What's your favorite Trojan, 0 grade or 1 grade?

[Craig Larter]

In the realm of common Parkers what is most appealing to you? I like the hammerless PH with twist barrels. I love the pattern in twist barrels and engraving just enough to decorate the action. How about you? I have friends that like the Trojan action shape and others that like the VH for it's simple classic Parker lines.

[Brian Dudley]

I can agree with that.

I see good things about each. I think the Trojan lines are tastefully simple and attractive in their own right.

[Daryl Corona]

That's a tough one Craig, I like them all. I've grown to really appreciate the D grades. Just enough engraving to give them some class but still affordable. I've got a DH 1892 with 32" tubes with knockout wood and ordered with 2 3/4" chambers. The damascus pattern is stunning. Next would be the G grades and of course any hammer gun, especially grade 2's.

[Bill Murphy]

I have a couple of high condition Trojans and a couple of high condition PH Twist guns, one with straight stock. I displayed the PH guns with letters at a PGCA event and they drew a bit of comment. The Trojans haven't been out yet. I have no feeling for these high condition guns beyond the fact that I could shoot them. I would rather shoot my beaters.

[Dave Noreen]

My Grandfather had a PH-Grade and my Father had a VH-Grade does that mean that I should have a Trojan? At any rate, I bought this NH-Grade just because it has some condition --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/189410-gaNH-Gradestockright.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/189410-gaNH-Gradestockleft.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/189410-gaNH-Graderightclose.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/189410-gaNH-Graderight.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/189410-gaNH-Gradeleft.jpg

and to me it is the quintessential Parker Bros. double.

[Virginia Hessler]

I really like the D model, but must admitt I have been looking at a few G's and they are growing on me.
At the end of the day they are all real cool.

Tom

[scott kittredge]

PH; with a black and white twist :)

[greg conomos]

I just have a run of the mill Trojan 12ga but I will admit I don't have any other Parker that fits me as well or shoots as well.

[Craig Larter]

Dave that is a stunning grade1 example!!! Gotta love the pattern in the barrels, great wood and engraving. A straight grip long barreled PH with twist would be a very handsome gun in my opinion.

[Kevin McCormack]

My favorite Trojan was the 16 ga. that had to have been in 95-98% condition overall that some moron (you know who they are!) had made into a stand-up (vertical) floor lamp. It surfaced in an obscure auction house outside of Timonium MD in a "sporting collectibles" auction about 9 years ago. Whoever did the work really wanted a floor lamp bad - the stock was drilled as if it had a drawbolt channel; the wiring was fed up through the action cut in the watertable and a hole had been drilled into the chamber face of one of the barrels so the cord could be fed up one tube to the lamp fixture at the muzzle which was secured by a wooden dowel driven into the tube opposite the wired barrel, complete with a lampshade in the "outdoor motif." I never saw a higher condition Trojan until Ed Muderlak bought Ed Ulrich's NIB 12 ga. at the next-to-the last Vintagers in Millbrook NY.

My favorite PH(E) was the very late 1 1/2 frame 1928 steel barreled 12 ga. that I traded Herschel Chadick for against a 16 ga. EE Lefever with cut barrels (Herschel said his Texas quail hunters just didn't give a damn about cut barrels on a 16 ga.!). Bad internet photos and too long in inventory sent the PHE my way - when I unwrapped it at the FFL holder's house, it proved to be a bona fide 85% overall condition gun.

My favorite VH(E) has to be the Sunderland gun, a simple but elegant rib-inscribed graduation gift from a father in the Heartland to his son who served faithfully and well in defense of his homeland.

[Rich Anderson]

A grade 1 16ga hammergun, straight grip and 32 inch barrels. Next is an O grade 16ga lifter hammergun.

[Dean Romig]

Of the three grades you suggest Craig, I prefer the Grade 1 or PH.

I feel like such a fool and I really need to have my head examined because one walked into the show on Saturday that, if I had any intelligence at all, I should have bought. It was very easily in the same condition of the NH that Dave shows but it was a twenty gauge with fabulous twist barrels, exceptionally nice wood and virtually no flaws... it was just beautiful... I'm such a fool. The guy wanted only $4995 for it and I believe it's value was considerably higher.

Anyway, back to the original question - The grade 1 is my preference because of the classically understated engraving, better wood, availability of either a capped pistol grip, straight grip, or round knob grip, Also, the bold Twist pattern of the barrels is unique to the majority of Grade 1's prior to the introduction of Parker Steel barrels.

[Daryl Corona]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;155094]
I feel like such a fool and I really need to have my head examined because one walked into the show on Saturday that, if I had any intelligence at all, I should have bought. It was very easily in the same condition of the NH that Dave shows but it was a twenty gauge with fabulous twist barrels, exceptionally nice wood and virtually no flaws... it was just beautiful... I'm such a fool. The guy wanted only $4995 for it and I believe it's value was considerably higher.

