Parker with gold Inlay

Chris Davis · 10-18-2011, 10:06 PM

I have an unusual Parker 'D' grade 20 gauge made in 1917 with 'Parker Bros' inlayed in Gold on the bottom of the receiver. I understand that it is the only 'D' grade gun made with a gold inlay. It 'letters' with the gold inlay and was made as a gift from Parker Bros to E.I Dupont for use at his trap shooting school at Young's Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. There's a name and number stamped into the receiver - "F.B. Potts. No. 717". You can see it in the photo directly under the gold inlay. The stamping is crude... not factory. Maybe it was done at Dupont's trap shooting school. Does anyone have any idea what the name and number might signify? Thanks, Chris

Bruce Day · 10-18-2011, 10:22 PM

Not being from the east and never having been to Atlantic City, I had never heard of Young's Million Dollar Pier and did not know that Dupont had trap shooting schools. After reading your post, I searched the internet and learned about these matters. Thanks for the post that broadened my knowledge.

I know nothing about Potts, however we have a few people here who are devotees of the history of trap shooting and if anyone would know, they will.

Interesting gun. Gold on a Parker is rare, rare, most being aftermarket added.

Drew Hause · 10-18-2011, 10:30 PM

No hits in the Sporting Life archives which end about 1915, and not mentioned here in 1910
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5514025.pdf

CSL · 10-19-2011, 05:23 AM

Chris,
Both myself and fellow PGCA member Bill Murphy have done some past research on the Dupont Powders Atlantic City trap shooting school at the end of Young's pier... I'm just just curious, is there any mention in your Parker letter of "Jack Fanning" or "Lou Parker"?...

I wonder if perhaps your gun was intended as a promotional prize/trophy, or maybe it was just good advertising by Parker Bros to gift a gun for use at the Dupont school so the Parker name (in-Gold) could be noticed at a high traffic venue of amateur shooting sports... Smart marketing, sell more guns... There were a lot of women who shot at the end of Young's Pier during that time period, and given the smaller gauge of the 20-bore mentioned here, I would not be surprised to find out that "F. B. Potts" was actually a young lady shooter...

You have a very interesting Parker Chris, what are some of the overall dimensions of your gun, barrel length, stock, frame size, and do you have more photos with a better close-up of the "F.B. Potts. 717" area?...

Best, CSL
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Fishtail · 10-19-2011, 07:13 AM

Gold inlay or not, that is a very pretty script used to write 'Parker Bros'.

I don't see how you can qualify the 'only D grade made with gold inlay' claim. Maybe you can say ' the only D Grade known to me with gold inlay'.

Bill Murphy · 10-19-2011, 07:38 AM

So, you have a PGCA letter? Can you post a scan of the letter? In my files I have a copy of an order for a 20 gauge Dupont Shooting School gun. I wonder if the serial number matches your gun? What is your number? I also know of a nice Dupont Shooting School 12 gauge. Maybe Chris Lein would post a picture of it. I believe he has a picture in his collection.

JLoew · 10-19-2011, 08:03 AM

I think this Parker belongs in the "Parkers Found."

Ed Blake · 10-19-2011, 08:42 AM

Could we see more of the gun?

Bruce Day · 10-19-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher Lien

Chris,
Both myself and fellow PGCA member Bill Murphy have done some past research on the Dupont Powders Atlantic City trap shooting school at the end of Young's pier... _____________________________
.

Chris, Chris, maybe you all and Bill could do a Parker Pages article on the subject with photos of some of the guns used?

Drew Hause · 10-19-2011, 10:42 AM

Some Jack Fanning infro here, with a pic of he and Neaf Apgar courtesy of Chris. A flinch ended his career as a competitor.
https://docs.google.com/View?id=dfg2hmx7_319dj27s2ch