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View Full Version : AHE and BHE are done and ready for action.


Brian Hornacek
05-31-2016, 11:26 PM
In 2013 I was in the right place at the right time when I ran into a gentleman who had the below AHE and BHE. He was loosing interest in Parker's and I caught him on the day he was motivated to sell. The AHE has a hickory rod and was broke around the wrist and the wood was bretty beat up. The BHE was well worn and smelled like a ashtray as one of the previous owners must have been a chain smoker. It started life as non safety 2 barrel damascus set and was returned for the current set of 32" barrels all in the letter. The metal on each gun was borderline leave as is or restore, some will criticise the restoration path but I am happy with the end results. I never though I would be lucky enough to own Parker's such as these.

I want to thank Brad Bachelder for bringing these guns back to their glory and specifically the special care it took to save the AHE stock. Say hello to Brad pictured for those of you that have not met him. He and his wife Lori are fantastic and the trip to Grand rapids was worth it.......Parker's, conversation, dinner, drinks.......a wonderful combination.

George Lander
05-31-2016, 11:46 PM
Gorgeous! Brad is a true artist. Both straight grip as well. I wonder what the story behind the BHE is. Ordered by someone in Texas from an outfit in Manitoba Canada?

Jim DiSpagno
06-01-2016, 12:21 AM
Beautiful Brian.

Brian Dudley
06-01-2016, 07:16 AM
Thanks for sharing Brian. The engraving on the bottom of that B is very interesting to say the least. I am shrprised the letter does not specify "no animals" or something of the sort.

Dean Romig
06-01-2016, 07:29 AM
It does... It says "flower and scroll engraving". Generally when "flower" is specified, they are to replace game scenes or dogs.





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Brian Dudley
06-01-2016, 07:41 AM
Missed that. The the one thing i was looking for, i glossed over. Go figure.

Mike Franzen
06-01-2016, 08:47 AM
Those are gorgeous Brian. Thank you for taking the time to post all those pics.

greg conomos
06-01-2016, 09:54 AM
Very nice. I'd give it some serious thought, if I could order a new AHE for $325.

Todd Schrock
06-01-2016, 10:27 AM
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

allen newell
06-01-2016, 12:25 PM
Beautiful, just beautiful

Bill Murphy
06-01-2016, 02:39 PM
The AAHE that was recently sold at auction was also delivered to Seattle Hardware and is #15XXXX. Let us know whether the "Interested in sharing the history of the Parker shotgun" PGCA gives you some further information. Let me know how that comes out.

Dean Romig
06-01-2016, 02:47 PM
Let us know whether the "Interested in sharing the history of the Parker shotgun" PGCA gives you some further information.


Such as.....?






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Paul Ehlers
06-01-2016, 09:13 PM
You have to be proud of this pair for sure.

Brad's work on them is impressive to say the least!

Jay Gardner
06-01-2016, 11:48 PM
Wow, just...wow.

Brian Hornacek
06-02-2016, 12:08 AM
Thanks for the nice remarks on these two guns, the B sure has an interesting letter. Makes you wonder who the shooter was as it was obviously someone that took shooting serious. As I have said in previous posts finding Parker's such as these is the fun, guns in unusual places that have not been in the market ever or maybe not in the market for years,

Jim Thynne
06-02-2016, 02:01 AM
Wonderful Parkers shoot them in good health!!

Bill Murphy
06-02-2016, 01:20 PM
Dean, "Such as" may include the two guns, the AHE and the AAHE being on the same order, an order with a name included, which may connect the two guns, and many, many other possibilities. You are absolutely aware of "Such as", without my explanation. Your comment says it all about the PGCA and its directors. They are not interested in sharing information, nor, apparently, are you. When someone comes up with guns like the AHE on this thread, and another member suggests that there may be a connection with another important gun, the research committee should rush to share whatever information they can easily access. Chuck does this on a very very occasional basis, with no suggestion from board members that I know of. In fact, it has been said that the research committee is under the iron hand of the BOD and would be chastised if information is shared for under $40.00. By the way, "You're welcome" for my information on the AAHE. I will wait for your reply.

Robert Delk
06-02-2016, 04:58 PM
Those guns are blessed to have ended up in your hands. Wonderful restorations.

Matthew Hanson
06-03-2016, 11:21 AM
Oh Baby!! Those are a couple of ladies that need to go to the dance!! Brad is the magic man when it comes to restoring Parkers! Very, very nice work and two supper looking Parkers! Thank you so much for sharing these pictures I never get tired of looking at them. I just keep thinking WOW!

Bill Murphy
06-05-2016, 08:24 AM
Mr. Putnam shot at the Fort Garry Gun Club in Winnepeg around the time the B Grade gun was made and was still shooting there in 1913. I don't know why the gun was originally shipped by the Winnepeg dealer to San Antonio.

Larry Stauch
06-05-2016, 09:05 AM
There are a lot of folks that think most high grade and otherwise good Parkers are mostly in New England, but this certainly proves that the well healed people of the northwest enjoyed some of these great guns as well. I think we are just beginning to see some of the great guns that are going to come out of the Seattle-Portland area.

greg conomos
06-05-2016, 09:33 AM
What I like about these two guns is they leave me room to avoid jealousy. Now, if the 'B' were a 28ga and the 'A' a 20ga...then I'd have absolutely no way to avoid it.

Brian Hornacek
06-05-2016, 10:20 AM
Mr. Putnam shot at the Fort Garry Gun Club in Winnepeg around the time the B Grade gun was made and was still shooting there in 1913. I don't know why the gun was originally shipped by the Winnepeg dealer to San Antonio.
Thank you Bill, that is a great piece of information on the gun!

Bill Murphy
06-07-2016, 09:26 AM
Putnam does not appear as a competition shooter in the 1913 and 1914 average books of the Interstate Association as a resident of Canada or Texas. 1913 is the earliest reference I have for the Interstate Association, the predecessor to the ATA. His Texas connection is still a mystery.

Alton Anker
06-07-2016, 10:19 PM
Brian
Congrats on your two trophies thank you for sharing those guns with me
Great encouragement for a newer Parker fan contemplating moving up in
the Parker arena
Alton Anker