:banghead::crying:

[CraigThompson]

The nicest Parker I own is this little VHE 20 gauge .

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20VHE%2020%20gauge/Parker20a_zpsd4b78b79.png (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20VHE%2020%20gauge/Parker20a_zpsd4b78b79.png.html)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20VHE%2020%20gauge/Parker20b_zps723915dc.png (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20VHE%2020%20gauge/Parker20b_zps723915dc.png.html)


But I like the engraving on the GH , EH , Grade 2 hammer guns the best !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker1891hammer10gauge002_zps4fe686ca.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker1891hammer10gauge002_zps4fe686ca.jpg.html)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/DSCN6455_zps3865945a.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/DSCN6455_zps3865945a.jpg.html)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker%20GH%2012%20gauge%20circa%201891/DSCN6439_zps80a77fc1.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker%20GH%2012%20gauge%20circa%201891/DSCN6439_zps80a77fc1.jpg.html)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker%20GH%2012%20gauge%20circa%201891/DSCN6438_zpsd7df9643.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker%20GH%2012%20gauge%20circa%201891/DSCN6438_zpsd7df9643.jpg.html)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker%20GH%2012%20gauge%20circa%201891/DSCN6440_zpsd164fef1.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/6pt-sika/media/Parker%20Grade%202%2010%20gauge%20circa%201881/Parker%20GH%2012%20gauge%20circa%201891/DSCN6440_zpsd164fef1.jpg.html)

Now all I need to do is find a pair of EH 10 gauge guns that fit my budget ! One on a #2 frame and the other on the easier to find #3 frame !

[Mills Morrison]

Craig Thompson said it pretty well

[Dean Romig]

Which Craig?.... The OP, Craig Larter or Craig Thompson?

[Dean Romig]

That is a very nice VHE 20!!

[CraigThompson]

That is a very nice VHE 20!!

I'm 53 years old !

I've known that gun for about 45 years . The gentleman I bought it from got it in 1956 from the original owner . Well rather his father bought it for him while he was in college from the original owner .
I had expressed quite a bit of intrest in that gun for many many years , and when he decided to let it go I was offered first refusal .

A couple years before that from the same gentleman I got a very nice second year production Browning Superposed 20 gauge that he had gotten from the father of a friend of my fathers . I had known that Superposed for about 30 years ! My fathers friends father had bought the Browning new in 1952 I believe .

[Kevin McCormack]

Dean, stop beating yourself up! At our local Chantilly VA 'show' (now rapidly approaching flea market/yard sale offerings), two prime Parkers were presented for sale: a very nice 20 ga. Damascus GH and a VERY seductive 20 ga. VH with 30" barrels perfect dimensions and straight grip! Luckily, I was able to honor my New Year's resolution to myself and, formerly having owned slight variants of both guns, held onto the integrity of my savings account in expectation of some hefty incoming bills from master gunsmiths now correcting problems requiring immediate attention on 3 of my 'hospital guns.' If I had to choose one to buy, it would have been the sleek (and I mean SLEEK!) little straight grip 30" twenty. As I examined it I could hear doves thudding to the floor all around me

[Craig Larter]

Kevin and Dean you guys have more discipline than me!! I am a big bore guy but I would have found the resources for those two guns especially the straight grip 20 with 30" bbls.
I do think the PH or any grade 1 with twist barrels and the modest engraving coverage is heads above the VH or Trojan for looks. It seems from my review of asking prices that the PH is under appreciated and valued equal to the more common Trojans and VH's.

[Mills Morrison]

Kevin and Dean you guys have more discipline than me!! I am a big bore guy but I would have found the resources for those two guns especially the straight grip 20 with 30" bbls.
I do think the PH or any grade 1 with twist barrels and the modest engraving coverage is heads above the VH or Trojan for looks. It seems from my review of asking prices that the PH is under appreciated and valued equal to the more common Trojans and VH's.

I agree the PH is underappreciated. I also like the simple lines of the Trojan.

[Dean Romig]

It seems that the PH is under appreciated and valued equal to the more common Trojans and VH's.

Yeah Craig, and for the life of me I just don't get it.

If I see that 20 again... and it's still for sale - I won't make the same mistake a second time.

[Rich Anderson]

We have all had one or two that got away. Hindsight is ALWAYS crystal clear:)
I had a nice PH 16 on an O frame and sold it...twice:eek:

[Dean Romig]

We have all had one or two that got away.


Unfortunately Rich, I have allowed a whole lot more than "one or two" get away.