Decisions, Decisions....

[Dean Romig]

I just came back from my local gun shop - actually, he's a friend and handles all of my FFL transactions and calls me whenever a Parker comes into his shop... and he called me this morning.

Now I need to decide if I should actually buy this one. If it hadn't been restocked quite a while back it would be a no-brainer because the gun is in otherwise beautiful original condition with probably 70% case color and probably 90% of it's original barrel finish.

The consignor (also a friend) hasn't put a price on ot so it's up to me to come up with a fair price... dang I hate this. :banghead:

Serial number is 77300 and it checks out in the Serialization book. I wish I knew the original measurements of the stock... This replacement is pretty well done but has a 3 1/8" DAH and a 1 3/4" DAC and a 14 1/2 LOP. Not really a good fit for me...

Butt plate and screws are wrong as is the grip cap and there is no shield on the toe line. The wood isn't what we would consider Grade 2 quality, but more like what we would expect to see on a Trojan or VH.

The last two pictures are of the subject gun (L) next to a "restored" GH 1-frame (R) with serial number 67,XXX.

Decisions, Decisions...


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[Jay Gardner]

Don't you hate it when that happens?

[charlie cleveland]

go ahead and buy it...if you don't it will bother you the rest of your days...charlie

[Mike Franzen]

Do you have any pictures of the butt? My first instinct is to walk away unless you were going to get a proper stock. Otherwise you would always be apologizing for the butt.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Dean, is that a 1 frame 12 ga, or is that a `16. The 3 1/8" drop is a bit much for me.

[Kenny Graft]

Dean....it will need re-stocked for you or you will shoot the feet off the grouse and shoot under woodcock completely! I know...been there. SXS Ohio

[Dean Romig]

Right, it is a light 1-frame 12 with 28” barrels choked IC/Full.

Restocking would likely cost mor than the gun would be worth when done. If it was anything smaller than a 12 I might consider it but Grade-2 Damascus 12’s with these commonest of features are NOT desirable these days, even in this high condition.
So unless it’s dirt cheap I think I’ll pass. I already have a couple of project guns and don’t really need another.





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[Ted Hicks]

It's a beautiful gun. The Damascus pattern seems unusual...is that chain Damascus?

[Harry Collins]

Dean,

I had a 12 gauge GH 1 frame in the 67,000 serial number range that was my "Benchmark" Parker. I sold it to Kevin Kelly at the 2012 Fall Southern along with my 28 gauge VH. Buy the gun and restock it. So what if you're upside down on it and at your age it won't amortize out.

Harry

[edgarspencer]

If it doesn't fill a hole in your "Needs" Why bother?

[Craig Larter]

Pass!

[Phillip Carr]

Wrong area

[Garry L Gordon]

If it doesn't fill a hole in your "Needs" Why bother?

Needs!?!?:rotf:

[Dean Romig]

It's a beautiful gun. The Damascus pattern seems unusual...is that chain Damascus?


No Ted, it's not chain - it's just plain old 3-iron crolle Damascus.

For some reason refinished barrels sometimes show better definition than a lot of original Damascus barrels do.





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[Randy G Roberts]

I would have to pass on that one. If you're like me the ones that really grab you do not require much thought.

[Dean Romig]

Butbutbutbut... the condition of everything else is ripping me up :crying:





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[Daryl Corona]

But..... it's not a 20 or 28. Does that make it any easier for you Dean? Funny how now before any thing else I look for the gauge first, condition second, all else third.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Dean, It is going to take a restock for the gun to fit you, If you want to spend the money for that go for it if not I would pass! Gary

[edgarspencer]

Needs!?!?:rotf:

Sorry, It's this heat wave. I caught myself thinking like my wife.

[Mark Ray]

Do you have any pictures of the butt? My first instinct is to walk away unless you were going to get a proper stock. Otherwise you would always be apologizing for the butt.

I often have to apologize for being a butt!! Oh wait........:):shock::

[Dean Romig]

Well, like I said earlier, if it's not dirt cheap I'll pass on it.





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[CraigThompson]

But..... it's not a 20 or 28. Does that make it any easier for you Dean? Funny how now before any thing else I look for the gauge first, condition second, all else third.

I go along 100% with the gauge first !

Only thing my preferred gauges are a little unusual as a grouping 10-16-28 :whistle:

[Mike Koneski]

I agree Dean, IF it's dirt cheap. Nothing like putting out $1000+ for a gun then having to dump another $2K+ for a restock. A small gauge then yes, but how many 12g guns in various iterations do we have? BTW, it has nothing to do with NEED and everything to do with WANT!! :)

[Dean Romig]

I brought it back to the shop... bye-bye





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Great, cant remember if I have ever handled a 1 frame 12, might make a nice plains gun for the uplands Of course you are a long way from the plains.

