Hello, all!
I've been lurking around here for at least a couple of years, gleaned all manner of information from the forum, and heartily enjoyed your stories and photos. It seemed as though I should at least introduce myself, say hi, and share a few photos of my own. I'm 51 years old and have worked in manufacturing most of my career. I got into the tool and die trade as a younger man and gradually moved on up the ladder, where I'm currently working as a cost estimator and process engineer with a major tier 1 automotive manufacturer. I've wanted a Parker since I was probably ten years old, but things just never seemed to work out in my favor. The old "day late and a dollar short" conundrum, but as another old saying goes, "even a blind hog finds an acorn ever' once in a while."
I currently own two Parker Trojans and they are working guns, without question. The 1920 16 gauge (#191938) is my go-to upland bird gun. It's short, light, and fits me as well as any shotgun I've ever shouldered. If grouse, woodcock, or ol' Bob are on the agenda, it's unlikely I'll be found carrying anything else. It's got the 2-1/2" chambers so I shoot the 2.5" H&H light game loads through it, which I've gone to buying by the case. Some well-meaning individual fitted new wood to this gun and refinished it at some point, which is sad but often found. The gun measures and patterns in the area of modified and improved cylinder, but there is no flat band showing on the rib ahead of the front sight. The barrels measure a perfect 26.0" so I'm wondering if this rib is one of those rare exceptions I've heard about that didn't originally have the flat? Doesn't really matter to me. It's not for sale and never will be as long as I'm in the picture.
Here's a side view that does a pretty good job of showing how far the gunsmith went with modifications. You can also see how worn the stock finish is, along with the most excellent pimp-grade buffing job done on the receiver.
The ubiquitous rib logo shot:
And a couple of "action shots" in case you're into that sort of thing:
My other is a recent acquisition, what appears to my untrained eye as an all original and mostly unmolested 1921 12 gauge. No. 195652 is a squirrel menace, as I see it, although many would consider it just your average, almost default-spec double built on a #2 frame with 30" barrels choked full and modified. The only finish remaining anywhere on the gun consists of a bit of color remaining on the hidden surfaces of the forend iron and likewise on the water table. Aside from those exceptions, everything's mostly blackened from light corrosion or bright, naked steel. This old gun had sat for so long that the extractor had gummed into place, which kept the action from opening more than just a crack. It took awhile, but I finally got the barrels off and soaking in solvent. After about twenty-four hours things started going my way and the old girl was soon back up and operational. It also has the 2.5" chambers and gets a steady diet of the short H&H sporting loads, as well:
This makes me happy:
Another action shot:
Another Trojan logo:
Those barrels just seem to go on nearly forever!
