Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under

[Reggie Bishop]

Shotguns only. How faithful are you to the Parker gun? I don't own nearly as many shotguns as a lot of you do, but I can say that 100% of the shotguns I own are Parker Brothers (including one Remington Parker)! What about you?

[Rick Losey]

how boring :rotf::rotf::rotf:

:duck: :duck: :duck:

[Reggie Bishop]

LOL!

My B,C,Ds & VHEs all take offense!

[Craig Larter]

In shotguns in terms of numbers, Parker first, Fox second, LC Smith third, Ithaca last. They all fascinate me as objects created by different individuals and companies during the gilded age and into the early years of last century. My primary focus has been on american waterfowl guns from that same period regardless of manufacturer.

[Bill Murphy]

I don't own every brand of fine shotgun, but I'm getting there. I have owned my first Parker for sixty years, since I was fourteen years old, and finally reached the holy grail recently. My "holy grail" was a Whitworth Fluid Steel barrel AA Grade Parker Pigeon Gun and a Whitworth barrel exposed hammer, bar in iron, late Purdey pigeon gun, one of the last ever made before the recent reintroduction at $80,000 plus. My first shotgun, when I was about eleven years old, was an 1887 Lefever E Grade pigeon gun owned by my grandfather, a pigeon shooter and pigeon ring proprietor in Hazleton, PA. I guess I was inoculated early with the "shoot birds for money" needle. He died in 1929 and his Lefever remained in storage with my uncle Norbert until he sent it to me around 1956. Apparently, eleven was his idea of the proper age for a kid to have his first Lefever. I wasted no time loading my first box of black powder shells for it.

[Garry L Gordon]

I’m a two timer...many (many) times over.

[Randy G Roberts]

I have others, (LC Smith, Winchester, Fox, and Ithacas mainly) but I have transitioned to Parkers almost exclusively over the last few years. There are lots of reasons for this I suppose but the ones that jump out at me would be the gun itself and then there's the PGCA and the folks involved. Not a bad place to hang out eh :)

[Paul Ehlers]

I play the field, but have found the fair maidens from Meriden to be the ones to take home to mom.:whistle:

[Mark Ray]

Parker by far #1, followed loosely in order by Fox, Smith, Ithaca, Various Brits, Baker, LeFever, Various Euro Guns, Iver Johnson, American Hardware Store guns, and a couple of very early Japanese "B.C. MY Luck doubles.

[Mills Morrison]

Parkers make up the majority of my collection and I shoot Parkers more than anything else, but I also enjoy a wide variety of other classic guns, including a few autos, pump guns and over and unders. I am partial to American made

[Phil Yearout]

Six Foxes, three Stevens, two Parkers. Love 'em all.

[George Davis]

Based on the numbers of shotguns it would be a tie between: Parkers and Browning Superposed followed by Fox and Smiths. However based on the number times they are shot and shell count the of Brownings win by a wide margin.

[Reggie Bishop]

Six Foxes, three Stevens, two Parkers. Love 'em all.

Phil that is only 18%. You need to get busy and turn that % around!

[Reggie Bishop]

Based on the numbers of shotguns it would be a tie between: Parkers and Browning Superposed followed by Fox and Smiths. However based on the number times they are shot and shell count the of Brownings win by a wide margin.

At one time I owned a number of Superposed guns, mostly 20s. But I sold them all off when I started w/ Parkers.

[Bill Murphy]

Reggie and George, I also collect Browning Superposed, mostly prewar, but a sprinkling of early unfired twenties, which are all postwar, introduced in 1949.

[Reggie Bishop]

Bill I had a handful of 20s that were made in the 1950s. I always thought that those were much more lithe, better handling gun than the later Superposed guns.

[Brian Dudley]

I have Parkers, Lefevers, Foxes, German doubles, Browning A5s, Remingtons 11s. Along with a few other oddballs.

However, I usually shoot the Parkers, Lefevers or German guns.

[Tom Hawkins]

I never know what is next until I know. Parkers (hammer and hammer less), Superposed, Lefevers, L C Smiths, Fox, and Ithaca. Mostly 16 doubles except for the Superlight Superposeds and a few big bore Parkers.

[davidboyles]

I guess I drank the Koolaid several years ago. Majority are Parkers that crowd the cabinet. Seems like the nod is usually atl least one Parker when I but on my boots. I do have some Belgium SXS I like. Along with some Win 21's one Ithaca and one English 28 ga.(Which will be forsale). Almost forgot an SKB 410 Czech gun with 29" bbls that is a real killer. Shot it yesterday and put the Parkers to shame. Oh well

[Chuck Bishop]

All my SxS's and SBT are Parkers along with Krieghoff, Beretta and Winchester but those have the barrels positioned incorrectly!

