Originality and collectibility...

[Bruce Day]

People from the south can come and regularly do if they can put up with northerners.

That is a goose gun, not for small game. We have big geese out here. It uses steel shot and there have not been any reports of harm to the firing tube.

Its the same weekend as the PGCA Southern sxs. Southeast Nebraska. No vendors on site so your chances of buying the new Brit gun for $70,000 are a little slim.

bday@daylaw.us

[Richard Flanders]

Sounds like a perfect venue for my good friend with an ether-power spud gun that will shoot a baking potato over 300ft...

[Bruce Day]

If a person is wondering how the market treats restored guns versus original guns, take a look at pp 187,188 of the newly mailed Julia Auction Catalog.

A "desirable" original 12ga 30" DHE is estimated to go for $5000 to $8000.

An "outstanding" original 12ga 30" VHE is estimated to go for $5000 to $7,500.

A "wonderfully restored" 12ga 30" DHE is estimated to go for $3000 to $5000.

Julia's estimates are generally quite accurate.

So would it be a good financial return to buy say a 12ga DHE in silver frame condition for say $3000 then spend another $3000 for a professional stock refinish, get the frame re case colored, the barrels reblued, the gun spiffed up for a total investment of $6000?

[Bill Murphy]

Richard, back in the early nineties, when spud spitters were in vogue, we used them extensively at a range in Delaware where spud fall was not a problem. The thing to do was to hit a high four on the skeet range with a hand held spitter. A couple of guys actually got the job done a time or two but it sure took a bunch of missed targets for each one hit. Even the close misses were exciting. A spud gun on the skeet field will teach a shooter follow through for sure.

[Double Play]

Richard/Bill,
Those potato launchers were a lot of fun. A shot of hair spray, hit the lighter and watch it go. We used to try hitting crows with it. Mine was retired after I brought it to work one day and let an employee try it and it cost the company $800.00 in dental work.

[Wild Skies]

Bruce, the three examples you've referenced in the Julia catalog reinforces what you and other advanced collectors have been saying all along regarding originality and refinishing. Another gun listed, Lot 1216---a totally refinished 20-ga. DHE, 28" bbls., DT, SG, SPL, with a skeleton butt plate and good dimensions further illustrates that, the pre-auction estimate is $5500-$7500---which isn't all that much more than a comparable Repro. If this gun had it's original finish, it undoubtedly would bring 2 to 3 times than what it will in it's present refinished condition.

[Bruce Day]

Yes. That's the story and that's how the market treats restored guns and these are well done guns. If they are tiger striped case colors or otherwise a refinish that can be found fault with, the resale value is even less and in many cases, less than a silver framed original.

It doesn't matter whether it should be that way, doesn't matter how Brit guns are treated, it simply is, and the market is too big to change easily .

[C grade]

Bruce
That says it all
David

[Bill Murphy]

This "refinished Parker shotgun" is actually a good thing. A person who knows nothing about the Parker mystique can get into the vintage gun or Parker game for a reasonable amount of money and either shoot at vintage events or go hunting with the best gun on the market, guns with character. There are thousands of guys out there who don't know how to penetrate this secret society. Refinished guns are the way for them to do it. There are a whole covey of shooters in the gun clubs where I shoot that have been introduced to the use and ownership of Parker shotguns by me, Kevin McCormack, Paul Shields, Jon Swindle, and several others who have some knowledge of these guns. We all shoot non collectable Parker shotguns and know where to buy more.

[Bruce Day]

There is no secret society. All a person has to do is let it be known that he is looking for a particular gun, is serious, not a tire kicker and will step up and the opportunities will come.

We have had new collectors come in, make clear their committment to acquire at the upper levels and quickly reach that level. Those who demonstrate that they are always looking for a bargain, who back out of deals, or who otherwise demonstrate lack of seriousness, find it hard to get opportunities. Bidding at a James Julia auction or making a trip to Duluth hardly requires membership in any kind of a secret society.

For the others, maybe they are content with something else, or not able or willing to get the top end guns and that is fine. Everybody finds their level of committment. There is nothing about having a passion for Parkers that requires a person to prefer high condition guns. Some great friends of mine do not have anything more than a couple worn V's yet love the guns and enjoy their history.

There are serious buyers across the whole range of social and economic strata. Those with less resources just pick their acquisitions very carefully and fewer.