2023 was a good year, and you?

[Craig Larter]

Looking back on 2023 it was a good year,. I made the Southern, Hausmann's, Rock Mountain and the Vintagers. It was great getting to socialize and shoot with so many like minded people. All the collecting organizations seem strong and ready to flourish into the future. Duck hunting was a challenge this year but bird numbers and habitat conditions run on long cycles. Given the absence of ducks, I was still out in the marsh many days with friends, family and my pups. Parker collecting was a highlight in 23, I added 4 very nice examples. I added two great Foxes and a couple of fine Else's. Sold a like number to keep the inventory from getting out of control. Looking forward to 24 as I have a new pup coming in a couple of weeks. We have a winter SxS clays group that shoots every Sunday during our long and cold upstate winters. Not sure if I will make the Southern or attend the National Decoy Show and Auction in Chicago the same weekend. Hausmann's is booked. I promised myself NO MORE GUNS IN 2024, like my attempts at dieting I wonder how long I can hold out.

[Rick Losey]

I promised myself NO MORE GUNS IN 2024, like my attempts at dieting I wonder how long I can hold out.

Did you have your fingers crossed?

[CraigThompson]

I bought three guns and none stayed with me longer than a couple weeks ! I did buy a partial box of 8 gauge buckshot , some brass 10 gauge hulls and a 1937 Parker brochure spiral bound . This is the first year I remember not buying a gun to keep . I might add I sold over a dozen guns of which there were two 8 gauges several 10’s a couple 12’s a couple 16’s a couple 20’s and an SC .

[CraigThompson]

I did Sanford , Hausemann’s , Koneski’s and the Vintage Cup with several one day things at Prospect Hall as well as the VA Vintagers events . This year was more about socializing than shooting . I did four tower deals at Prospect Hall and a quail thing at Rasawek . But I gotta say deer season has been working one me more and more each year for the last five or six years . Have taken a good amount and am glad I decided to do the opener in WVA but I finally came to the realization I can’t go at it like I used to ! Legal bucks go out in VA this Saturday but antlerless in my county goes until March 31st but I’m not sure how much good that will do me ! I’ll be in the Philippines from 3/11/24 until mid March so that cuts three weeks off and I’ll be in Argentina the last six days of February , plus the getting out of the bed early has kinda left me LOL’s . Early in the season I was up easily now not so much . It’s my “intention” to do Sanford this year as well as Koneski’s but only others I plan to do are one day deals at Prospect Hall and the VA Vintagers and quite possibly a one day deal in southern IN . Again this years more about seeing people than the bling apologies to the guy with the cane in Susquehanna county PA !!! Although I’ll tryin doing seven events at his shoot !

[Mike Koneski]

Hey hey there Craig! No cane since 12/9. I hope to be behind my dogs guiding or hunting birds in 2-3 weeks! I had a good 2023. Picked up three Parkers, one was an 8g PH from Craig. 😎 Also scored a really nice Lefever 12g 32” with a lot of condition. Shot the Spring and Fall Southerns, Hausmann’s and one day of the VGC. Added a lot of bling to the cabinets. We had a good year chasing pheasants. Filled all my deer tags. Had a lot of fun putting some guys into Parker guns. Have to grow Parker Universe when we can! I did score a nice collection of Parker paper. Original catalogs, a couple of nice repros, factory letters and hang-tags, etc…

[Reggie Bishop]

Rough year for team Tennessee. Picked up a couple culls. Moved out a few. Hoping 2024 brings something better my way.

[CraigThompson]

Rough year for team Tennessee. Picked up a couple culls. Moved out a few. Hoping 2024 brings something better my way.

