Readily Available Parkers

[Bruce Day]

We need some more pictures here, so here is an easy one to post and keep interest going.

Here is a GHE 12ga, this a 1910 three blade damascus, 30" barrels full and fuller, #2 frame, wt is 7 1/2lbs. I have used it for years to pound anything from light to heavy loads through it depending if I am shooting targets or game, or waterfowl. I've shot loads up to the SAAMI limit in it, its my workhorse for when I need to make the shot.

Parker made 18,000 of these damascus G's, mostly in 30" 12's, probably mostly #2 frame. I believe the gun type significantly helped to make Parker a legend among shooters. They are readily available today and a person can go to about any gun show and find one or several. This one has unaltered barrel bores, so the walls are about .036, well thick enough for anything I want to shoot. This gun was originally sold into Vancouver BC and spent its life in BC until I brought it down. I'm sure its shot many ducks and geese, yet the action is tight, the locking bite is still centered and there is nothing wrong with the gun. When I got it, the barrels needed re damascus browning and the stock needed light refinishing.

So I recommend these guns to anybody thinking about a first Parker or even a go-to multi purpose Parker. They are out there and relatively inexpensive and you can have a gun that is nice looking and gets the job done.

[Bill Murphy]

Bruce, I have field condition GHs from eight to twenty and, yes, they are wonderful guns for the field and inexpensive in ten and twelve gauges.

[Bruce Day]

Right Bill, you get a very made gun with enough engraving to make it interesting, great damascus if you want damascus or even fluid steel if you want the the less attractive barrels, and many of them had very nice figured black walnut stocks, a few even in European walnut. No reason to pass up a nice G.

I'm posting this because I see for the moment that we have 34 forum members on, this is old hat to many of them, and we have 142 guests looking on. Some of those people may be curious about Parkers or wondering where to start, and I recommend the damascus G's as a good place to start if a person can not let the damascus issue scare them.

[Mark Landskov]

http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=2370

http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=1627

Here are a couple at Puglisi's.

[Larry Frey]

G's are great guns but I am a sucker for D grades. Part of that is the engraving but mainly it's the pretty wood typical of D's. I’m sure you remember this gun Bruce.

[King Brown]

This is a valuable, positive thread, what's needed from time to time to jangle the juices of Parker admirers, beginners, to hear from those who've been living with Parkers for a long time. It's encouraging, useful. Thank you.

[Bill Murphy]

I have a GH in the mail as we speak. I have no idea whether it will be a "good gun" as most of us describe it. However, I'm sure I'll like it.

[Fred Preston]

Got 4; 3 12s (including one 1&1/2 frame Special Steel) and one 16. My favorite grade Parker.

[Mark Ouellette]

A large dealer in vintage guns advised me that most Grade 2 Parkers (E, G, P) have not been molested. They may not have a lot of original condition left, but what remains is original.

[Richard Flanders]

My 6#10oz 26" damascus #1-frame GHE12 has displaced to some degree my Repro 28 as my go to grouse/woodcock gun. It's so easy to carry and lightning fast in tight cover and is absolute death on small fast birds. Will add a picture later. And Bruce is absolutely correct; you do see a fair number of affordable and nice G grades out there.

[Carl Erickson Jr]

I am looking at a similar GH to purchase . It is a beautiful gun but..... it has a 25 inch set of barrels, cylinder/cylinder. It should have been a capitol offense to alter a Parker.
Is there a way to put a choke in those barrels?

[Bruce Day]

Yes. Briley's in Houston can cut threads and insert screw in chokes.

I don't know what the cost is, maybe $200?

Or you could go to another gun show, another dealer site, etc, and find another G grade.

[Carl Erickson Jr]

This is a local gun at what should be a reasonable price.Other than the chokes it will be a good buy as it is in excellent condition.

[Bruce Day]

The search for finding the perfect gun is part of the enjoyment of being a Parker collector. The price should not be the key criterion. You have a gun for many years, it goes on adventures with you, you shoot it well , it becomes an extension of yourself. Be sure its what you want, not just what you can find or afford for the moment.

My other passions are fine bamboo fly rods and reels and handmade steel lugged road bicycles. All these are lifetime acquisitions. Get something that merges with you.

[John Dallas]

Bruce -Haven't looked on Briley's site, but I'd guess that two barrels and a handful of chokes will be closer to $7-800

[Mark Ouellette]

Carl,

If there is enough barrel thickness you could jug choke them. I like .030" minimum. For me anything over than could be removed to form jug chokes. For a 25" barreled gun, how much choke would you want?

Mark

[Bruce Day]

Wow, John, that's costly. Kind of makes a person want to look for an uncut G that needs some cosmetics for around $2000, doesn't it?

[Dean Romig]

Get something that merges with you.

I agree -

Be "one" with your gun. :cool:

I love the engraving on this one I found five or six years ago - a sixteen 0-frame with 26" F/F barrels.


.

