View Full Version : The Parker gun buyer in 1910
Greg Baehman
05-30-2011, 10:15 PM
It's generally accepted that the original purchaser of a Parker Bros. gun was a more discerning and higher end buyer, do you think that those Parker gun buyers back in the early part of the 20th century gave any thought to collectibility, or was it all about the game and/or targets? When did they become collectible?
Kenny Graft
05-31-2011, 08:02 AM
I think Parkers were always a special possession...a thing of quality,never a cheap item! Its first owner most likely was well off and took pride in sport. Used Parkers doubles became guns of choice after WWII when production of quality doubles in america had ended for the most part. A used Parker at this time was a great value and could be perchased right. Soon demand overwelmed suppy....plus all the known info about parker guns has become availible to us. And the internet...it all has worked to drive prices up...Today hi end guns are owned as investments, way better than other things we could have. Quality guns have proved track records sure to increase in value. I personally keep Parkers couse I like them and enjoy the whole experience of sport and ownership. thanks all SXS ohio...(-:
Pete Lester
05-31-2011, 08:35 AM
Very high grade Parkers were generally treasured and there was undoubtably a small following collectors at all times but I believe following WWII up until Peter Johnson's book attracted more collector interest Parker's were seen as another out of production, tired old gun with a slower rate of fire than a repeater. Over and unders were sexier and guns like the Belgium Brownings were more highly prized at the time. Damascus and Twist Parkers were close to junk status until the late 1990's. The Delgrego family kept both interest and many guns alive through their work and source of original parts. the advent of both the internet and the PGCA has increased our knowledge and expanded the ranks of collectors. The work of Sherman Bell brought thousands of nice guns back into everyday use. It is a fascinating history of firearms manufacturing and use. The best time to buy a Parker is like the best time to plant a tree, about 30 to 40 years ago.
Bill Murphy
05-31-2011, 09:04 AM
Great points, Pete. Early customers for high grade special order Parkers knew what they were doing. Some orders would have driven any gunmaker crazy, but Parker Brothers dealt with them as everyday business.
Dave Suponski
05-31-2011, 03:15 PM
Pete and Bill,I think both you guy's are spot on. I have talked with many old time collectors that were buying these guns back in the 50's and 60's for a relative song as the interest in them was relatively small. As Bill stated "buyers of high grade special order Parker's knew what they wanted" I would expand on that a little. I think the shotgun shooter's in general from back in the day were very well versed on how they expected their guns to perform.
todd allen
05-31-2011, 03:40 PM
I would think the buyer in 1910 would be on par with someone buying a Perazzi these days. A 1910 Parker would be a fairly state of the art shotgun, at a reasonable price.
A high grade buyer would buy for the same reasons someone would now order an SCO Grade.
John Dunkle
05-31-2011, 06:34 PM
I think you guys are right. I can not speak for 1910, but I think I can speak for 1917. When a well-heeled buyer ordered from Parker, they had delivered exactly what they wanted - to their exact specifications.
That included some very strange requests - which results today in the saying "never say never when it comes to a Parker"..
And if there were questions or changes - the factory stood behind those. That was back in the day when "customers were customers", and treated as such.
Ask me how I know...
John
Ed Blake
05-31-2011, 07:26 PM
John D - That double trap of yours is the greatest shotgun I've ever laid eyes on. What a head-turner.
Dean Romig
05-31-2011, 09:09 PM
Yes, John certainly knows 'from whence he speaks'. He has a unique Parker Bros. Double Trap which is the epitome of all double trap guns and, as he states, if a man was 'well-heeled' and knew what he wanted and had the means to place an order for a one-of-a-kind Parker we are blessed through John's generosity to actually heft the physical evidence that "never say never" should always be the catch phrase when discussing Parkers.
On the other hand of course, is the argument that to purchase a Trojan or a VH or a PH didn't require that a man be a "higher end buyer" (argueably more discerning perhaps) but that he be a man who knew quality and, by reputation, Reliability and if even of modest income wished to set himself off from the 'run of the mill' by owning a Parker and the best one he could afford.
todd allen
06-01-2011, 07:01 PM
Has John's trap gun been posted here before?