[Rick Riddell]

Wow, 1 Parker 2 British (London best & Birmingham’s worse) and 1 Scots!

[Daryl Corona]

I started out as a Parker guy at the ripe old age of 10. Still am. I have to say that AH Fox built a hell of a smallbore (20ga,) and Lefever has a prized spot in my shooting arsenal. Not to leave out the M12's or the Belgium Brownings. Oh, there is a Wm. Ford 20 hammer gun in the mix too. Geez.... I think I might need more shoes.

[allen newell]

All Parkers save for one lowly Beretta 28 ga O/U (That i love)

[Daniel Carter]

Got me to thinking about this and I have owned a lot of guns over the years. Parkers, Fox, Lefever,Stevens, Remington and some I may have forgotten. A Greener, Baretta ,Browning and have loved them all for one reason or another. Have some great friends who let me shoot their Holland and model 21's. They all have their place and purpose and I need to find that next one.

[Marty Kohler]

Question answered?

[Reggie Bishop]

Marty I like what I see!

[Randy G Roberts]

Question answered?

Yes Sir. I get it. Nice arsenal.

[Michael Moffa]

Rem 870, Parker, Beretta, Parker, Parker, Parker, Beretta, Parker, Parker, Parker, Beretta, Parker, Parker, Parker, Huglu (don't ask), Parker, Parker, Parker, Parker, Parker, Benelli (28ga), Parker, RBL, Parker, Parker, A10, Inverness, Parker, Parker, Parker... And so on and so forth.

[Mark Ray]

Oops, I forgot one Mod. 21 Winny, and my custom De Haan .410.
All over the map, but Parker centric!

[Bill Jolliff]

Currently, no Parker's. I've got a bunch of Fox's now, as seen below. Couple more in a rack not seen.

I've had some dandy Parker's, some nice Lefever's, Smith's and Ithaca's. I do have another double under the bed, an H&H 12 gauge hammer gun.

And I still have my first shotgun, a J. C. Higgin's bolt action 16 gauge that I got when I was a sophomore in high school 67 years ago.

https://i.imgur.com/8chtz6b.jpg

[Reggie Bishop]

I have learned a couple of things; I don't own nearly enough shotguns and you don't get kicked out of the club for being a cheater! Thanks for all the responses!

[Harry Collins]

It wasn't until I was in the Navy that I realized God made shotguns other than Parker and Winchester. I reach for the Parker's 98% of the time. I do enjoy my 2 1/2" chambered 20 gauge Model 12 from 1917, a Model 12 two barrel set 12 gauge, and a Model 97. I have a Mossberg 500 for dragging through the mud and canoe rides. Papa's Browning 425 12 and 28 are mostly for the grandchildren to borrow. There is a Beretta O/U double trigger 12 that sees daylight on occasions. If it's your Harum you are putting your boots under your bed arn't you?

[Bill Jolliff]

It wasn't until I was in the Navy that I realized God made shotguns other than Parker and Winchester.

Harry,

Speaking of the Navy, pictured below is the sometimes Sunday afternoon activity on the fantail of the ship I was on at the time. We shot a variety of guns and targets. Colt M1911's, M1 Garand's and side by side shot guns. Ithaca's I'm thinking. Targets were anything that would float long enough to shoot at.

Of course, we only did this while we were underway.

And by the way, the ship was a troop and dependent transport so if any of you lads and lassies happen to have a boat ride to or from Germany or England from NYC in the mid 1950's, we may have been your conveyance. The USS Gen. H. W. Butner T-AP 113.

Jolly

https://i.imgur.com/DhFPANO.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

Jolliff, that is a great looking gun cabinet. Now, where are the rest of them? Bill Murphy

[Eric Eis]

I still love Parkers and have my V grade collection (12-410) and a few more small bores, a couple of Fox A grade 16 and20, and then a few English guns, pair of 28's, a 16 and a 20, a hammer 28 Damascus with a set of modern 410 barrels, a hammer 20 ga and Scottish 16 and a few other assorted shotguns

[Tom Pellegrini]

All Parkers for me. I have handled and shot others, but there is just something about a Parker.

[Rich Anderson]

Parkers make up the majority but there are a couple of Purdey's a Holland & Holland, Stephan Grant, a couple of Fox's, Winchester M42. J Venebles ans Son.
Of all the makers the small bores rule!

[Bill Jolliff]

Jolliff, that is a great looking gun cabinet. Now, where are the rest of them? Bill Murphy

I forgot these two . . . .

https://i.imgur.com/N9QrCJW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KeM1XUd.jpg

[Rick Losey]

probably the only guy with a matched pair of cased Fox toy guns

Purdey eat your heart out

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

[Mike Koneski]

Double guns in order: Parker, Lefever, Ithaca, Crescent Arms, Browning, Hollis, Darne, CZ. Might be a few other stragglers in the back of the safes?

