Provenance- What do you have in your safe?

[Fishtail]

I have a BH 12 ordered new by HD Kirkover Jr that I've blabbed about on other threads. He was a big wheel in the Buffalo NY area around the turn of the century (the 1800's - 1900's turn) and a renowned trapshooter of the time.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Just discovered this thread.[played with honeybees and architects all yesterday at the Cape]
This is good stuff boys.
This is why I write articles for PP. Provenance is both priceless and pricey, it depends how you feel about history.
To some, a Parker is just metal and wood.
To me it is nothing without the people who bothered to make it perfect, ordered it, sold it and used it. I wish we could know everything about that chain of title.
I have trouble selling guns that I know a lot about- they become like members of my family.

[Double Lab]

Could'nt have said it any better George. Thanks. Keep them coming boys.... I know there is a lot more out there.

Bees George? We need to talk!

[Craig Larter]

Daryl: I hope your ACL repair heels up in time for Hausmann's I am told ACL's are not fun.
I have a DH no-safety that went to TH Keller Eastern Sales Manager for Peters Cartridge CO. I have a PH that was presented to a Mr. BR Morris by his shop employees in 1908 in Iowa (He was a railroad shop manage--they must have like the guy) . A BHE that was displayed by Novell Shapleight during the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis. I have other guns that I have hit a wall on with respect to provenance. I am hoping as Google digitizes more stuff I can learn more about them. Craig Larter

[Double Lab]

Thanks Craig. This torn ACL/Quad thing really sucks but I'm doing everything the surgeon said to do plus 10. It really is amazing what some of these old time companies gave their retiring employees. I bought a GHE 16 w/damascus barrels from the grandson of the former equipment manager of the old Baltimore Orioles. Seems they gave it to him upon his retirement.
That being said, I have a friend who retired 4-5yrs. ago and the people in his office gave him a very nice Ceasar Guerini (sp?) as his going away present.

[Wild Skies]

Athletes like you Daryl are usually out of commission for close to a year with ACL's, sounds like you're way ahead of the game. Good shooting at Hausmann's if you make it!

[Bill Murphy]

Like Craig Larter, I own a Parker once owned by the famous shooter, waterfowler, and Peters Cartridge Company representative, T.H. Keller. It is the only hammerless 8 gauge Parker made with 30" barrels. It is a DH Grade and a good representation of Keller's reputation as a serious waterfowler. Check out Craig's DGJ article on Keller's 12 gauge an issue or two ago.

[Bill Murphy]

I have the C Grade 33" Bernard Steel #4 frame hammer gun made for Parker company shooter W.S. Perry. Unfortunately, shortly after this gun was made, Parker wanted to put the new hammerless guns into the hands of company shooters, and the old ten gauge C Grade never much made it out of the house. Parker built Mr. Perry a hammerless 10 gauge DH Grade as soon as they were available in 1889.

[Mills]

I have a GH owned by the first mayor of Virginia Beach whose house the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum now resides in. Not a looker but a waterfowl gun through and through

[Craig Larter]

Mills: Guns with provenance or partial provenance would make a great theme for next years Southern. It sure would be an eclectic gathering of Parker guns but big fun in my opinion. I hate to see all the tables in the Parker tent go basically empty.