Larry Frey
06-01-2011, 07:50 PM
Todd,
Not sure if the very first post John made three or four years ago is still accessible but in it he attached some very special family photos of the gun in his grandfathers gun cabinet along with other guns and his medals and awards. It was a wonderful post except for the part that the gun was no longer in the family. One of the very special moments of my time in the PGCA was being present when John was reunited with this gun through the generosity of another very special member. It was a moment that those of us that were aware will never forget. Perhaps John will grace us once again with some pictures of his incredible family Parker.
Dave Noreen
06-01-2011, 09:31 PM
When I scored a copy of Guns, Ammunition & Tackle by A.W. Money and others, copyright 1904, off ebay, it turned out to be quite interesting. The book had been a gift to S. Bruce Elwell from his twin brother Alcott Farrar Elwell in the summer of 1907. These boys were the sons of the famous sculptor Francis E. Elwell. There were two pages from the April 1908 issue of Recreation containing an article by Charles Askins titled "The Problem of Selecting a Shotgun" pasted in the book as well as a handwritten table of his firearms, along with comments. He had five double barrel shotguns --
1. Remington K-Grade 12-ga 30" - Easy action - hard close shooter - one of the best guns ever. 1902 - 07
2. Parker DHE 12-ga 30" - Handsome gun - easy action - some poor features - (too complicated). 1907 - 08
3. Tobin No. 40E 16-ga 28" -- Very poorly made - cheap in every way - Tobin Co. no good. 1907 - 08
4. Lefever FE 16-ga 28" -- Wonderful little gun - fine simple action - good hang - strong, hard hitter. Oct. 1907 --
5. Sauer - bought Jan. 21, 1909, and he never got around to writing comments about it.
On another page in the book he gave names to some of his guns --
12-ga Sauer - "Dixie"
16-ga Lefever - "Beatrice"
30-40 1895 Mod Winchester - "Col. Farrar"
44 Sp'l S&W - "Louis II"
Pete Lester
06-02-2011, 10:41 AM
Here is another thought. The Parker owner of 1910 was fortunate in that he was able to buy a brand new gun. However I suspect most folks back then owned just one Parker, whereas few of us have new and unfired but most of us are fortunate enough to own and shoot several.
david ross
06-06-2011, 02:03 PM
Here is another thought. The Parker owner of 1910 was fortunate in that he was able to buy a brand new gun. However I suspect most folks back then owned just one Parker, whereas few of us have new and unfired but most of us are fortunate enough to own and shoot several.
Hi Pete.
Most folks back then:whistle: i still do hope to get me some more one day.
All the best Dave.:bigbye:
Bruce Day
06-07-2011, 08:44 AM
Certain well informed and wealthy familes who owned well stocked gunrooms and sporting estates seem to have regularly included Parker guns in their library. the DuPont family comes to mind. Their Parkers were frequently high grade and of unusual specification. I have previously posted photos of a DuPont gun from my collection and a 16 ga A grade lifter actioned gun owned by a friend. That gun has Whitworth fluid steel barrels.
There was a question about the early AAH 12 ga. When Charlie owned it he had a nice article written and professional photos taken for publication in the Double Gun Journal. There are many fine Parkers in various DGJ articles.
Dean Romig
06-07-2011, 08:55 AM
I remember five or six years ago Steve Barnett had a few of DuPont's DHE skeet guns in twenty and twenty-eight gauge. They were magnificent!!
Gary Carmichael Sr
06-08-2011, 07:13 AM
Would love to see pictures of that double trap!
Eric Eis
06-08-2011, 09:45 AM
Would love to see pictures of that double trap!
Well JD how about it...? Or are you still trying to figure out how to post pictures......:rotf::rotf::rotf: :corn:
David Long
06-08-2011, 04:51 PM
Lets go show me the PICTURES
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