Parker book

[bob lyons]

What is the best book to buy on collecting Parker Shotguns ?

[Dean Romig]

Without a doubt The Parker Story is the last word... maybe not the first but certainly the last.





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[Mike Franzen]

I agree The Parker Story is the best book for collectors. The best read in my opinion is is Peter Johnson’s “Parker, America’s Finest Shotgun”

[todd allen]

The best approach is to start with Johnson's book, then Baer, Muderlak, and finish with the Parker Story.
Trust me on this.

[Tom Flanigan]

I’ve always liked the Johnson book. I bought my first copy at ten years old when I knew nothing about the different Parker grades. It contains some good information but, unfortunately some errors. It is written more from the perspective of an enthusiast than the perspective of a historian. But it is an interesting read nevertheless and was instrumental in furthering my love of the Parker gun.

[Russell E. Cleary]

Bob:

I believe that with THE PARKER STORY you will definitely get your money’s-worth, because you will continue referring to it. Not a serendipitous random-walk, the textual content of its two volumes is detailed and organized; and it is profusely illustrated by drawings, tables, and photos.


But I agree that you should not skip over Peter Johnson’s PARKER, AMERICA’S FINEST SHOTGUN. Published in 1962, it is a time-capsule, and what lover of vintage guns can’t appreciate something like that? It is distinctive, as it presages the coming resurgence of interest in doubles -- guns that had become by mid-20th Century overshadowed, both on the range and in the field, by repeaters.

On one level there may be no substitute for Johnson’s infectious passion for the Parker gun. You read that at age five he began collecting gun lists; and as a youth eyed the qualities of a Parker brought into his home by family friend, Dr. Bryant Cook.

In spite of being a blatant booster of the Parker gun Johnson was not a Parker dogmatist. He cites the quality and dependability of other American doubles, specifically listing the Fox, Ithaca, L. C. Smith, Baker, and Lefever.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I agree with Todd, You should start with Johnson, Larry Baer, both volumes, Muderlak, and then both volumes of the Parker Story, which I believe helped put the Parker Shotgun where it is today! Hats off to the authors! Gary

[Paul Ehlers]

I agree The Parker Story is the definitive books to have as a Parker enthusiast.

The other book I feel is a must have is the Parker Gun Identification & Serialization book. The serialization book does have it's short comings due to the missing Parker factory records, but it is truly my first go to book when looking at a potential Parker purchase. It has saved me from a few potential mistakes over the years and it has also given me confidence on buying several guns as well. When you watch this forum long enough you'll see thread after thread asking "what does the book say" about serial number so & so, this is the book they are referring to.

[Bill Murphy]

Let me give a bit of history and information on the Johnson book. Before Peter researched and wrote his book, there was absolutely no information on Parker guns or the company history, in print. Before 1961, collectors such as myself and many others still in the Parker collecting game had no reference material except "For Sale" ads in the Shotgun News and earlier on, the American Rifleman. Shotguns "For Sale" ads in the American Rifleman had pretty much ended by the early fifties. We bought Parkers by the seats of our pants, not having any information on the originality of Parkers we were buying except visual inspection. I was buying Parkers before I knew Peter Johnson personally, and before he wrote his book. Many other collectors were in the same boat. We knew original condition by experience with other guns and paid for guns that looked original to us. Hundreds of guns were faked up with bogus fluid steel markings on blued Damascus barrels. Most of the faked up guns were poorly done, but others were better. We had no information about barrel markings or lists of factory serial numbers to help us. We worked by experience and empirical information gleened by looking at a lot of guns. We had no idea of rarity of certain grades, gauges, and features except by, again, looking at a lot of guns. Things have changed in the sixty years since the Johnson book was published, especially after the Ilion trip by the PGCA research committee in 1998 and the Kevin McCormack and Commander Gunther trip in 1997.