[Russ Jackson]

Dean ,Very nice crisp looking engraving ! Nice looking gun ! Russ

[John Dallas]

Bruce - You and I had the prices bracketed - Briley quotes $429 plus shipping and taxes. Fire for effect! Don't see if there is any price increment for thin-wall chokes, if required

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Russ. The pictures really don't do the engraving justice. It is the most finely executed engraving I've seen on a Grade 2 as others who have seen it will agree.

[Russ Jackson]

Not as Crisp as some but another G Grade ,16/ 20 Two barreled set...That's a hard gun to follow Dean !

[Carl Erickson Jr]

While I drool over a beautiful firearm most of my collection consists of firearms that were acquired in less than perfect condition and turned into a good looking working firearm. Currently I am working on a 1906 VH that I received in pieces for $100. When I am finished it will be a good looking working shotgun that I would not be ashamed to take to any range. It will not be a high end collector gun.
Mark: What are jug chokes? I would prefer modified and full, but would accept improved and modified.

[Chuck Bishop]

My go to gun, a 12ga, 2 frame, GH made in 1904. I don't believe it's ever been apart. Original except for the chokes opened up. Standard engraving but deeply cut.

[Robin Lewis]

Jug chokes, see FAQ #44 (http://parkerguns.org/pages/faq/JugChokeing.htm) for some intro info about them.

[Bill Murphy]

Any FFL type of guy should be able to get 15% from Briley just by asking.

[Dave Suponski]

Bruce, This is a great topic and thanks for starting it. I think G Grade guns are a great value.There are some very nice guns shown here so let me add one more. 1913 GHE 16 gauge 30"barrels choked .024x.024 My "Go to" sporting clays gun.

[Brian Dudley]

PASxS, that is stand out engraving on that G grade. Cant miss that from no matter what distance. And Chilled Shots example is very nice as well. Even though case coloring is nice, engraving stands out very well on most worn silver receivers. And recolored receivers ofter have finer, and harder to see, engraving due to polishing if not touched up.
The GH was one of Parkers most popular selling graded guns in their day and they are still plentiful today. I would say it is one of the most common Parkers that you see for sale on the auction sites.

[Bill Bates]

And another everyday 12 Gauge GH Parker that didn't break the bank when it came home

http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill/image/129308198.jpg

[Jack Cronkhite]

Got the job done last year. Hoping to give it a bit more exercise this fall.
Cheers,
Jack

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=160&pictureid=1765

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=160&pictureid=1764

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=160&pictureid=1766

[Eric Eis]

Sorry for the bad pictures (yeah this one did sort of break the bank..:))

[Bruce Day]

Very nice, Eric. 20 or 28ga?

[Eric Eis]

Very nice, Eric. 20 or 28ga?

Sorry Bruce I forgot to say, 16 ga skeet gun.

[Dave Suponski]

Fantastic gun Eric! Have I seen this gun?

[Eric Eis]

Fantastic gun Eric! Have I seen this gun?

No Dave got this gun this summer It's a real nice gun but it maybe gone due to a trade which I'll probably regret later :banghead:

[Carl Erickson Jr]

I went to a gun show today for a safety spring for my VH 12. I did not find one but..... I found an 1889 GH in shooting condition. It is a well used project gun that I will have to spend a great deal of time working on but the price was super right. If I wanted to go hunting I could take it to the field today. I will take before, during and after pictures. The show also had a Parker hammer gun and a 1860s vintage military rifle. The former was overpriced by about $3,000. Affordable guns are out there!

[Ed Blake]

Here's my favorite GH: 30" barrels, #2 frame, extractors, double trigger. A 1915 gun and it has the most color of any gun I own.

[Ed Blake]

A few more.

[todd allen]

My first Parker was/is a GH 12, with Damascus BBL's. Well used, aged, but very pleasantly original. Perfect bores, btw, but sadly too much drop for me.

[E Robert Fabian]

My GHE 26" IC and M it also has the greatest amont of case colors.

[Dean Romig]

Bob, I'm surprised you still have that gun. That is one of the nicest original high-condition Grade 2 Parkers I've ever seen.

[E Robert Fabian]

Thanks Dean, I haven't seriously tried to market it, it has been mentioned in another thread about guns that you own and don't shoot... do to high condition... maybe this winter.

[Bruce Day]

Thanks to those who further Parker shotgun collecting and use by posting photos of their guns. We've seen some wonderful G's in both fluid steel and damascus. For the new person, Parker made hammerless damascus guns from 1888 to 1927, and the later ones are stamped Overload Proved, although Parker proofed damascus and fluid steel guns the same throughout production. Drops ranged from 4" to the more standard 2 1/2 to 2 3/4", so its easy to look for another that suits you. If you find one that has been butchered by a chopped stock, cut barrels, torch job "case colors" or other abuse and that doesn't suit you, you can find another.

[Richard Flanders]

I can't add these to my earlier thread so am making a new one. This is a 1918-vintage 6#10oz 26" #1-frame GHE-12 that is a deadly quick grouse n' woodcock gun. I love this thing! Wood is nice. Bbl matting not blanked at the end but it letters with the 26" bbls. Locks up tight with lever to the right. Great little gun that Dave Miles couldn't wait to get rid of for a very affordable price..... When I grouse hunt it's a tossup whether I take this or my 28ga Repro.