I found the best way to fix all the stuff I had that needed fixing was to SELL IT for someone else to deal with . And some that I thought needed changes the folks that bought them might have been satisfied as they were :cool:

[CraigThompson]

Hey hey there Craig! No cane since 12/9. I hope to be behind my dogs guiding or hunting birds in 2-3 weeks! I had a good 2023. Picked up three Parkers, one was an 8g PH from Craig. 😎 Also scored a really nice Lefever 12g 32” with a lot of condition. Shot the Spring and Fall Southerns, Hausmann’s and one day of the VGC. Added a lot of bling to the cabinets. We had a good year chasing pheasants. Filled all my deer tags. Had a lot of fun putting some guys into Parker guns. Have to grow Parker Universe when we can! I did score a nice collection of Parker paper. Original catalogs, a couple of nice repros, factory letters and hang-tags, etc…

Godfrey told me Saturday at Prospect Hall he’s going in a couple weeks to get a knee replacement but he’s planning on making the Southern .

[Russ Jackson]

Overall 2023 was a pretty good year , Planted a couple of food plots that did well ,managed to keep my tractors running well enough to get some corn in and shot a Nice 8 Point in archery season just as rut was kicking in along the creek that runs through the bottom of my property ! Also managed to shoot a handful of Long Tailed Pheasants with my CHE 20 Gauge over my Buddies new English Pointer Pup ! My Parker collecting was minimal although I did manage to Purchase a Gun I have been searching for for years ,ever since I read about the Trojan Grades that had been built with Twist barrels ,I wanted one, Lo and Behold right here on our site , Mr. James Palmer listed 173901,A Trojan with Twist Steel Barrels the actual one listed in the Parker Story I had read about years before ! A little rough around the edges and some boogered up screws but a quick trip up to Lou Rotelli's for new screws and a minor cleaning and some light wood touch up she looks nearly new " Minus All Case Colors " and I couldn't be happier with it ! A Trojan Grade 12 Gauge , built on a # 1 Frame with The Original Twist Steel Barrels , How about That ! Now that makes a Good Year !

[Dan Steingraber]

I was blessed with another great year collecting. Sold a few good ones and added some really cool guns. Highlights include a 32” Sterly 20 gauge, 32” BHE 12, 32” VHE 20 gauge with a 2nd set of factory 28” barrels, DHE 20 with 28” barrels, 28 and 20 gauge reproductions both with 2 sets of barrels. (I really love the repros) Also was blessed to carry Parkers in the grouse woods of Maine, New Hampshire, Upper Peninsula of Michigan and several day trips to northern lower Michigan. Most importantly, I’ve developed wonderful friendships within the collecting community. My cup runneth over.

[Bill Jolliff]

I didn't add anything to my gun rack except a real nice Baker that I will give to my son this Sunday as a late Christmas present. He lives in Batavia and will be overwhelmed.

I did turn loose a nice Fox to a good friend who really enjoys it.

Did some wonderful socializing at Ernie's and Mike's in PA.

A good year.

[John Davis]

2023 was a good year for me. Acquired a Parker SBT that became my handicap gun and a DHE that took over doubles duty. Did well at the Georgia State trap shoot and won about everything I could at the Alabama state shoot. Had my best year overall at the Grand American and picked up a punch to the 25 yard line. Finished the target year with my highest blended average ever and made the Georgia State trap team for the fourth year in a row. Finally, ended up with a AA25A classification (all with my Parkers)

For 2024, my goal is to attend a number of state shoots and the Grand in an effort to make a run at the ATA All American Team (with my Parkers). We’ll see.

[Stan Hillis]

2023 was a great year for me, and for my family. I added one gun to the stable, not a Parker, but bought from a member here. Had a good crop year on the farm, with incomes meeting all the obligations needed. Planning the acreages for 2024 crops now. Youngest son (47) still farms with me ....... his oldest son (21), too. He just got married in November and we're happy to have her in the family, now.

Started a couple gunstock refinishing projects around Christmas. I'm teaching myself to do sanded-in finishing ala Phil Pilkington style. It's a very pleasing process, and fun to watch as wood surfaces are transformed. My 32" Parker DHE 16/20 that I purchased here from Mr. Harris was the inspiration for my wanting to learn the process, with it's beautiful satiny finish.

Have decided to move a few guns, that are never used, in 2024. And, hope to make a day trip to Mid-South Guns in Wagram, NC before corn planting time rolls around.

