Please help identify Parker 12 gauge

[Sherri Driscoll]

I picked up a Parker shotgun at Cabela's in Dallas this weekend. I have studied the identification information and photos on the website but I am still not sure what I have. I would appreciate any information/advice you can provide. It is missing it's butt plate/pad, so if anyone knows where I could find a replacement, I would appreciate that as well.

Sherri

[Bruce Day]

Sherri, the reason you could not find a match between your Cabelas gun and the guns shown on this Parker Brothers website is because this is not a Parker Brothers gun. I don't know what it is because I cannot enlarge the photos you submitted. I suspect it is one of the numerous similar name guns, made cheaper and in great quantity and imported from Belgium.

[Sherri Driscoll]

Thanks very much for the info. I was afraid that might be the case.

[william faulk]

Sherri,
Did the salesperson in the store tell you gun was a Parker ?
If they did,you should take it back..I've been in that store and was not impressed with the staff.
Bill :nono:

[Sherri Driscoll]

Yes, the salesman did tell me that it was a Parker and he even showed me some of the expensive Parkers in the Gun Library. I did not pay much, so I should have probably known that it was too good to be true. He did tell me that it was safe to shoot and now I am wondering about that.

[Dean Romig]

I would be highly suspect in the safety of shooting that gun.

I believe he misrepresented the gun by telling you it is safe to shoot....

Shoot what?? Did he mention any kind of ammunition he "thought" is might be safe to shoot?

I don't think it would be safe to shoot any of the ammo they sell in his store...

[Rich Anderson]

I would return it as missrepresented. If you bitch long and loud enough they will take it back. Stay focused and get your money back.

[King Brown]

You might tell Cabela's that you corresponded with PGCA concerning better identification than you were given by the clerk. PGCA told you straight-out that the gun wasn't a Parker and advised you to go back to the store because Cabela's wouldn't want its reputation damaged by misrepresentation. If a clerk isn't helpful, ask to see the manager.

[Bruce Day]

The gun may be a Parker, it may be stamped Parker as others are. Its not a Parker Brothers gun and the buyer was not aware of the difference. So what do you do when the buyer made a mistake or was not aware of the differences?

[Mark Ouellette]

The gun was misrepresented by the salesperson. Probably the salesperson did not have a clue...

"Yes, the salesman did tell me that it was a Parker and he even showed me some of the expensive Parkers in the Gun Library."

If the store doesn't happily allow a return then I'd call the Cabela's corporate headquarters in Sindey Nebraska. I've found the people in Sidney able to quickly grasp the long-term effect of a damaged customer relationship.

Mark

[Bruce Day]

It probably is a Parker, its just not the Parker we deal with here. We see this mistake frequently. It was probably intended to confuse 100 years ago, and still catches people today. We have a website showing Parkers, we have FAQ's, we have books on Parkers, we show hundreds of photos of Parkers here, we have collectors that volunteer to help first timers, and still it catches people.

So, I suspect the salesman was right, it is a Parker, and the salesman showed her other Parkers, right? Look, when you go to buy a Parker, you find out what grade it is, you check the barrel length, you maybe check the serial number, right? You check to make sure its not just another Belgium clunker T Parker, Parker, Barker, etc. Aren't all those things what a prudent buyer does?

Maybe the Cabelas salesman doesn't know squat about Parkers either, isn't that what you guys have been saying? I've seen several times here about how they don't know anything about PArkers, can't tell the gauge, don't know if barrels are cut, don't know the grade, etc, and some here are happy that they paid far less than the gun would fetch elsewhere because the salesman didn't know his Parkers.

Look I don't know what should happen here......but caveat emptor always.

[George Lander]

As Bruce said, it is what we call a "JABC" (Just another Belgian clunker) Go get your money back if you paid over $100.00 (or perhaps you can sell it to Cracker Barrel)

Best Regards, George

[Russ Jackson]

Just an opinion ,but by the sales person showing Sherri ,the " More Expensive " Parkers ,I believe this is a misleading gesture to convince the buyer of the great deal she was getting on this " PARKER " ! Again just an opinion ! I wouldn't hesitate , I would take the gun back immediately ,and attempt to get my cash back ! Good Luck !! Russ

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I got to chime in here, It was misrepresented by the fact he showed the real Parker's and then this gun. A lot of buyers would think the salesman was representing a Parker Bros gun. Go get your money back, " the squeaking hinge gets the oil!" Gary

[George Lander]

And Sherry, if the above doesn't work for you I would consider retaining an attorney who would take your case on a contingency (In other words he doesn't get paid unless he wins a cash settlement for you) Cabela's is a big target to shoot at & I'm sure that there are young attorneys in your area who would just love to take on your case. Cabela's should have trained their sales people better IMHO.

Best Luck, George

[Brian Dudley]

Sounds like he used the same sales trick that the Hardware stores were using on people at the turn of the century with these same guns.

Yes, if you paid more than $100-200 for that gun, then you were sold a bill of goods and I would go back and demand your money back. Especially if he was comparing it to other legitimate Parkers on the rack.

[Richard Flanders]

Agreed. Go back and get vocal. Get the manager. Get your money back. Tell them the PGCA is not happy when sellers pull that kind of crap. If you intend to get a real Parker, join our organization and become one of us before you go in. Listen to COB's advice; he knows about Cabelas from the inside. Call him for advice if you need it. Print these forum entries out and take them in and put them in the salesman's face. Don't let them get away with this. Maybe there's a knowledgeable PGCA member near you who can go in with you???

[greg conomos]

There's no reason that gun can't be shot with any load Cabela's sells.

[George Lander]

There's no reason that gun can't be shot with any load Cabela's sells.

But only if you put no value on your left hand and fingers:nono:

[greg conomos]

I meant you could buy any load Cabela's sells and use them to shoot the 'Parker'. You'd need a good gun, of course.

[George Lander]

I meant you could buy any load Cabela's sells and use them to shoot the 'Parker'. You'd need a good gun, of course.

Greg: The only way anyone in his or her right mind would shoot that gun with modern ammo would be to weight the barrels down with at least 200# of sandbags, tie a 50 foot cord to the triggers, back off the full 50 feet, get behind a big tree and yank the cord. Did you notice how far the top lever is to the left! The gun is obviously way off face.

[Sam Ogle]

I will be very surprised if it turns out the sales person represented this as a "real" Parker Bros. gun.
But, having worked in a Cabela's Gun Library, surprises do happen. Parker folks, such as here on this site are of course, very educated on their particular (and wonderful) guns. They expect sales people to be at least as knowing as they are, and that is often just not the case. It would be like a car sales person knowing everything about a 1923 Packard Automobile.....only if he/she is a collector. People in Gun Libraries are just shooters. Some know handguns, some rifles, and a few old dogs such as myself are shotgun nuts. 95% of shotguns sold are in the modern Benelli/Browning/Beretta classes. Unfortunately, certain collectors love to visit a gun shop to "test" the knowledge of the sales people, and when they find that particular person cannot identify original Parker Bros case colors, feel they are in the presence of someone who is stupid.
Outrage at a sales persons lack of knowledge perhaps is mis-directed, as a lot of selling quality guns is a learning experience; especially if the sales person doesn't shoot side by sides. My father used to say "Everything I have ever learned was through pain, not intelligence."
IF the sales guy actually implied this was an original Parker Bros gun, Take it back, ask for a Manager, and you will get a refund.
Sam Ogle.....ex Cabela's Gun Library employee