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View Full Version : The One that Got Away, then Found


dana sanders
02-16-2018, 05:36 PM
'm so excited to have found this Parker Collectors group. Thank you for having me.

In 1999, I duck hunted in the Mississippi Delta north of Vicksburg most of my off days. Calling a Mallard or Pintail duck into decoys is my passion. Fine guns is my other passion. While at my local gunsmith, I found a Parker VHE for sale with 30" Full/Full barrels. I couldn't help myself and bought it along with some KENT Tungston Coated shells for older guns. I hunted the 1999 season with the 1911 classic and had the season of my life killing a banded Mallard drake and a true Black Duck, both of which were mounted. After the duck season, I purchased a nice stick of walnut from a friend of mine and formulated a plan to send the old gun to Doug Turnbull and then to Dave Christman for the woodwork...... The it happened.... my work took me to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I was 30 year old with two baby boys and needed the money to move, so I sadly sold the old gun and wood to my gunsmith......in the Spring of 2017, I was in my gunsmith's shop looking at guns and talking when he came out of the back room with the most beautiful firearm I'd ever seen..... I immediately recognized it as a Parker shotgun and then realized... IT WAS MY OLD GUN!!! My friend and gunsmith had sent the gun to Doug Turnbull for the metal work, who then sent the gun straight to Dave Christman in Delhi, LA for the woodwork. I was moved to strong emotion as I couldn't believe my eyes. Unfortunately, the price tag on the gun was not way more than I could afford, but I took satisfaction knowing the the old gun was in the condition that it deserved.........My wife and kids were in Vicksburg this past summer for the weekend of my 50th birthday when we went in to my friends gunshop to visit... little did I know that I was in for a big surprise... My wife bought me the 1911 Parker VHE back and gave it to me for my 50th birthday!!!!!!!! It was by far the greatest gift I'd ever received and so proud to have the gun back in my gun safe. It is now an instant heirloom and will not leave the family!!!!!!!! I've already patterned the gun for 1 1/4 oz #6's and will be taking it to the turkey woods in a month. I hope to be able to share those pics with you all soon! Again, thanks for having me, I love the old Parkers!!!!!!!

dana sanders
02-16-2018, 05:45 PM
More pics of my Parker VHE. The ejectors are strong and will throw the spent shells over your shoulder!

Rick Losey
02-16-2018, 05:48 PM
welcome Dana

great story

Bill Davis
02-16-2018, 07:36 PM
Your wife is a treasure—just like your fine Parker! Congratulations on both.

Randy G Roberts
02-16-2018, 08:22 PM
Your wife is a treasure—just like your fine Parker! Congratulations on both.

Amen to that. Keep em both. Great story. You're on a roll. Buy a lottery ticket while you're hot.

Phillip Carr
02-16-2018, 08:30 PM
Welcome. What a great gift and wonderful story. I can not imagine a finer gift than this Parker for your 50 th Birthday.

dana sanders
02-16-2018, 08:33 PM
Your wife is a treasure—just like your fine Parker! Congratulations on both.



No doubt I’m a blessed husband and dad.... my 13 year old Jason has cerebral palsy...we have a videoed Turkey Hunt planned for him in March with Hope Outdoors....he will be pulling the trigger on the old Parker... it’s gonna be awesome!

Daniel G Rainey
02-17-2018, 06:57 AM
great story, great family. Love



Great story great family.

Dean Romig
02-17-2018, 07:32 AM
We need to hear the outcome of that hunt so please keep us informed.

Doug's case colors are beautiful ant that is a beautiful piece of wood on your Parker!






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Garth Gustafson
02-17-2018, 07:50 AM
That's a wonderful story Dana. God bless you and your family. And you have a really sweet Parker there.

Daniel G Rainey
02-17-2018, 07:52 AM
Knew that the picture of your son holding up that black tree rat was from the delta. Only place I have ever seen them is inside the levee.

Bill Murphy
02-17-2018, 10:24 AM
That English walnut really heats up a V grade Parker. Great gun.

Garry L Gordon
02-17-2018, 11:00 AM
As good as that gun is, the story might be better! Thanks for sharing this. It sure beats hearing about another crime on the national media. I'm glad to read accounts like this to help me remember that most of the world is good.

dana sanders
02-17-2018, 11:18 AM
Knew that the picture of your son holding up that black tree rat was from the delta. Only place I have ever seen them is inside the levee.

That is my Nathan who is now 22. We killed a sack of fox squirrels at Mahanna WMA just north of Vicksburg. 4 of our squirrels were black. The lower Delta region in our area has 10-15 percent black phase fox squirrels. I mounted the one he's holding. It was a great memory with my son and the Parker.

Paul Ehlers
02-17-2018, 01:06 PM
What a great heart warming story. Welcome to the group and congratulation's on getting that very nicely done Parker back in the family!! I'll look forward to hearing about how the turkey hunt turns out.

Richard Flanders
02-17-2018, 01:13 PM
What a great story. Very nice looking gun. And many kudos to your wife for what she did after all those years. She and the gunsmith must have had that worked out long in advance! Just goes to show you that collusion works!!

Dale Medders
02-17-2018, 10:45 PM
Handsome boy, pretty wife, nice gun, everybody doing their best for each other.
That's an awesome story to read. Thanks for sharing.