PARKER SAA GRADE - JUST HOW RARE?

[Bill Murphy]

Robin, I agree. Until we find an original or a catalog representation of an original, our website should not picture Runge upgrades in the "Grades" section. However, the Julia pictures may give the original poster an idea of what the original may look like. Thanks for the link. One thing we must consider is that the records are not complete, and there may be more than one original Grade SAA gun out there. What do you think of the Runge engraved Del Grego upgrade? These are wonderful guns and this AA single shows not only Runge's small scroll, but his gold inlay work.

[Sandy Brygider]

Thanks folks for all your information - guess I'll just shoot the old SC for now.

[Dean Romig]

Bill, do we know what the serial number of the SAA is? I find mention of it in The Parker Story but no serial number is listed. If it was made in the late Remington days, I guess Bob Runge certainly would know how to make the upgrade look.

[Bill Murphy]

Don't know the serial number. I guess it's time to scan the SB and find out. OK, I scanned back to 216,000 and didn't find it. I may have missed it I sure would like to find it.

[Snap Cap]

page 63 of the grades codes lists # 234562 as the first S7 trap gun as does page 583.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Fred.

[Bill Murphy]

OK, I see it. I missed it when scanning the SB. I assume no information on this gun since it is post-order book era and pre-IBM card era.

[Bill Murphy]

Or maybe there is some information. My files show that the gun was sold new by Abercrombie and Fitch, probably to Lynn Hunt of Bronx, New York, who returned it for credit to Parker Brothers in 1932 as credit on a new gun. Later, it appeared on loan from Murta Appleton in Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Sportsmans Show. From there, it disappears from view. Bob Beach may have more information about the original retail sale of the gun. Early owner Lynn Hunt, although also a New York resident at the time, was not Lynn Bogue Hunt, the famous wildlife artist. Previous research on another of Lynn Hunt's guns clarified that fact. Lynn Hunt was an ATA trapshooter of some repute.

[Bill Murphy]

The Julia Runge-DelGrego upgrade SAA single trap is safe at home with me. I haven't shot it yet, but plan to soon. It is one fine example of Parker craftsmanship. It came out of DelGrego's in 1972, the year Larry Sr. worked on my VH 28 and GHE 16 steel/Damascus gun. I guess maybe all three guns were in the shop at the same time. I sure would like to get a look at the #234,562 SAA.