Trojan 12 ga question

[steve young]

If I get a Parker Research letter will this increase what this gun is worth.
Gun has not been restored, and is in good shape.
Thanks Steve

[Bill Murphy]

A PGCA letter on a Trojan is unlikely to include the name of an individual purchaser. After 1919, it will not even tell you the name of the business that the gun was shipped to. Probably a letter on a Trojan will not increase its value.

[Dave Suponski]

Steve, Trojan grade guns were generally made in "batch's" for inventory or large orders to sporting goods dealers. Getting a PGCA letter will most certainly not hurt the value of your gun.

[steve young]

Thank you very much!!
Steve

[Bill Murphy]

As Dave mentions, a letter on an earlier Trojan may at least tell you the name of the "store" your gun was sent to. To me, at least, that is quite interesting.

[Pete Lester]

FWIW. The first Parker I bought was a 1913 12ga Trojan with 28" barrels. It was 1984 and not much info was available on these guns back then. The very first time I used and fired the gun I killed a Black duck with the right barrel and drake mallard with the left. It was an eventful morning as I was on my way to spend a year at a USAF radar site in Iceland later that day. When I got back the gun was a favorite fowler until lead was banned, when Bismuth came out it went back in service. Like many here I often wished I knew it's history. I had a strange sense that it had been used for duck hunting before but nothing other than mild ESP. In 2000 I discovered the PGCA and the ability to get a research letter. I immediately sent off for one. When it came back I was pleased to learn the gun was part of 25 gun order, delivered to a hardware store in Norfolk VA (near Chesapeak Bay) in 10/13. That reinforced my sense this gun had taken ducks on the salt water long before it came into my hands. Does the letter make the gun more valuable, probably not in $, but it did make it more valuable to me. The gun had some cosmetic wear when I got it, but 25 years of steady use and a lot of it on salt water took a toll. On my 50th b-day I took a drive out to Ilion NY and had Larry DelGrego & Son restore everything but the case colors as there was a lot of original cc left. If my house was on fire this would be one of things I would dive out the door with (along with a skeet gun and 10ga :)), not because of it's resale value but for what it means to me.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/100_0403.jpg

[Eric Grims]

I have many shotguns that I greatly value and enjoy. But who do I love the most? 16 gauge Trojan that I first shot at 11 years old. If I had to choose just one gun the answer is an easy one for me.

[calvin humburg]

Boy Pete that a really nice gun! I really like my Trojan 16 as well I just got it. Pete how about some more pictures.

maybe I am the only one who likes to look at pictures but I dought it so lets put Trojan pictures on this thread. That includes you Steve and you also. Heres mine to add to Petes.

8812

8813

[Harry Collins]

Here's the 20 gauge Trojan Papa found new under the Christmas Tree.

Harry

[calvin humburg]

Thanks Harry, guess everybody else wants me to go fly a kite well I can the wind in KS has been brutal. So your Grandpa bought that gun. What year did your Dad find it under the tree. Thats a wonderful story. 28 inch barrels on a O frame? best ch

[Harry Collins]

Yes, an 0 frame with 28" barrels. I think it was 1935 as Papa was 14 then.

Harry