Relative merits of pre/post 1934 Parkers

[John Havard]

Bruce, life is indeed tough here in Marin County.

Unfortunately I haven't yet found any other Parker collectors/owners out here. I'm on the hunt but so far, no joy.

[B. Dudley]

Well, I think your cutoff should be more like pre or post '37 since that is when the guns were assembled at ilion,ny. From '34 to '37, the guns were still built in Meriden by the same craftsman that were making them prior to '34.
Fit, finish and quality were really the same. Some debate that the Remington barrels were better. And there are some styling difference in the stocks compared to the earlier Meriden guns.
In my opinion, the engraving on the guns built in Remington was not as nice as the earlier Meriden guns. Same patterns, but not as fine.

[Bill Murphy]

John, the occasional IBM card identifies the original retail purchaser. More often, the dealer is identified. D. Lee Braun's 28 gauge skeet gun was identified by the IBM card as was the 20 gauge skeet built for his father in law. It's worth a shot.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by John Havard

Still trying to learn a bit more about the nuances of collecting Parkers. Most everyone on this forum has more experience and has handled more Parkers than I have.

In particular I'd appreciate any advice or input other members might have about the fit/finish/quality & therefore the collectible value of a pre-'34 Parker versus a post-'34 Parker.

Thanks in advance for your input and observations.

There are some very nice guns produced in relatively low numbers from that era. I would say a Parker on a 1/2 frame (all post '34) has some collector value. Post '34 Skeet guns and Double Traps have a some collector value too.

[Fishtail]

While I prefer the pre-Remington Parkers (I consider a gun made in Meriden more 'Parker' than one made in Ilion) I have to admit my 241XXX has a lock-up that feels like a miniature Swiss vault closing; a feeling my Merdien guns don't quite have.

[Tony Ambrose]

John - its good to see other PGCA members with similar "other" interests (beyond Parkers). I'm speaking of our mutual interest in archery of the "low-tech" variety!

[John Havard]

Thanks Tony. Collecting Parkers is a lot like traditional archery - there's a very strong correlation between such interests and men who are intelligent, handsome, erudite, well-endowed, and humble.

[Jawjadawg]

Originally Posted by John Havard

Thanks Tony. Collecting Parkers is a lot like traditional archery - there's a very strong correlation between such interests and men who are intelligent, handsome, erudite, well-endowed, and humble.

Humble has always been my favorite late addition to such a litany of self-imposed descriptors.

[John Havard]

Yes Will, humility above all else.

[Tony Ambrose]

Originally Posted by John Havard

Thanks Tony. Collecting Parkers is a lot like traditional archery - there's a very strong correlation between such interests and men who are intelligent, handsome, erudite, well-endowed, and humble.

John - you gave me a good laugh this morning!!!