Parker Cases

[Bill Murphy]

The earliest Parker cases were the walnut fitted cases and survive fairly well. The next generation of cases were not all wood, so did not survive well at all. I believe these cases are pictured in catalogs from the mid to late eighties into the nineties at least. Many of these are referred to as "shellback" cases, not describing, as I understand, the constuction of the case, but the fact that the top of the case held rows of shells. These are pictured in The Parker Story. When these cases were supplied with guns, the cases are often mentioned and priced in the order by catalog number. I have not seen cases identical to the shellback cases with other guns, so possibly they were actually built at Meriden. I don't know that anyone is absolutely sure about that. My friend Mr. McCormack is familiar with my #38 shellback case that houses an 1897 CH grade Bernard steel two barrel set since he found the outfit for me many years ago. Like many cases of this era, the #38 case was mentioned in the order for the gun. It is in frail condition like most of these cases but is an interesting part of the history of the gun.