Readily Available Parkers

[Bruce Day]

We need some more pictures here, so here is an easy one to post and keep interest going.

Here is a GHE 12ga, this a 1910 three blade damascus, 30" barrels full and fuller, #2 frame, wt is 7 1/2lbs. I have used it for years to pound anything from light to heavy loads through it depending if I am shooting targets or game, or waterfowl. I've shot loads up to the SAAMI limit in it, its my workhorse for when I need to make the shot.

Parker made 18,000 of these damascus G's, mostly in 30" 12's, probably mostly #2 frame. I believe the gun type significantly helped to make Parker a legend among shooters. They are readily available today and a person can go to about any gun show and find one or several. This one has unaltered barrel bores, so the walls are about .036, well thick enough for anything I want to shoot. This gun was originally sold into Vancouver BC and spent its life in BC until I brought it down. I'm sure its shot many ducks and geese, yet the action is tight, the locking bite is still centered and there is nothing wrong with the gun. When I got it, the barrels needed re damascus browning and the stock needed light refinishing.

So I recommend these guns to anybody thinking about a first Parker or even a go-to multi purpose Parker. They are out there and relatively inexpensive and you can have a gun that is nice looking and gets the job done.

[Bill Murphy]

Bruce, I have field condition GHs from eight to twenty and, yes, they are wonderful guns for the field and inexpensive in ten and twelve gauges.

[Bruce Day]

Right Bill, you get a very made gun with enough engraving to make it interesting, great damascus if you want damascus or even fluid steel if you want the the less attractive barrels, and many of them had very nice figured black walnut stocks, a few even in European walnut. No reason to pass up a nice G.

I'm posting this because I see for the moment that we have 34 forum members on, this is old hat to many of them, and we have 142 guests looking on. Some of those people may be curious about Parkers or wondering where to start, and I recommend the damascus G's as a good place to start if a person can not let the damascus issue scare them.

[Roundsworth]

http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=2370

http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=1627

Here are a couple at Puglisi's.

[Double Play]

G's are great guns but I am a sucker for D grades. Part of that is the engraving but mainly it's the pretty wood typical of D's. I’m sure you remember this gun Bruce.

[King Brown]

This is a valuable, positive thread, what's needed from time to time to jangle the juices of Parker admirers, beginners, to hear from those who've been living with Parkers for a long time. It's encouraging, useful. Thank you.

[Bill Murphy]

I have a GH in the mail as we speak. I have no idea whether it will be a "good gun" as most of us describe it. However, I'm sure I'll like it.

[Blind Dog]

Got 4; 3 12s (including one 1&1/2 frame Special Steel) and one 16. My favorite grade Parker.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

A large dealer in vintage guns advised me that most Grade 2 Parkers (E, G, P) have not been molested. They may not have a lot of original condition left, but what remains is original.

[Richard Flanders]

My 6#10oz 26" damascus #1-frame GHE12 has displaced to some degree my Repro 28 as my go to grouse/woodcock gun. It's so easy to carry and lightning fast in tight cover and is absolute death on small fast birds. Will add a picture later. And Bruce is absolutely correct; you do see a fair number of affordable and nice G grades out there.