[CraigThompson]

2023 was a good year for me. Acquired a Parker SBT that became my handicap gun and a DHE that took over doubles duty. Did well at the Georgia State trap shoot and won about everything I could at the Alabama state shoot. Had my best year overall at the Grand American and picked up a punch to the 25 yard line. Finished the target year with my highest blended average ever and made the Georgia State trap team for the fourth year in a row. Finally, ended up with a AA25A classification (all with my Parkers)

For 2024, my goal is to attend a number of state shoots and the Grand in an effort to make a run at the ATA All American Team (with my Parkers). We’ll see.

Looking forward to you replacing that 25 with a 27 congratulations !

[allen newell]

My most memorable event last year was taking my 2 grandsons to the club skeet field to warm up for their very first live bird hunt at Markover in Danielson, Ct along with good friend Tom Jay. The lads got all the birds we hunted up with their very first shot! God, to be young again.
The second pleasurable moment for me last year was finding a near mint Iver Johnson 410 ga sxs that has been a pure joy to shoot, And i've read that Iver Johnson only made 500 of these.

[Stan Hillis]

Allen, I'd really like to see pics of that IJ .410. I loves me some fo-tens.

[George Davis]

2023 was a great year!! Mostly importantly my youngest daughter delivered a beautiful granddaughter as I'd waited 25 years between grandchildren.
Added three rifles: 1. Stevens 44 1/2 25-21 2. Remington 722 257 Roberts 3. Winchester 1885 40-60.
Made the Southern and shot multiple shooting facilities across the west!

[bob lyons]

The good and bad parts of 23. On the bad side had a series of medical issues that plagued me form April till beginning of September. It’s hard getting old. But now all is good.
On the good side was able to get a single barrel trap gun. Had some ejector issues but a trip to Dan Cullity and sons and a through cleaning and it’s working fine. I’m not much of a trap shooter but was able to get a few 23’s with only about 10 rounds of trap under my belt. Thanks Bobby!
Also picked up a 28 gauge 2 barrel set, and a very cool Parker Damascus 10 gauge G grade. On the none Parker side a nice Ithaca live pigeon gun with 32” Damascus barrels. Now to get rid of a few, which seems to be very hard to do.
Ultimately the very best is we are expecting a new grandchild this summer. This will. Ring the total number of grandchildren to 9. We are blessed.

[Garry L Gordon]

Any year I make it through intact is a good year!

Among my many blessings was getting to watch our pup, Rill, point her first wild birds -- grouse, woodcock, pheasant and quail. What a gift to hunt behind dogs you and your wife developed yourselves in "home" covers.

I also was able to hunt with a fellow member, Pat Sheerin, for the first time. An avid deer hunter, Pat is a courteous gentleman who carries one of the nicest Trojan 20 gauges I've seen. Attending the annual meeting was a treat, as was getting to meet and speak with Allan for the first, and last, time. I also got to meet Dean Romig's Grace. What a beautiful dog (and I wish her well).

On the collecting front, I picked up several: an all original DH Damascus 20 (which I blooded earlier this week), a beautiful CH Damascus 16 (not too many of these made), a 30 inch straight/splinter DHE 16 (need I say, Harry G., it has two triggers:)) that matches my prize 1918 wild Bob DHE 20 (this gun, from the same engraving period, even has the same "medium full comb" that my 20 has!), a super condition VH 26 inch 16 with very strong (benchmark) case colors. And I finally scratched my .410 itch (thanks, Stan Hillis, for infecting me!) with a ball grip VH, one of the earliest made (and without the stepped barrels). I have lots to scheme about and look forward to as I conjure up the best ways to blood each of these guns.

I'll have some challenges to face in the coming year, as will be the case with many, but I'm looking forward to seeing folks at the Pheasant Fest and Southern (and annual meeting!) this coming year.

Craig, thanks for posing the thread's question to include things beyond guns acquired. There is so much more to our lives because of our guns.

