A case for Remington Parkers

[John Bastiani]

I know a few people on the site don't care much for the Remington Parkers but after reading some information from the Remington archives I am reassured that Remington continued the Parker quality and even improved some features. Remington decided to upgrade the quality of the wood -they improved the ejector problems that was a problem on some early Parkers and starting double fitting(tight tolerances that are hand honed to fit) the Parkers like high grade European double guns. I personally like the early Remington Parkers top of the ribs being marked with the barrel steel that was eliminated on the very late guns. Other than that- I'm a big fan of the Remington Parkers guns and can't find much to complain about.

[Dean Romig]

I’m with you John!
Of the various periods or eras of Parker gun production I think the Remington era produced some very lovely guns in their own right. Each period had its own good points as well as some not so good points. I appreciate the Remington Parkers very much.
I used to be a purist but I no longer am.





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[Reggie Bishop]

John I couldn't agree more. I have a GHE 20, #242XXX. There are lots of things to like about the gun. The stock dimensions are very modern with a long length of pull. The wood is outstanding. I also like that the splinter forend is actually larger than the earlier guns which seems to fit my large hands better. I like all eras of Parker guns!

[Bill Murphy]

Keep in mind that many skeet guns, all 1/2 frame guns, and some other variations of Parkers were exclusively or almost exclusively Remington guns. My 28 and .410 skeet guns will be among the last to go.

[Brian Dudley]

Remington Parkers are fine. And other than Dirty Harry, I don't know who else may have an issue with them. He thinks the only "REAL" Parkers were the ones built at Meriden under original ownership.

They have their own features that are unique to them, that are just another step in the line of the Parker Evolution. Really when it comes down to it, the guns are not all that different from the Meriden built guns of the late '20s and early '30s. Most if not all of the cost cutting measures to the shaping of the guns were already implemented by that time. Ie: the shallower shoe filing on the frames, the elimination of the barrel bead extension, the safety button redesign, etc... Once Remington and Ilion came into play, the major changes were the Markings on the frame, barrel, grip caps and buttplates. Ilion guns changed the checkering border design and the stock combs and grips were a little different at the very end too.

In my experience, Later remington built guns often mean higher condition guns, as they are newer and were used less. That is a plus. And they usually mean nicer wood on the lower grade guns.

[John Bastiani]

Remington Parkers are fine. And other than Dirty Harry, I don't know who else may have an issue with them. He thinks the only "REAL" Parkers were the ones built at Meriden under original ownership.

They have their own features that are unique to them, that are just another step in the line of the Parker Evolution. Really when it comes down to it, the guns are not all that different from the Meriden built guns of the late '20s and early '30s. Most if not all of the cost cutting measures to the shaping of the guns were already implemented by that time. Ie: the shallower shoe filing on the frames, the elimination of the barrel bead extension, the safety button redesign, etc... Once Remington and Ilion came into play, the major changes were the Markings on the frame, barrel, grip caps and buttplates. Ilion guns changed the checkering border design and the stock combs and grips were a little different at the very end too.

In my experience, Later remington built guns often mean higher condition guns, as they are newer and were used less. That is a plus. And they usually mean nicer wood on the lower grade guns.

Thanks for pointing out all of the changes in the transition period from Parker to Remington ownership. Could you explain to me -what you mean by barrel bead extension? I also know that on my late GHE 20ga.(Ilion)that there is no middle bead like thats on my earlier Remington Parkers. The DHE 28ga.skeet has a Ivory middle and front bead.-where my 410 has a steel middle and front.

[todd allen]

I have some experience with Remington era guns, and agree with the above.
Where else could you find A1 Special (and above) level wood on a DHE?

[Dean Romig]

John, that would be the "bead" in the frame sculpting, that was small but somewhat time-consuming, which met with the lower "bead" of the barrel flats when the action was closed.

One has the bead while the other doesn't.





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[John Bastiani]

John, that would be the "bead" in the frame sculpting, that was small but somewhat time-consuming, which met with the lower "bead" of the barrel flats when the action was closed.





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Thanks for the information. I was thinking something completely different.

[Richard Flanders]

The best shooting Parker for me that I've ever owned is a 1-1/2 frame 26" SG blonde-stocked VH12. I took over 50 birds at a Utah preserve with that gun one day. I just couldn't seem to miss that day. My inherited VHE20 is also a Remington era gun and doesn't have "Parker" or "Parker Bros" engraved anywhere on the receiver except on one of the flats. The blonde VH12 has "PARKER" engraved across the front of the bottom of the receiver.

[charlie cleveland]

I really like those guns I cannot miss with but its been a while since I owned one...it was a model 11 Remington with 26 imp cly barrel...like you Richard I did not miss often with that gun....musta been about60 years ago I traded that gun to my dad for and over and under savage 12 ga single trigger gun....how often have I thought of that trade....charlie

[Bruce P Bruner]

The elimination of the bead extension was not exclusively a Remington revision. Three examples below illustrate Meridian Parker's without the bead, manufactured in 1903, 1898 and 1928.

[Dean Romig]

Right Bruce, the one I showed without the bead is also a pre-1931 Meriden Parker, as is the last one you picture Bruce.





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[Brian Dudley]

Bruce, the top photo of the DH you show DOES have it.

And, I did not say that it was a remington thing. I specifically stated that the elimination of this feature was done by Meriden long before Remington bought the company.

The only example of earlier made Meriden guns that I have ever seen without it were some 0 frame guns for some reason. Some, not all.

[Arthur Shaffer]

John, that would be the "bead" in the frame sculpting, that was small but somewhat time-consuming, which met with the lower "bead" of the barrel flats when the action was closed.

One has the bead while the other doesn't.





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Dean

What are the DOM of the two guns you show? I think the upper one is much more elegantly shaped in more ways than just the bead.

[Dean Romig]

Art, I really don’t know the DOM of those guns but judging by the engraving alone I would say the top one is about 1890 or so and might even be one of the “three dog” DH guns that are so very uncommon…
The gun in the lower picture was made in the 1920’s but no later than 1931 as the engraver who I believe did that gun, Frederick Anschutz, passed away in 1930 and we don’t see his style of dog after he passed.
Look up Frederick Anschutz in The Parker Story and you will see several references to him, including the actual date of his death, but you will also find where the authors described his dogs as “decidedly male” and the vast majority of his dogs certainly are depicted as most certainly male.

Incidentally, I copied those pictures from the Internet and most probably from this PGCA website.




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[henderson Marriott]

Then there are the elusive 3-inch Remington-Parkers, rare in any grade. I am
still patiently looking for one-maybe even a 2 7/8 in righteous Parker Bros. gun.

[Dave Noreen]

Interesting that Parker Bros./Remington dropped that little bead. Savage kept it on the A.H. Fox guns right to the end.

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[CraigThompson]

I’ve got two skeet guns and two trap guns that are Remington era . I like some used to turn my nose up at the Remington made variation but I shoot these four as well if not better than the pre merger guns . That’s kinda like I used to turn my nose up at non Philly Fox’s !

[Bruce Day]

Here is an original Parker with chamber and barrel measurements . 1 frame 28 “ .

Also shown are the cartridges I shoot through it. Those are quail loads , for pheasant I go to regular 1 1/8 oz 3 dram loads, usually Federals.

[Bruce Day]

More

[Bruce Day]

I put these on the wrong thread. Maybe a moderator or the committee for truth and justice can put it where it belongs.

[Dan Steingraber]

That's a beautiful gun.