[Andrew Sacco]

I agree The Parker Story is the best book for collectors. The best read in my opinion is is Peter Johnson’s “Parker, America’s Finest Shotgun”

I'm new to Parkers too, and from MY humble perspective, I found the Johnson book too wordy. I think an editor could have cut this book in half and retained any of the information you would need. It's a flowery wordy enthusiast rendition that is clearly biased, no matter how much you love these great guns, but that's just me. I appreciate it from the perspective that it was the first book on these guns (I believe). The serialization book is a must. The Muderlak book is waiting in the wings while I wade through the Parker Story. While I thought the Johnson book was too prose and glowing, the Parker Story reads like the history of the foundation of the Roman Empire. It is packed with detail that stands as a tremendous desk reference. I should have read the serialization intro first, then Muderlak, then the Parker Story. But you'll find that you'll learn a heck of a lot from people on this board. It's incredible to find out what you don't know. Yet.

[Bill Murphy]

Andy, you have to understand that Peter Johnson was not a gun expert, or even a gun enthusiast. He was a college English instructor, maybe a professor. He owned a Parker shotgun or two. When Peter would visit our gun show tables, he had more questions than answers. His research was done by writing letters to a very few sources and patiently waiting for the replies. He did not drive a car and did not travel to do his research. He got some assistance from his students. I have absolutely no criticism of the writing style of my friend Peter Johnson. It is not a book to be used to establish fact, but it was the first book that got us to where we are today. Ed Muderlak and others have written about their experiences with Peter Johnson and shine some light on Peter's efforts. I believe our friend and member James Hall, also wrote of his conversations with Peter.

[Andrew Sacco]

Bill, first of all, I did not mean to offend you or your friend Mr Johnson. I certainly did not know him, and assumed he was an enthusiast, collector and authority. That being said, we all appreciate certain writing styles and in my thirst for knowledge I found myself wanting meat and potatoes as quickly as I could (I'm paying the price now with TPS). I will certainly re read it and I'm looking at it on my shelf sandwiched between Shotgun Technicana and Spanish Best, so it does occupy a place in my humble library. I do appreciate your perspective on what he accomplished.

[Mike Koneski]

I agree with Todd. Johnson (which you have read), Baer, Muderlak and TPS. But definitely get the Parker Identification and Serialization book too. You will use that one A LOT.

[Mike Koneski]

Andy, when on my downtime from December through February, I read all of those books, including TPS. There were some chapters I skipped in TPS just because I really wasn't interested in reading about certain aspects of the family or items not shotgun related. That's OK, if I need to look something up I know where to find it. You'll figure out what you want to do as you plow through the many pages.

I REALLY enjoyed Ed Muderlak's books. I mean REALLY!! They are all good in their own way, but it was nice seeing some of the things he wrote about.

[Bill Murphy]

Ed Muderlak's books, Parker Guns, Shooting Flying and the American Experience, and Parker Guns, The Old Reliable are not to be missed. However, they may have reached collector status and be out of reach for casual readers. Ed may not have been one of my favorite people, but he was a great writer and historian. He is one of the people who made this website what it is today. Comments?

[John Davis]

"Comments?"

I agree.

[Dean Romig]

“Comments?”

Nancy is an angel.

Further DSR sayeth naught.



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[Mike Franzen]

I recommend Peter Johnson’s book because there I read prose written with passion that in my opinion is infectious. It lit the fire within for me and from that point on I felt a passion for these guns that I have for no other. I respect the other makers and the people who collect and shoot them but I have no passion for owning any of them. Only my Winchesters model 12 and 42 plus an old Stevens 20 gauge give any feeling and that’s more due to sentiment. However, I think I could feel something for a Wesley Richards if I found the right one.

[Kevin McCormack]

1) Oh, My!!
2) WESTLEY Richards
3) Hold out for a droplock 28 gauge

[Garry L Gordon]

The books mentioned are different from each other, and as a whole, make up a pretty darned good Parker library. The amount of information in TPS is unexcelled, but the other books provide lots to learn from and think about.

Don't forget to add in past issues of the Parker Pages -- a good source of information on many things not mentioned in any of the other books. The search function on the forum is also a great resource.

I especially like (but don't always agree with) Ed M.'s views. Lots of fodder for discussion in all of them.