[keavin nelson]

2023 was a good year for us. My first grandson born in Oct., Garrett Reed is a wonderful blessing. My wife is facing some medical challenges but all manageable.
I managed to pick up a CH grade Parker, with Bernard barrels, sold a DH and several other SxSs. A 20ga PHE is on it's way to me now.
Started my sons young lab on her first birds with her showing much promise, retrieving the second bird downed to hand.

[Jay Oliver]

This was another good year on the collecting, shooting and hunting front. I added a new gauge(an 8 gauge) a grade 0 top action hammer gun with 36” twist barrels. I got it from a member and shot it at the southern. I got all the reloading equipment components to keep me busy all winter. It is a fun gun to shoot and I enjoyed the 8 gauge event at the Southern.

I did add a few hammer guns including a very early back action 14 gauge that I also bought from a member. I am working on a display for the southern on that one.

I did add some small bore composite barrel ejector guns to my collection. Some need so work, and I will start that process this year. I just love a damascus or twist gun with ejectors, especially if it’s a 20 or 16 gauge!

On that theme, I closed the year with a straight stocked 30” Damascus DHE 16 gauge on a 1 frame that is everything I would ever want a Parker to be.

On the hunting side, I made a lot of progress with my English setter, who impresses me more and more every day. Together with my Irish Setter/Golden Retriever mix we have had a lot of fun.

Looking forward to a great 2024!

[Dean Romig]

Not so much…





.

[Rich Anderson]

2023 had it's ups and downs. Gun wise it was pretty good. It was mostly a rifle year with only one shotgun. I started off with a Browning T bolt 17 HMR for squirrel hunting. Then another Cooper custom classic in 22 mag appeared and wouldn't you know it another in 17HMR was adopted. That gave me the tri fecta of rimfires in Cooper's as I already have a Western Classic in 22LR. A Dakota M10 with exhibition wood was picked up on the way to Rock Mtn in 6.5X55. A Browning B78 came into the fold in 25-06 at the begining of deer season. I never did get a chance to hunt with it however.
The BIG down side to the year happened at Rock Mtn. I was shooting my 28ga VHE skeet with 28 inch barrels with Mike Smith, Rick Simmonds and another gentleman I didn't know. Rick was using new factory ammo purchased at the shoot but his wonderful LeFever wouldn't eject the shells. I gave him some of mine to try and they worked fine so we traded. The true pair on station one my gun doubled and both barrels bulged just ahead of the chamber:eek::cuss::crying:. No good deed goes unpunished as the barrels are toast. Just befor deer season I wasn't feeling real good and had a terrible cough. Coming back from a friends I started coughing and blacked out and put my brand new (1000 miles maybe) truck in the ditch. Three days into deer season I went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital with Bi Lateral Pnuemonia. This side tracked me for a couple of weeks.
The only shotgun added to the inventory is a Fox XE 20 with 30 inch barrels:)

[Garry L Gordon]

2023 had it's ups and downs. Gun wise it was pretty good. It was mostly a rifle year with only one shotgun. I started off with a Browning T bolt 17 HMR for squirrel hunting. Then another Cooper custom classic in 22 mag appeared and wouldn't you know it another in 17HMR was adopted. That gave me the tri fecta of rimfires in Cooper's as I already have a Western Classic in 22LR. A Dakota M10 with exhibition wood was picked up on the way to Rock Mtn in 6.5X55. A Browning B78 came into the fold in 25-06 at the begining of deer season. I never did get a chance to hunt with it however.
The BIG down side to the year happened at Rock Mtn. I was shooting my 28ga VHE skeet with 28 inch barrels with Mike Smith, Rick Simmonds and another gentleman I didn't know. Rick was using new factory ammo purchased at the shoot but his wonderful LeFever wouldn't eject the shells. I gave him some of mine to try and they worked fine so we traded. The true pair on station one my gun doubled and both barrels bulged just ahead of the chamber:eek::cuss::crying:. No good deed goes unpunished as the barrels are toast. Just befor deer season I wasn't feeling real good and had a terrible cough. Coming back from a friends I started coughing and blacked out and put my brand new (1000 miles maybe) truck in the ditch. Three days into deer season I went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital with Bi Lateral Pnuemonia. This side tracked me for a couple of weeks.
The only shotgun added to the inventory is a Fox XE 20 with 30 inch barrels:)

Rich, I hope you’re fully recovered. I’m looking forward to posting pictures of you and your dogs on a Southern hunt again this year.