[Dean Romig]

Nice one Rich! A 6 1/2 lb 26" 12 ga. is a really neat upland gun for sure. I understand your dilemma.

[Dave Suponski]

Aw that's easy....Rich just send that 12 gauge to Connecticut.....:rolleyes:

[charlie cleveland]

be better to send it south get it aquainted with quail...im presuming chokes are open... charlie

[Richard Flanders]

Nice try guys! You all sound like Dave... It's loaded into the truck with the 4-wheeler to get acquainted with ruffed grouse tomorrow... chokes are open; can't remember measurements.

[Mark Vollinger]

Todd:
If you want to improve the shooting dimensions of the gun and realize it may carry risk to value and the wood..... You may evaluate having a gun fit and a stock bend.

I worked with Dale Tate in Nor Cal. He bent the stock from 3 1/4" DAH to 2 1/2" and added 3/8" cast on. Looks a little funny but shoots well for me. It doesn't solve all the shortcomings of a left handed, right eye dominant shooter.......

[Steve McCarty]

Affordable G grade Parkers.

I just paid $999 for what is to me, a very nice gun, a GH. I won't get the gun into my hands for another week and a half. The bores are fine, but I can see where it's been shot. The engraving is sharp, and it has some case colors. The wood, what I can see, looks very nice with honey and walnut hues that look like smoke. Forearm has seen pretty heavy use, dings. Latch looks fine as does the little metal tip. I don't know the chokes. It has a mechanical problem, it doesn't cock when it's dropped open, but there is a great old gun, gunsmith here (Kearcher) who said he'd fix it for a C note. Opening lever needs some work as it lines up left of center.

The gun sat on the gun rack for almost a year. The seller said that someone who appreciated Parkers would have to come along and buy it. Welp......that's me.

I will enjoy this gun as long as I live. Just under a K. Money well spent.

[Steve McCarty]

Todd:
If you want to improve the shooting dimensions of the gun and realize it may carry risk to value and the wood..... You may evaluate having a gun fit and a stock bend.

I worked with Dale Tate in Nor Cal. He bent the stock from 3 1/4" DAH to 2 1/2" and added 3/8" cast on. Looks a little funny but shoots well for me. It doesn't solve all the shortcomings of a left handed, right eye dominant shooter.......

I went to my hunting club/clay range the other day and met a fellow who is a pretty well known hunter/writer. He was hunting alone with his dog. Used an AYA 28 on penned pheasant. He was left eye dominate and right handed. He was wearing a set of shooting glasses with about a one inch square of clear scotch tap applied to the left lens right in front of his pupil. He said he could still shoot with both eyes open, and his depth perception worked, but his right had to function as the dominate eye, since his left was blurred due to the tape.

"Does it work?" I asked.

"Yep", he said; smiling, "works fine".

I suggest that you try it.

If it works for you, it could be a break through! Lots of shooters have your problem.

[Larry Frey]

He was wearing a set of shooting glasses with about a one inch square of clear scotch tap applied to the left lens right in front of his pupil. He said he could still shoot with both eyes open, and his depth perception worked, but his right had to function as the dominate eye, since his left was blurred due to the tape.



You are exactly right Steve. My wife is right handed but her left eye takes over especially on targets going left to right. Clear tape works great and I have also heard of people putting a dab of Vaseline on their left lens to distract that eye to allow the right eye to dominate.

[Steve McCarty]

What kinds of shells are you folks shooting in your GHs? I just got one. Want to shoot it. It's the season! Barrels on my gun look mirror bright inside. I don't see any rust, so it's as shootable as any GH out there. It also locks up like a safe.

[Bruce Day]

My usual target load store bought is a Fed 1oz 2 3/4dram. If I load my own, its the same. My usual pheasant load is a Fed 1 1/8oz 3 dram or equivalent hand loaded. This is through a 7 1/2lb 1911 GHE with original thickness damascus barrels on a 2 frame. Everyone has their own loads.

A 7 1/2 lb 30" 12ga was usually patterned by Parker using 1 1/8 of no. 7 shot driven by 3 drams of "wood" ( a nitro brand) powder , unless yours was built originally for black powder. In that case, maybe somebody else can tell you how the usual hang tag for that period would read.

Unusually shiny bores on an old gun can be an indicator that the barrels were recently honed to fluff up for selling. You might want to know your barrel wall thickness.

Some use only RST's, others hand load only and everybody is convinced in the correctness of their choice.

Bruce Day, Parker know-nothing

[Richard Flanders]

I shoot lighter 1oz or sometimes 24gram hand loads in my GHE-12 because it's a 26" damascus #1 frame at 6#10oz. No need to blaze away at woodcock and ruffies with heavy loads. My pressures are either 4200psi or 5100psi and 1100-1150 fps. I use PB or SR7625 powder.