Compliment - Morphy's Auction

[Mark Vollinger]

Morphy's Auctions and Kris Lee, General Manger, is to be applauded for his client service.

A lot of folks have seen and discussed the CHE 20 listing in the upcoming auction. It was cataloged as; 100% originality and near mint condition, based upon knowledge of the consignor and an external appraiser.

When Kris was notified of information the gun may have been partially refinished, he took immediate action. He checked, verified the information and within an hour advised Morphy's would revised the catalog.

Kris mentioned the firearms division Morphy's is his, "New Baby" and he is taking personal responsibility to build their reputation and service for firearms.

In a difficult economic climate for consignor's and auction houses and weekly stories of Wall Street exec's lack of ethics, this is an example of a outstanding business executive.

Thank you Kris.

[Bill Davis]

I saw and handled the gun at the Allentown show a few weeks ago. It's very nice, but has been redone and is on the one--not O frame. The re-do is subtle but if total originality is key--keep this in mind when/if you bid. It will still bring decent money. CHE 20's with 30 inch barrels are special guns! Buyers premium is stiff at 18% cash and 20% credit.

[Kevin McCormack]

Mark & Bill - I also examined this gun on two separate occasions; once in March and the other at the Allentown Show. The younger assistant at the Allentown Show (not Kris Lee) eagerly kept fishing for responses to his comments like, "incredible shape for a gun that old, huh?" and "they only made a handful of those guns after Parker failed and Remington took over production, which makes it extremely rare, wouldn't you say?" I kept my mouth shut, having carried more than one verbal firefight to ugly conclusions in my younger years about the originality and authenticity of guns for sale. It continues to amaze me how some of the auction houses in-house "experts" still cannot tell if a gun is original or not.

BTW, Jent - what is the story about Jerry and the Underlifters in MD? I never heard it.

[Frank Srebro]

For anyone following the CHE 20 gauge at Morphy Auctions. The gun sold today for $15.5K, not counting the juice nor PA sales tax.

[Bill Davis]

That's about where it should have been--all things considered. Purchased by a friend of mine via the phone--he's happy. He's going to letter it and see if it mentions 3" chambers!!

[Bill Murphy]

To be fair to Morphy's, the auction that Jent mentioned is run by a bunch of bumpkins. The two auctions should not be compared. The gun at Morphy's is a fine gun and should not be criticized on originality. I have examined it and it should not be appraised by those who have not examined it. Potential buyers should look at guns before they buy. I would have bought that one. It is a benchmark gun and those who did not bid missed a great gun. And, Jent, quit hollering at us. Oversized capital letters are considered rude behavior on the internet.

[Bruce Day]

Just my humble opinion as a person who has lucked upon a few C grades, I doubt that a heavy 1 frame CHE 20 that weighs more than some 12ga's and most 16ga's sets the benchmark for all subsequent C 20's. Sure its a nice gun, but I have a few and this one didn't ring my personal chimes. Every collector is different. Some may seek target guns.

If anything, the paid price of just under $20,000 was a few thou under what some other nice C 20's have done.

Just a personal opinion from a junior novice Parker collector in training.