GunBroker Parker "A1"

[Kirk Potter]

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/657599853

Letters as a DH with 30" Damascus barrels.. Is now an A1 with 30" Peerless barrels. Has documentation that shows it was an A1 at least as early as the 1950's.. Owner in the 1950's claims this was done by Parker when sent back to have new barrels fitted.

What do you guys think?

Seems nice whoever did the upgrade.

[Dean Romig]

We should ask David what he knows about the gun. I would guess that if Ron Kirby addressed the letter to David that he would have had a hand in the upgrade - perhaps the stock work & checkering at the least. He may even remember who did the engraving.

To my eye, the work doesn't look to be that of Parker Bros. although it is VERY nicely done.





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[John Allen]

A very nice gun.However,$16,000 is on the upper end of what it should sell for.

[Bill Murphy]

This is likely the A-1 that has been advertised for years in the classifieds of the Double Gun Journal. We finally get to see it.

[Dean Romig]

It's hard to believe that it has 'verifiable' documentation of it being an A-1 to the 1950's but I guess it's possible. I'd sure like to see that documentation though.





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[Kirk Potter]

If I'm reading that letter dated 1981 right, he claims he bought it in New Orleans in 1950.. But yeah, nothing 'verifiable'

[Jim DiSpagno]

This gun was Fritz Gerhart's gun. David probably knows a lot about this gun.

[Dean Romig]

Yup, David and Fritz share some history together.





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[Kevin McCormack]

Et tu, Davey??

[John Allen]

There were a lot of guns upgraded in the 50s,60s,and 70s because of the shortage of high grade guns.Back then if you showed up at a pigeon shoot or gun show with an A1,you would draw a crowd.We forget now that in the pre internet days Parkers were considered very rare and scarce and there was no way to authenticate a gun.Many upgrades got sold as original guns.

[Chuck Bishop]

Why is everyone calling it an A-1? The Peerless word on the rib has obviously been added. I would call it a DH upgraded to look something similar to a A-1. JMHO

[Dean Romig]

And some still are.





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[Dean Romig]

Why is everyone calling it an A-1? O


Because that is how it is described on gunbroker.




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[Kenny Graft]

Yup...it says so on the internet!.....(-: I would value the gun for what it is in hand..not what it might be unless properly documented. Trump would call it Fake News...(that's a joke...(-:) SXS Ohio

[edgarspencer]

Of all the 'upgraded' features, the stock checkering is closer to 'original Parker' workmanship in my estimation. The engraving is excellent, but none, and especially the bolsters, looks like anything that ever came from any generation of factory, or contract engravers.
It certainly seems logical that in the pre-internet days, available information, and quasi research was near impossible, and the next best thing, being a written letter, with someones signature, seemed to make it real.
I'm sure it gave it's long ago owners pleasure regardless what we future generations say.

[Kevin McCormack]

Looking at something like this reminds me of trying to vet a painting by Jackson Pollock or Amadeo Modigliani as to its originality. When the contraindications start to cloud the basic issue (one of the ones here being, "is it 'Parker' enough"), the momentum slacks and the bloom comes off the rose very quickly.

[edgarspencer]

the momentum slacks and the bloom comes off the rose very quickly.
Exackery!

[Kirk Potter]

I just called it an A1 because that's how its advertised. The seller isn't claiming it to be an actual A1. I just found it interesting because of the documentation it has, if believable, it was obviously done a long time ago. These "upgrades" seem odd to me the closer you get to the time when you could of just ordered a new Parker. I assume this would of cost quite a bit to have engraved even in the 50's.

[John Allen]

Edgar,you are right about past owners enjoying the gun.If I read the letter correctly,he killed 29 out of 30 in the pigeon ring with this gun.That is some shooting and a great memory for the shooter.