[Rich Anderson]

I won't be taking "The Boys" to Georgia the end of the month due to a rampant RSV virus that's sweeping Georgia and Florida. by the time the vet figures it out it's usually to late. Just not woth the risk. I'll sure miss them however

[CraigThompson]

A Browning B78 came into the fold in 25-06 at the begining of deer season. I never did get a chance to hunt with it however . Just befor deer season I wasn't feeling real good and had a terrible cough. Coming back from a friends I started coughing and blacked out and put my brand new (1000 miles maybe) truck in the ditch. Three days into deer season I went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital with Bi Lateral Pnuemonia. This side tracked me for a couple of weeks.


Glad you survived your medical issues ! I had a 78 in 25-06 octagon barrel for awhile . I’d been looking for one for several years and got the one I had at a local auction . The gun was easy to load for and I settled on Nosler 115 BT’s . Sad to say I never killed or even shot at a deer with it .

[Rich Anderson]

I have another B78 in 6MM both rifles have octagon barrels. These are nice rifles what with the High Wall action and the octagon barrels and there good shooters.

[Bill Murphy]

Rich, whatchoo gonna do about the skeet gun. How about a session with a brass hammer? How about breaking up a two barrel Repro set? What exactly are your plans?

[John Dallas]

I've got a Ruger #1. in 25.06 Great, accurate gun for no money

[CraigThompson]

I have another B78 in 6MM both rifles have octagon barrels. These are nice rifles what with the High Wall action and the octagon barrels and there good shooters.

First time I saw a 78 was about 1973 in the local gun shop it was a 22-250 brand new and if I’m not mistaken Browning had just put them on the market . Always remembered that gun and wanted one . I was 12 at the time :whistle:

[CraigThompson]

I've got a Ruger #1. in 25.06 Great, accurate gun for no money

When I was 11 I’d saved up money for a dirt bike . Unbeknownst to me the folks put their heads together and decided they oughtta get me thinking about centerfire rifles . They knew it would be easier to keep the rifle under control . So we started looking a bit and my pop wanted me to get a Ruger #1B in 243 at that time suggested retail was $265 if one could be found . I didn’t really want a single shot when I was 11 and Clark Brothers in Warrenton didn’t have any in stock so I ended up with a nice new 700 BDL for $120 less . Now over the last forty years I’ve owned close to fifty Ruger #1’s mostly 1B’s but a couple 1V’s and 1H’s . There’s a fairly decent collector market for #1’s . Out of the last bunch I had , I think ten of them went to a now friend in Maine at last count he had close to a hundred of them .

[Rich Anderson]

Rich, whatchoo gonna do about the skeet gun. How about a session with a brass hammer? How about breaking up a two barrel Repro set? What exactly are your plans?

Bill I'm having it sleeved as they were beyond repair but will ALWAYS be on the lookout for a set of 28 inch 00 frame ejector barrels. Probably have a better chance of winning the lottery

[Bill Murphy]

Tell us about the sleeve job.

[allen newell]

I had much fun shooting my 410 iver johnson skeeter

[Rich Anderson]

Tell us about the sleeve job.

John Hosford had the tubes (very lucky there) there 28 inches so the same length. The barrels bulged beyond repair. He will cut them a little behind the chamber due to the damage. The downside is the gun will be a 2 1/2 chamber vs the original 2 3/4. The good news is I have a set of 28 inch barrels that were made by Purdy and he will fit those. It will end up a 2 barrel set one for 2 1/2 and the other 2 3/4 . The original ribs will be used for the sleeve job.

[Frank Srebro]

I had my bore mike set at the Rock Mountain's Northern SxS in July and Rich was kind to let me measure the bulges. I have the numbers here somewhere but haven’t been able to find them as yet, but I distinctly remember both chambers were uniformly bulged and within a few thou internal diameter of each other. Apparently both shells were loaded to the same pressure level.

