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Robert Delk
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 04:59 pm |
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Was Elmer Keith's BHE,with monte carlo cheekpiece and straight grip, an original gun or was it restocked ?
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Bruce Day
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 10:12 pm |
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| Bob, if you had the SN it might be in the Serialization Book, which provides options that the gun had.
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Robert Delk
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 10:38 pm |
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| I can see it in his books but I can't make out a serial number. He mentioned it quite frequently in his writings and I believe it was to be in his museum.I just wonder if anyone has ever seen it in person . looks good in the photos and I was just wondering as he had a penchant for restocking his guns.
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Bruce Day
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 10:48 pm |
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About 30% of B's had a straight grip ( the higher the grade, the greater the percentage of straight grip guns) . But the Monte Carlo option was very uncommon.
I bought a BHE 12/34 for a friend a couple years ago. It had the 1/2 pistol grip option plus the Monte Carlo plus a leather faced pad , all of which lettered. I have examined about 4-5 Monte Carlo Parkers and I think I know what to look for if you can post pictures. That gun was on a 2 frame, weighed 7/15 and balanced at the hinge. How do they do that?
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Robert Delk
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 11:45 pm |
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Keiths Parker is pictured in his Shotguns book and in a couple other of his writings in magazines also.I don't have my copy handy but I believe it was chambered for the 3" shell also. He talks quite a bit about it in his Shotguns book which a friend "borrowed" from the Myrtle Beach Air force base library and never returned.I can't seem to find it so maybe it found it's way to somewhere else.I would really like to see that gun in person. I believe it was to be in his museum but I have never heard if that came to be or not. I am really interested in finding out if all those options were original to Keiths gun. I would imagine they could be as he could have ordered it new.
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Robert Delk
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 11:49 pm |
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| I need to clear up one thing, the gun has a cheek piece and a monte carlo comb,so it is really unusual if original.
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Bruce Day
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 12:06 am |
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| Yes, Bob, I think you're right. The raised Monte Carlo is itself unusual but the cheek piece raises issues. It would be one to check the inletting, stock head and sn's.
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Bruce Day
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David Lien
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 05:35 am |
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Robert
I was going to do a short article for parker pages on Elmer's BHE Trap gun, but old age and heath issues seem to get in my way . The serial # is 228351. The gun is on display in the Elmer keith museum at the Cabella's store in Boise Idaho. Gun was completed December 1928.. Parker records indicate the gun had straight grip, 1 1/2" drop at the comb. Drop at the heel was 1 5/8" & 2 1/2". Gun was on a 1 1/2 frame. 8 Lbs. 6 Oz. Parker records make no mention of the cheek piece. I have had the gun in my hands and the cheek piece looked good to me. I think word of mouth research would reveal that the stock on the BHE trap gun had a lot to do with how Elmer had Bishop stock his Ithaca # 500,001. Elmer shot ducks with this gun, and hunted with it more than he talked about. I do not think he shot light loads in it. I first saw this gun over 55 yrs ago, and it still looks good today. I have no comment on your 3" chamber question. Parker records make no mention of the origional owner. I hope in my ramblings I have answered your questions. David
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Robert Delk
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 08:55 am |
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Thanks! I have been thinking about this gun ever since I posted the original query. I first read about it over 40 years ago and when I read one of Keiths old articles recently it came to mind and I just had to know if it was "right". Funny,how something will stick in your mind it was kind of like a song you can't get out of your head. It's nearly 4 a.m. so now I can get back to sleep.Thanks again. Bob
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 12:48 pm |
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| A good friend of mine recently bought a 32"BHE on a 2 frame that he has know about for 30 years. It letters with a Monte Carlo, cheekpiece and BTFE. It is in the same serial # range as the Keith gun, if I recall. I also have a factory Monte Carlo stock from a DH #86,121 with a stock medallion fancily engraved "C.D. Waterbury"
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Robert Delk
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 02:12 pm |
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Cool! Ok now,Charles Askins,the younger, talked about his friend George Parker, the famous hunter,having a pair of A1 specials in 28 guage,I believe. He called them the 'kingly Parkers" as I recall and said George kept them in the garage!Anyone know anything about them. I believe George Parker died in the 80's so maybe they are still with the family. He was quite well off and once offered 25 grand to shoot a world record desert ram that lurked in Arizona,but the state turned him down.
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Robert Delk
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 02:16 pm |
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| One more thing Askins said Parker paid about a grand apiece for his Parkers so unless he bought them second hand they must have been very late guns.George Parker was from Arizona too.
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