Author needs help

[Aaron Hopkins]

If somebody is willing to venture an opinion, I need an idea of what a side-by-side Parker might have been worth in 1960. I am writing a piece of fiction in which the value of a stolen Parker contributes to the story line. The Parker is not specifically described so a range of values would be plenty of help. Would appreciate anything you can do.

[Todd Poer]

Ewh cool. Prices will very greatly pick a grade of gun like a fancy expensive gun with lots of engraving and fine wood that someone of means would have, or just a field grade gun that would have been used as go to hunting gun. What is setting of story.

All that will help and there are several knowledgeable guys could probably help.

[Chuck Bishop]

No one can tell you what it was worth in 1960, it would depend on the grade and condition. It might be better in the story line to list the grade and year of manufacture. I could look up the price of the grade and tell you what it sold for when new if that helps

[John Campbell]

Use this tool:

http://futureboy.us/fsp/dollar.fsp

[Mark Ray]

I think the simplest answer would not differ much from today! $50 for a parts junker, and upwards of $100,000 for a holy grail gun...so you can take your pick!

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Keep in mind, in 1960, anything but a fluid steel barrel gun would have been a wallhanger with very little value. Even a higher grade gun.

Destry

[todd allen]

I have a certain attraction to these wallhangers. Wish I could have picked some up at 1960s pricing!

[Craig Budgeon]

Contact Griffin & Howe, they were in business then and handled Parkers.

[Bill Murphy]

Assuming 12 gauge, a VH non ejector gun in clean condition would have sold for $125, maybe $150 if in very nice condition. A DH grade gun in field used condition, but clean, would sell for $200. These are just examples from my 1960 past.

[Aaron Hopkins]

No one can tell you what it was worth in 1960, it would depend on the grade and condition. It might be better in the story line to list the grade and year of manufacture. I could look up the price of the grade and tell you what it sold for when new if that helps
That would help; if you would pick out a grade likely for the circumstances I will describe, and look it up.
Grade isn't defined in the story line because it would be out of character for the owner, who inherited it, to know much about it. It would not be a very high end gun, but would be better than a Trojan. Would have been a 12 or 16 gauge bought in the 1920s and used for hunting by a prosperous banker in a small town. And it would be in good used condition, prized and cared for by its original owner and not used at all since his death in 1955.

[Rick Losey]

my bet is a 'prosperous" small town banker would have owned a DH - a 16 if he is an upland hunter

[Aaron Hopkins]

Thanks. Would indeed have been an upland hunter. Got any idea what DH-16 would have been worth in good condition in 1960? Failing that, what it would have cost in 1920s, before the market crash?

[Rick Losey]

some one here will have either the catalog with a price list or a research letter for a 1920's DH that will give the price

as for 1960- i expect the only way to get a price would be to find old magazine ads - they could have been sold by mail back then

[Jeff Kuss]

1926 a DH 16 was $136. My guess that a Dh 16 in 1960 would have been $200 to 250.

[Dean Romig]

And a prosperous middle-aged banker would likely have ordered a gun with ejectors and Titanic Steel barrels - a DHE 16 or 20 for upland birds.






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[Aaron Hopkins]

Thanks to everybody. I'm going to try the magazine ad suggestion. I have used that technique successfully on other projects, but wouldn't have thought of it if you hadn't reminded me, nor known of which model to price.

[Eric Eis]

I think Bill and Jeff have given you a good price range for a D grade gun in the early 60's

[Garth Gustafson]

Here are a couple of nice Parkers that were offered for sale in the Shotgun News in Sept 1968. The DHE and CHE grades are mid to higher grade Parkers and these particular guns happen to have a lot of extras. They were all manufactured in the late 1920s -early 1930s, in excellent condition and priced from $785-$875.

[Mark Ray]

Here are a couple of nice Parkers that were offered for sale in the Shotgun News in Sept 1968. The DHE and CHE grades are mid to higher grade Parkers and these particular guns happen to have a lot of extras. They were all manufactured in the late 1920s -early 1930s, in excellent condition and priced from $785-$875.

I am spending the next quarter concentrating on perfecting a time machine!!

[Todd Poer]

Just guessing but if a hot stolsdn gun might have been worth $500 or more thief could have hocked it at pawn shop for maybe $100 or more bucks. $100 bucks of quick easy cash would have been enticing. Watch original Heat of Night with Sidney Loftier. They dont talk about value of guns but time value of money and how much things cost are indicative.

[edgarspencer]

Taken from the Abercrombie & Fitch ledger for GH Ejector guns, page 355, one can see a Mr. E.F. Hutton purchased a 28" barreled 20gauge GHE on October 23rd, 1934. I believe he was a somewhat prominent banker. I doubt the value of two equal condition GHEs made 10 years apart would vary at all in 1960.

[Bill Zachow]

DH $85 to $125; CH $175 to $250

[Scott Janowski]

From the 1955 Abercrombie & Fitch used gun list FALL 1955.
DHE 16 ga 28" barrel good condition $250.00.
DHE 16 32" barrels Single trigger Excellent condition, $400.00
BHE 12 ga 26" barrels,good condition. $400.00.
Hope this helps

[Bill Murphy]

I remember being in the Abercrombie and Fitch showroom in 1960. I was sent a used gun list by mail shortly after. I still have it, addressed to me. Two AAH Parkers were there in the gun room at the time and were also listed in the used gun list. One was $600, the other was $650. They were tired guns, but well worth the asking price, even in 1960.

[John Campbell]

Not to prolong this, but according to my source:

"$650 dollars in 1960 had the same buying power as $5406.49 current dollars."