[Dean Romig]

Bores are pristine -

Rt. bore is .736" with a choke of .009" and a 4 5/8" taper.
Left bore is .736" with a choke constriction of .036 and a 6 1/2" taper.





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[Rick Losey]

Great, cant remember if I have ever handled a 1 frame 12, might make a nice plains gun for the uplands Of course you are a long way from the plains.

I have one that is a very early hammerless 12/28" - it's a great grouse/woodcock gun with light loads

[Jean Swanson]

Hey Dean----if the gun is nothing that you want & there are problem with the gun, do not try to advise a friend as to what to do, you will end up being the bad guy. Right or wrong !!!
Allan

[Dean Romig]

Hey Dean----if the gun is nothing that you want & there are problem with the gun, do not try to advise a friend as to what to do, you will end up being the bad guy. Right or wrong !!!
Allan


Nope, thanks Allan - Far be it from me to suggest anybody buy this gun or what to do with it if they do buy it. Whoever buys it is on their own.

I'm just sorry to have to witness yet another beautiful Parker, with wonderful attributes, that has been improperly repaired. Neither the owner of the gun, the owner of the gun shop nor I know any of the history of the gun. The owner of the gun (about my age) owns and operates a car and truck repair shop and about twenty years ago took it in as partial payment for some work he did on a guy's car who couldn't come up with enough money to cover the bill.





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[Randy G Roberts]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;309362]Bores are pristine -

Rt. bore is .736" with a choke of .009" and a 4 5/8" taper.
Left bore is .736" with a choke constriction of .036 and a 6 1/2" taper.


6 1/2" taper, never had one like that. Not questioning it by any means. I would like to see how that one patterns. BTW what's the difference between a want and a need? My mind says they're the same thing. If you have a rational explanation I will ignore it. :)

[Dean Romig]

The difference in my case is I don’t NEED it.





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[Gary Laudermilch]

I have a 1 frame 12 with 26" factory barrels. It weighs 6-10 and handles like a 20. Big difference is it was priced like a 12 not like a 20. It is a delightful grouse gun.

I know a guy that has been looking for a nice shooter, reasonably priced 20. He has not had any luck finding one within his budget. I suggested he look for a 1 frame 12 but he turned his nose up at the idea of a 12 ga. That is, until I finally convinced him to try mine. He is now a convert.

[Richard Flanders]

Me too Gary. I have a #1-frame 26" damascus GHE 12 that weighs 6#10oz. I love that thing for grouse in hvy cover using light loads. And, I guess if I can shoot well with my 3.5DAH 1-1/2 frame VH12 2-bbl 26"/30" set, I could manage with this one that Dean passed on just fine! What a beautiful gun. The dolls head fit seems better than most. Sure hasn't been used much and certainly not abused. If Dean was only 40yrs old he'd be bragging up having bought this beauty!

[Harry Collins]

My remaining GH 12 gauge on a ! frame, also in the 67,000 range, has 28" barrels choked .005 and .027. It weighs in at 7 lbs and a delight to shoot all day long with modest velocity 7/8 oz loads. I just love the 1 frame 12's.

[Randy G Roberts]

A 1920 GHE 1 frame 12 with 28" barrels weighing in at 6 lbs-15 oz's.

[Dean Romig]

A very nice one Randy!





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[Mike Koneski]

I brought it back to the shop... bye-bye





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Price must have been right? :):whistle::bowdown:

[Jeff Kuss]

What happened to the other 6 " of barrel Randy?

[Randy G Roberts]

What happened to the other 6 " of barrel Randy?

I know, not my style. Seems I have developed a soft spot for condition. I do happen to have a GHE that has that extra 6" of barrel on it coincidentally.:)

[Dean Romig]

Price must have been right? :):whistle::bowdown:


No, I brought it back to the gun shop. He let me take it home to take measurements and I brought it back to him yesterday.
I never made an offer and have no idea what price the owner would have accepted.





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[John Dallas]

I've never liked being asked "What will you pay?" No matter what you say, the answer is "It's not enough". You're bidding against yourself.

[allen newell]

Dean, restocking that gun would run at least $3,500

[Dean Romig]

I know it will be costly but “I know a guy...”

Seriously though - I let it go. I don’t even think about it anymore.





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