Parker Curiosity

[Reggie Bishop]

First of all I have been hanging around this forum off and on for a while. I have joined PGCA a couple of different times, but once again I have let my membership expire. I love classic shotguns and have wanted a Parker to go with my 1950s Superposed guns for some time.

I have watched the Parker guns listed on Gunbroker off and on for a long time. I have noticed that there are normally quite a number listed but seldom do I see any bids. And the ones I do see bids on are normally the lower priced 12 gauge guns. Why is this? Is it because most of the guns listed there are undesirable due to I guess a lot of things, condition being #1? Or is it due to being overpriced? Or maybe Gunbroker tends not to be used by vintage followers? Today I think there are 5 pages of Parker guns, some are the repros, but alot are not. I think I saw one bid on a 12 ga. VH.

Just curious what your thoughts are.

[Bill Anderson]

Reggie,

Most Parkers on Gunboker are way over priced for their condition and/or configuration. A lot of sellers think, that if it's Parker, it's an automatic sale at any crazy price.

Bill

[Brian Dudley]

Good guns and proper prices always sell.

And junk sells sometimes too, but not as quickly.

[Robert Dillon]

What Mr. Dudley said about 'proper prices.' But on the other hand, a true auction will start at .01 or $1, and let the market dictate the final outcome. Just my .02 worth.

[Reggie Bishop]

Yes I have seen pricing all over the board. To be honest I am not informed enough to recognize what a Parker of a certain configuration is worth. I know Brownings and can spot a good one reasonably priced, but not a Parker. That is why I have wanted one for a long time but never purchased one, I can't get a handle on value! So those double digit DHE and GHE Parkers I see on GB that look very nice are overpriced for the most part? Interesting stuff. Thanks for your input!

[Marty Kohler]

Buy Mark's 12 vh ...great condition with rarer ball grip...PM him ....$1550......... looks like a very nice one for the money............

[Marty Kohler]

Of course you must join again also.....

[Reggie Bishop]

Check out the little rectangle box above my name! :)


And I really really want a 20 ga. Parker.

[Marty Kohler]

Sorry Reggie,....... just trying to help....never mind.... Take care:)

[Reggie Bishop]

I appreciate the help!

[Brian Dudley]

Reggie,

If you are looking for a 20g. VH that is a shooter with some condition, expect to pay in the area of $2,500 to $3,000. Higher condition means more than that. Decent 20g. Trojans can be had for as low as $1,500 at times.

This is based on what I have been seeing.

Of course, there are some guns out there in those price ranges that are so beat that they shouldn't be asking even that much. It is all relative.

[CraigThompson]

What Mr. Dudley said about 'proper prices.' But on the other hand, a true auction will start at .01 or $1, and let the market dictate the final outcome. Just my .02 worth.

I don't 100% agree I sell a lot of things on consignment on GB . Hence the seller tells me what they want for said item I add my commission as well as what I think GB will charge for the sale and that's what I start the gun at . I do not put reserves etc on the item I show you where you're at to get in the game and if you want in you bid and if not you go on your way . And as far as "true auctions" are concerned I've been to MANY live in person auctions that had reserves set on variouse things and 90% of the time they didn't tell you until the bidding on that particular item was over . About 8 years ago I went to a local Auction House to bid on an original Pennsylvania Longrifle sat there for 4 hours until this thing came to the block , no one would bid higher then 4G's only to find out the reserve was set at 8G's . That auction pissed me off as I wouldn't have gone if I'd known that but I'm sure Rock Island and Julia pull the same type thing .

[CraigThompson]

To me Parkers are like anything else you will find unscrupulouse sellers in all aspects of the gun business . And by that I mean folks that will try and push touched up items as factory original . By no means do I consider my self an authority or well versed in all the stuff that intrests me but I do have a wealth of friends/associates that are well versed in a good many of the types of firearms that intrest me .

The lone one that I don't really have a knowledgeable friend are Lugers I have been wanting to buy one of those for several years to replace a very nice one my father traded off years ago for an original Virginia Longrifle , but so far I've been hesitant to make the plunge .

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Actually there are very few Parkers that are all original condition, 100 plus or minus years takes there toll, less on some more on others. Most required some repair work, some have letters stating the work was done at the factory, most do not. A totally original gun of any grade will cost the collector big bucks! A rare gauge, configuration, or grade is a find no matter the condition, I consider these finds lucky, like an old car waiting to be restored to its original glory. My thinking here is that if the gun has all its original parts, and is fairly rare I will restore it! I do not shoot a lot of my guns, on the other hand a lot of folks on this forum do! Bottom line if you like the gun and it fits you you should own it if you can! Gary