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Brad Steinfeld
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 10:49 am |
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Good morning Gentlemen.
Would anyone care to give me a general estimate what the realistic cost's would be to finish out a gun such as Tony Galazan's A-1 special that he sells for around $6k in the White?
Obviously the engraving cost's can run gammut but what I'm really curious about is what is the entry level range for a reputable engraver to do the job in a manner that would fit this gun.
Thanks once again for the insightful info that has this BBS has always provided from the perspective of a realitive newbie Parker devotee.
Brad
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 11:20 am |
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| As you already know, "it depends". If you are intent on recreating a proper "A-1 Special" in the factory mode as I would be, expect little change from $4-5000 including metal finishing. Upgrading and commissioning engravers is a bit like Morgan's (or was it Vanderbilt...) famous comment on yachts, "If you have to ask , you can't afford it." Visit http://www.geoffroygournet.com, Geoffroy knows more about engraving Parker Repros than anyone, ask him. Last edited on Fri Oct 7th, 2005 11:21 am by Don Kaas
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 01:05 pm |
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| GG is the only choice because he was the "factory" engraver for Mr. Skeuse. Can anyone on this site post the pictures from the Repro catalogs that picture Mr. G's A1 Specials? I have the catalogs but don't know how to do the pictures. I can't even send them to someone since my scanner is on the fritz.
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 01:10 pm |
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| Bill- "Jeff-free" has plenty of Parker pictures on his website under "Parkers"...surprisingly enough...
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Greg Connors
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 02:48 pm |
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| I assume he did not engrave each gun personally...that would be something like 11,000 guns in a realitvely short span.
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Bruce Day
PGCA Member
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 02:57 pm |
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Greg, only the few Parker Repro A-1 Specials were engraved. The others( D grades) were roll stamped. That is a minus factor with them. The roll stamping is shallow and wears with handling.
Still, they are well made guns and handle nicely depending upon configuration so I'm not denegrating them, just pointing out a difference over original Parkers.
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Bill Murphy
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 03:00 pm |
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| Greg, the bulk of the Repros including the "catalog A1s" were engraved by less than human labor. The guns Don and I refer to are the Custom A1s and other Customs that were marketed at other than "catalog prices" by Mr. Skeuse. Such guns are pictured in the catalog folders and, as Don mentions, on Mr. Gournet's website. There is a world of difference. Mr. Gournet definitely personally engraves everything that bears his name, and, no, he did not engrave 11,000 guns nor did he engrave the A1 guns that Bruce refers to. Don, please comment. Last edited on Fri Oct 7th, 2005 03:01 pm by Bill Murphy
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 03:26 pm |
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| As many know, the Skeuse's ran a "custom shop" where special Repros were produced. Geoffroy, a bona fide, trained master engraver, was brought over from Europe as an employee of Reagent to hand engrave these guns full time. After a quite a number of years with the Repro business petering out (and I suspect the flood), Geoffroy left them to do engraving full time. Having become a US citizen, he remained in Easton,PA with his family. Last edited on Fri Oct 7th, 2005 03:28 pm by Don Kaas
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Greg Connors
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 05:40 pm |
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That's interesting.
I know it sounds like crazy-talk, but I've never felt my DHE 28ga repro handles as well or shoots as well as a real Parker. It may just be my knowing the gun is not a real Parker, but it justn't doesn't seem the have the same 'soul'.
It actually feels more like the Winchester M23's I used to own.
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Bruce Day
PGCA Member
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 06:11 pm |
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What is the configuration?
Many were made with 26" barrels, splinter forend and straight stock and weigh less than 6 pounds. This configuration is harder to handle and swing smoothly. Easy to carry , hard to shoot well.
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 06:19 pm |
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Well, you are lightening up Greg ...I must confess that I have never shot a 28" straight grip, double triggered, 000 frame, late Remington Parker 28g DHE so I have no direct experience to compare "feel" Nevertheless,at 5lbs 7oz, my Kodensha made copy thereof feels pretty good to me-perhaps it is its the English walnut rather claro. Having said that, my Meriden O frame 26" DHE 16g, half pistol grip at 5lb 15oz makes an O framed 20g Repro at a 1/2 pound more feel like a clunker...True, Repros do not have "soul" but they are quite devoted to their American ancestors and insist on visiting a Shinto shrine built near Meriden,Conn. atleast once a year to revere them...
