BEST BOOK ON PARKER
 

I am seeking some advise on the best parker book(s) to purchase to educate myself on these fine guns. I have looked at the selection on Amazon, but cannot decide which is best to start with. Any suggestions??

The Parker Story.... I could add more - but - you asked for the "best"..

John

The best buy today is a full set of The Parker Story from the Double Gun Journal, "slightly defective" for $195.00. Some buyers cannot find the "defects". Next best may be Ed Muderlak's Parker Guns, Shooting Flying, available at very low prices. Third choice would be Ed Muderlak's Parker Guns, The Old Reliable. Fourth choice, Larry Baer, combined Volume 1 and 2, The Parker Gun. Fifth choice, but very cheap, Peter Johnson's Parker, America's Finest Shotgun.

Here is what to look for:
http://parkerguns.org/pages/faq/learn.htm

Or you could just get them all....

As in "No Parker library is complete without.... "

Each succeeding Parker book, and author(s) were standing on the shoulders of the one before them. Get them all, if you can.

No, Chilled Shot, Johnson's is no bargain at any price. He was a dear man who did his best when there weren't many around to tackle it. He made the very best of the stuff he was. We knew this in his later years and when he was dying we were grateful and paid our respects but his book is of no help compared to the others.

Sorry King I cannot agree with that.Peter Johnson's Parker book was the first attempt done mainly with written correspondence. As such it certainly has its place. Yes subsequent tome's have revealed much more information and I routinely go to the "Parker Story" for information but to say that it is of no help. The help lay's in the fact that it was the first and I don't think one could get a true picture of the evolution of Parker literature without having a copy. I would not consider my Parker library complete without a copy of it.

King, respectfully, I couldn't disagree with you more. As Dave has pointed out - for a time Johnson's book was the only one in existence and was the catalyst for so many of the Parker Gun collectors who are still with us today as well as so many who have passed away but not without passing along their collections and shared the knowledge they have gained over their years of collecting.... and it all started with Peter Johnson's book. Sorry my friend, Johnson's book should be in every Parker collector's library.

My Parker library is complete. I only wish I could have had Peter Johnson sign my copy.