[todd allen]

Approx. 8 Parkers, several Winchesters, 2 Perazzis, an absolutely stunning H&H Royal Side Lock Ejector, built in 1900, three Beretta ALs, one being a dedicated clays gun, and a few other miscellaneous guns. Ithaca, Daly, etc. Oh, and a very early LC Smith.
Sad to say I have never owned a Lefever.

[Jacob Duke]

Hopefully this admission won’t get me banned from the board. I only have one Parker, a Trojan 20, that I use for all my upland hunting. For waterfowl I use a Benelli SBE.

[Matt Buckley]

Besides Parkers I have Fox, JP Sauer, Ithaca, Browning, Winchester, Remington, and have owned other brands over time. A little variety never hurt anyone.

[John Dallas]

Parker, Fox, Winchester, Remington, Kreighoff, CSMC, Ruger, S&W, High Standard

[Mike Franzen]

Since joining the PGCA I haven’t wanted to buy any other make of shotgun.... with two exceptions. One was a 5 lbs 20 gauge Ithaca double that was so cheap my money hand just unconsciously reached in my pocket and pulled out the lettuce. I’ve never shot it but figured it might be nice to carry in the field when I’m 90. The other was a Lefever 16 gauge that I thought I needed. Shortly after, I realized I would never hunt with the piece. I sold it for a real good deal. Only lost $200. For me when you add it all up nothing else compares to the Parker gun.

[Bill Holcombe]

I have 4 parkers- 2 DHs and 2 CHEs. I also have my Superposed 12 gauge pigeon and my dad's 20 gauge A5 and 12 gauge model 12.

[Stan Hillis]

I'm no more a one "gun" man than I am a one gamebird man. Doves, ducks, quail ....... all deserve allegiance. Same with my doubles. But, this new Parker DHE has been christened "Melania"....... after all, she is the first lady of my current doubles.

SRH

[Mills Morrison]

Celebrated opening day of duck season with the L C Smith Long Range

[Russell E. Cleary]

I have learned a couple of things; I don't own nearly enough shotguns and you don't get kicked out of the club for being a cheater! Thanks for all the responses!

Reggie:

Same sentiments here.

Also, this and other recent posts have shown me that we can have folks on here that have alluded previously to having but modest collections, been self-effacing about their stature as collectors, but by my standards have an enviable number of fine guns.

I only have six shotguns now. For reasons of "downsizing" I have decided to limit my “inventory” to what can be contained where the guns are locked up. This, combined with my late-in-life predilection for using vintage side-by-sides for both clays and game, accounts for my having sold all the repeaters I have ever owned (not really many), and retaining the doubles, while opening up some space to accommodate a new gun or two.

This leaves me at present with four legacy Parkers and two more that I have acquired on my own. They are:

Trojan 12-gauge; 2-frame; 30-inch – my father’s favorite (for Ducks and Pheasants) that he bought from a patient of his

12-gauge VH; 2-frame; 30-inch -- bought from his friend and colleague -- a transitory aberration for that confirmed Model 12 man

12-gauge DHE; 1 ½-frame; 28-inch --bought from a hunting and fishing buddy who owned a sporting goods store

16-gauge VH; 1-frame; 28-inch -- bought from another buddy who had a nose for good deals in guns

12-gauge GH; 1 ½-frame; 28-inch -- bought by me so I can carry it and fall down in the woods and not feel like I had marred one of “Dad’s guns” (he died 27 years ago; but still….)

16-gauge VH; 0-frame; 26-inch -- bought by me, again for my use on terrain where the footing is bad

I have bid on doubles of other makes, both American and British, but have not had the requisite confidence nor resolve with those. Why so?

Well, I see it as missing some advantages when I cast about beyond my Parkerdom frame-of-reference. Either it’s lacking the same level of available guns (nearly ¼ million Parkers manufactured); or the bibliography (four hard-cover published works) or it's due to the manifold, on-going and readily-accessed resources of the PGCA, in comparison with the otherwise-worthy alternatives.

[Ronald Scott]

1st bird taken on the wing, a passing mallard, age 16, a borrowed Trojan 12, pulled both triggers by mistake, knocked me over, bird fell too, no damage to the gun. 2nd bird, a cock pheasant, over our English setter, used Dad's LC Smith Ideal Grade 12 -- I still have and treasure that gun. Then somehow 50 years went by and the gun cabinet filled to overflowing with a variety guns and many fond memories. Only one Parker though -- just purchased it this year -- a nice 16 ga Damascus 0 frame GH. It was my go to upland bird gun this season until recently. My latest obsession is hunting with and shooting black powder out of a 9.2 lb 30" Damascus 10 gauge A grade H&R 1882. I love 'em all -- can't see myself settling down any time soon.