Oh, and Bruce speak for yourself, I handle light guns on upland game just fine as do all my hunting partners, thank you.
Last edited on Fri Oct 7th, 2005 06:25 pm by Don Kaas
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 06:46 pm |
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You boys and these little shotguns....
*shakes head sorrowfully*
Destry
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The member formerly known as Market Hunter
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Bruce Day
PGCA Member
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 07:01 pm |
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Destry, I can't match you for the big bodied ones you prefer. I use a P 16/28" 6 3/4 lb and a C 12/28" 7lb. I think you need a high condition Repro 28/26" and I think I know where you can get one. You could shoot it one handed.
If you got a matched pair, just think of that. A shotgun in each hand.
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 07:07 pm |
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Fat men need little shotguns at least for little birds Well, atleast this fat guy does...I carry enough weight around already...Is that a toothpick in your hand ,boy, or are you intending to go shootin'?
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Greg Connors
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 07:23 pm |
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Well, it's a 28 ga with 26" barrels, straight stock, beavertail forearm. At the same time I owned a CHE 20 ga. 26" 0 frame, they were very similar in dimensions but the CHE just had more life in it.
On the repro, I'm surprised how poorly the case coloring was done - I've heard it used a cheaper process than the originals. In any case, there is already a significant amount gone around where you carry it. And I hardly have used it. But I bought it so I could keep wear off the real gguns so I guess that's OK.
I sold a nice Browning A5 in part to buy it. My friend owns the A5 now and after shooting only Parkers for 10 years I can hardly stand to shoot the A5 - it seems like such a clattery, boxy club.
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Dean Romig
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 08:20 pm |
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Bruce Day wrote:
If you got a matched pair, just think of that. A shotgun in each hand.
I have an old book titled "Destry Rides Again"
The visual is great, our own Destry, reins clamped firmly in his teeth, a Parker in each hand spurring his steed on as he yells "Fill your hand, you S.O.B!"
Last edited on Fri Oct 7th, 2005 08:23 pm by Dean Romig
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Don Larson
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Posted: Sat Oct 8th, 2005 10:06 am |
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| Poor Horse
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BrianPowley
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Posted: Sun Oct 9th, 2005 03:27 am |
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Figure on spending $5500.00 to $6000.00 for the A-1 Special engraving.
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Alan Webber
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Posted: Thu Oct 13th, 2005 08:41 pm |
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Brad,
I'm having a 20 ga 2 barrel set Galazan done by Bill Gamradt from Missoula. He did a Sharps in the white for me a few years ago and I like his work. I first saw his work in Reno at the Engraver's Show. I think I'll be into it for over 11k, full coverage, deep relief.Turnbull will color case harden it. For most Parker purists it would probably be a turnoff as the engraving is what I wanted so it doesn't fit into a classic Parker grade. So be it--it's the first double I've ever had with exactly what I want on it. There will likely be a few of those around in the future and the market will tell what they are worth. Regardless they are a work of art in their own right. I saw another "A-1" that Gamradt did that was exquisite. Before I had it engraved I shot quail with it and both the 28" F and M and the 26" Q and Q shot as good as my 20 ga Trojan so I'm very happy with it. Alan
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Bruce Day
PGCA Member
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Posted: Thu Oct 13th, 2005 09:02 pm |
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Beautiful work Alan. I like it and think it is highly appropriate to the gun as a reproduction and expansion upon the theme. Some of the upgrades tried to be copies, and that's the rub. If they had been more original and less a copycat I would not be so uneasy about them.
While the A grades and higher usually had unique engraving, I am surprised that there is not more variation than there is. They vary in the game scene, dogs or placement, but seldom very much. I am surprised that more who special ordered their guns didn't order engraving more like you chose. And maybe a voluptuous female engraved here and there. Wouldn't that be a hoot!
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Bruce Day
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