Old Beauty - too pretty?

[Mike Franzen]

For me, if it’s a “Family” gun it never gets sold. I say with the caveat life or death type situations might make me break that rule. It would be tough for me to enjoy it fully in the shooting mode knowing that I’m depreciating the value. There are plenty of other guns to shoot. Yours is special in that it has a lot of original condition. A good goal would be to become an expert in preservation.

[6pt-Sika]

I understand if a person buys a higher grade and/or high condition gun and chooses not to shoot it much if at all . And that’s perfectly their right . But I am of the opinion , if I buy it I’m gonna shoot it . Granted High grade high condition guns will most likely be relegated to clay targets or very carefully in the Dove field .

[Daniel G Rainey]

You married well ! What more could one want in a MOTHER-IN-LAW.

[Randy Roberts]

That's a real nice gun Scott. You're gonna have to figure out what works best for you on the shoot/don't shoot topic. We all have an opinion. For me I used to collect and had a bunch of unfired boxed guns. It was neat for a while and I enjoyed it but eventually grew out of that phase. Now there is nothing in the gun world so sacred or valuable that I will not hunt with or shoot. I am careful and I avoid the rain. I always take a modern gun on hunting trips for those rainy days and it works for me. So far I have not marred any of mine to any extent at all really. If that gun or any other had been in my family I would have to keep it. I have some of Dads old guns that I may never shoot again but I will keep them and hand them down in some fashion. Enjoy it and welcome aboard !

[Craig Budgeon]

Scott go shoot a round of sporting clays with the gun. You have preserved this gun for 33 years, you have the right to determine its future. I'm sure many forum members would pay retail to acquire your D grade.

[Garth Gustafson]

Scott,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on owning that stunning DHE! With the high gulf humidity and condition of your gun, I would recommend keeping it in a gun safe or cabinet with a dehumidifier. Also, be sure to insure that gun for full value.

[C.O.B.]

I certainly wouldn't hunt the salt marshes with it for ducks but I would shoot clays and upland birds with it. Just be careful with it and wipe it down good after each use and it will be fine.

Dean we have a tutorial on ethics?? I guess I missed that one

[Alfred Greeson]

Wow! Great Gun and a wonderful story with it. As Rhett Butler said of Scarlet in Gone With the Wind, "What a Woman!" Give that lady a hug for all the Parker collectors!

[Brush Buster]

A very nice gun Scott , and being a Family Gun ,I would hang onto it also but as far as shooting it ,as they say that's what they were made for ! I surely wouldn't do the Salt Marshes but I would buy some Low Pressure ammo to make sure the recoil was low in consideration of the almost 100 year old wood and shoot clays or an occasional preserve hunt where I didn't have to worry about tripping on loose stones ,moss etc and falling on it ! I have two guns I hunt like this one day a year for each gun and the rest of my days afield are with lesser guns which in their own ways are just as nice and really more fun to carry !

[mobirdhunter]

Scott,

What a great gun! You've read the range of opinions on whether, when, how and where to use a gun like this. I would just add to be sure to enjoy your gun, however you use or keep it. Once you figure out what you'll do, then respond with your opinion the next time someone asks the same (very appropriate) question...