[Bill Murphy]

Ron, have we seen pictures of your H&R A Grade? They are wonderful guns and we don't see enough of them.

[Ronald Scott]

Ron, have we seen pictures of your H&R A Grade? They are wonderful guns and we don't see enough of them.

Bill -- this thread (http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27640&highlight=harrington+Richardson) is about the gun that belonged to my great great grandfather. I also wrote an article about that gun for DGJ which I believe Daniel and Joanna will be publishing in the next issue (Vol 31, Issue 4).

In addition to that one I bought 2 more. A 12 and a 10 gauge. Since these guns are not marked (non were) as to the grade you have to go by the amount of engraving and checkering & quality of the walnut. My great grandfather's is without doubt an A grade. I think the 10 gauge is too but it lacks some of the artistry, especially on the fences. It does however have very similar checkering. The 12 doesn't have either but it does have the fancy Damascus which only the A and B grades had. So I'm thinking the 10 gauge is an A grade, the 12 gauge a B grade, and my great grand father's an extra fancy A grade. The DGJ article has a ton of information about that gun and my theory about where it came from.

These are a few snap shots of the 10 & 12 (the 10 gauge has the straight grip) -- these two guns are consecutively serial numbered. Compare them to the gun pictured in the thread and you will see the difference in the grades.

The other interesting thing about two 12 gauge guns is that they both have the more open choke in the left barrel and the right one is tight. The 10 gauge is choked the "normal" way -- right barrel open , left barrel tight. There is a lot more we don't know about these guns than do know.

[keavin nelson]

Well, it starts with the first Parker bought by Dad for me in a Farmville, Va. hardware store when I was 14, which I still have. I think he paid $45 for it! And I still shoot it once in awhile. After that have added 3 DHs, 3 GH, one a 16 ga GHE, one 16Ga O frame P, Two more 12 Ga Ps, 3 16Ga. VH, one 12 ga hammer, one 12 Ga D grade hammer gun, an assortment (4) of Foxes 12s and 16s, 4 LC Smith including a 20 Ga. FW, a sweet Belgium 16ga made for a Boston dealer, a Ithaca SKB Mod 100 12, a Browning BPR 12 g w/three barrels, an Ithaca 16 ga Mod 37 that I shot my first grouse with at 12.
But in the end the Parkers are the favorite of all.

[Garry L Gordon]

Well, it starts with the first Parker bought by Dad for me in a Farmville, Va. hardware store when I was 14, which I still have. I think he paid $45 for it! And I still shoot it once in awhile. After that have added 3 DHs, 3 GH, one a 16 ga GHE, one 16Ga O frame P, Two more 12 Ga Ps, 3 16Ga. VH, one 12 ga hammer, one 12 Ga D grade hammer gun, an assortment (4) of Foxes 12s and 16s, 4 LC Smith including a 20 Ga. FW, a sweet Belgium 16ga made for a Boston dealer, a Ithaca SKB Mod 100 12, a Browning BPR 12 g w/three barrels, an Ithaca 16 ga Mod 37 that I shot my first grouse with at 12.
But in the end the Parkers are the favorite of all.

Keavin, What a great collection! Just curious, as a native Virginian once having relatives in Farmville, are you from the area? Do you recall the name of the hardware store?

[George Davis]

Kevin,
Bad news you have the Shotgun Disease, "Just One More"! Its almost never curable but just some much fun finding that next "One"!

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Well for me mostly Parkers, German double rifle, couple Winchesters, Hellis 410 hammer gun, William Atkinson 28 hammer gun, Shilo Sharps 45-70, Original 1874 Mid range Sharps 40-70, At present I only have 4 hammerless Parkers, Most interesting Parker AA Hammer gun and a grade 3 with Bernard barrels and gold oval in the grip as you would normally see in higher grades, Looking for a grade 3 16 gauge, fun ain't it! Gary

[Ronald Scott]

Well for me mostly Parkers, German double rifle, couple Winchesters, Hellis 410 hammer gun, William Atkinson 28 hammer gun, Shilo Sharps 45-70, Original 1874 Mid range Sharps 40-70, At present I only have 4 hammerless Parkers, Most interesting Parker AA Hammer gun and a grade 3 with Bernard barrels and gold oval in the grip as you would normally see in higher grades, Looking for a grade 3 16 gauge, fun ain't it! Gary

Not much in life is more fun than searching for the next gun you just have to have.

[Bill Murphy]

I guess I could add a few Prussian Lindners, one in the mail, a few big guns, an assortment of single traps, a gaggle of Model 12s and 42s, a mix of Lefevers and Foxes, and a couple pair of Berettas and Krieghoffs for clay targets when I want to lose money at a greater rate than I do with the pigeon guns.