A somewhat similar but happier incident happened with newly imported 28-gauge cartridges at Hausmann’s in June. As told to me by a Model 21 owner he stopped firing and returned the shells to the vendor when his 21 was hard to open

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Wonder what kind of pressure it would take to bulge them like that. I saw them at Rock Mtn., sad, that was a really nice little gun.

[Dean Weber]

The true pair on station one my gun doubled and both barrels bulged just ahead of the chamber

Is the suspicion here that the cumulative effect of the doubling caused the bulging? Or the pressure of the individual shells?

[Dean Romig]

I doubt it. The pressure would have to have been in one barrel, not two seperate barrels.






.

[Daryl Corona]

The gun doubled. The pressure was extremely high in the first barrel causing excessive recoil which caused the doubling. To see a Parker 28 with bulged barrels was enough to make a grown man cry.

[Dan Steingraber]

What kind of shells were they?

[Daryl Corona]

Can't remember the name, Rich would probably know, but they were set up at Mike's shoot in July.

[Rich Anderson]

AGC Ammo was the distributor. They are a Turkish shell BP? I don't recall exactly. The distributor is no longer importing them.

[Bill Murphy]

No longer importing those great shells? Have you sent any to be tested? Daryl has a 30" Parker 28 that should handle any shells you have left.

[Dan Steingraber]

AGC Ammo was the distributor. They are a Turkish shell BP? I don't recall exactly. The distributor is no longer importing them.

I had a similar issue getting a 28 repro to open when shooting those.

[Rich Anderson]

No longer importing those great shells? Have you sent any to be tested? Daryl has a 30" Parker 28 that should handle any shells you have left.

The shells were Rick Simmonds and I gave them back to him. They were returned to the vendor who said he sent them for testing. At the end of the day the shell manufacturer blamed the gun. It was NOT the gun.

[Daryl Corona]

No longer importing those great shells? Have you sent any to be tested? Daryl has a 30" Parker 28 that should handle any shells you have left.

Ha Ha Bill. Nothing goes through that baby other than my hand crafted reloads. Actually, that's all I shoot through all my guns no matter who made them.

[Mills Morrison]

It was not particularly good or bad. Gun wise, I added just a few, but some good ones. I'm to the point I would rather spend money on hunting and fishing with my sons and wife than buy more guns.

[Victor Wasylyna]

Mills:

I'm with you. My New Year Resolution the past three years has been: "spend more money on experiences and less on things."

This year it lasted fifteen days. A new Perazzi DC20 should be arriving tomorrow.

-Victor

[Mills Morrison]

A lot of my spare change got sucked up by my oldest son's and my tractor projects, as some of you know. Last year we also went to Alaska and did more hunting for quail and ducks which cost some. Yesterday, I booked a pheasant hunt for mid February when I go up to see Harry

[Donald McQuade]

I have been bitten by the single barrel trap bug the last few years and was able to round out my little collection with a nice Baker Elite and a Parker SB. The only double gun was a Browning BSS 20 ga.

As an aside to the shot shell issue, my buddy got a box of the 28ga and tried shooting them in his Model 21, he said the recoil was unusually harsh, and he had a very hard time opening the gun. After a couple of shots, he returned them to the vendor.

[Bill Murphy]

Donald, can you share some information on your new SB? Does the letter identify the original owner?

[Donald McQuade]

Donald, can you share some information on your new SB? Does the letter identify the original owner?

Hi Bill, unfortunately the serial number falls into the black hole category, so I don't think I can get a letter. It is a nice one though. It appears to be refinished, and to my unexperienced eye it looks like Delgreco work. As for the gun, it is a straight gripper with a 34-inch barrel, probably not many in that configuration floating around. The choke is improved modified.
I would love to find more background info on it, but with no letter not sure where to look.

[Joseph Sheerin]

No new Parkers for me, but 23 was an excellent year. Welcomed my first grandchild to the world. Hopefully one day he apprecieates fine firearms and a good day afield as much as I do.