of that. My other transition gun has PARKER engraved on the bottom and nothing on the sides. This one has the normal rib legend. It's embarrassing that I never even noticed the lack of it on the sides for all those years! That is a nice G grade you posted here.

Wish it was mine! I made a very reasonable offer about 12 years ago. He knows I want it so the ball’s in his court.





.

Yes. You must be SURE to go to PheasantFest! Be sure to visit at length the PGCA booth. You will come away with a wealth of knowledge and quite probably a few new friends.

Richard, I have two. Both 20 ga., VHE 235964, PHE 235972. Strangely enough I had owned the VHE for almost 35 years, was sitting on a dove stool waiting for the afternoon flight, when I noticed the lack of markings on the frame. The barrels had the typical markings.