"Gunner's" Parker

[Rich Anderson]

Last year at the Upper pennisula SXS shoot a thought crawled into my head. I try hard not to let these things happen as they are usually detrimental to my fiscall wellbeing.

I had seen some nice Fox guns that were custom engraved and restocked and thought that while I have several custom built rifles I never have had a shotgun built just the way I wanted. Well once I recognized the flaw in Fun Schwe of the safe I talked to bob Strosin of RES Engraveing who had done the work on the Fox's and a plan began to take shape.

I needed a canvas for my project and a theme. i considered a Fox but at the end of the day I knew it had to be a Parker. I wanted either a 16 on an 0 frame or a 20 and as I have more than a few 16's I really leaned toward the 20. A VH or VHE that was mechanically sound with no pits in the barrels, no major flaws in any of the metal surfaces was a must. The theme part was easy I'd dedicate the gun to my little buddy Gunner. At the time this started he was 13 and dealing with some health issues. I hoped he'd make it through the winter last year so the ground would be softer digging, then he rallied for a while and in June I didn't think I'd make Hausmanns. While at the U.P. shoot this June I had called home and he wasn't well. I'm happy to report he is holding his own and with the grace of God will make it out for some birds with "his" gun this fall.

The gun part actually came about as a referral from a friend about a member who had a VH 20 for sale. I contacted the gentalman and told him what I was looking for and why. He was somewhat hesitant about a perfectly good original Parker going for a project. The deal was made and I bought the gun sight unseen. I hope he approves of the transformation to Gunner's Parker.

It was a typical VH with a PG, DT. I much prefer a straight grip so I purchased a trigger guard from Galazans. They also provided the twin Ivory beads that replaced the metal bead and the heel and toe plates.

I'll include a picture of Gunner in this post but Marc Ouellette graciously took over 100 pictures of Gunner's parker and he has picked out a few to share with you and will add them to this post.

[Mark Ouellette]

Rich asked me to photograph Gunner’s Gun during the upcoming SxS shoot at Lapeer. Since Lapeer is my home club I knew that the light would not be on my side. Light is to photography as ammunition is to shooting. Poor light is like poor ammo.

I shot the following photos with the gun on the tailgate of my pickup. I think that I could have done better in a studio but overall these photos are not bad.

Rich with Gunners’s Gun

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/Gunners_3.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/Gunners_1.jpg

This is Gunner

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_075.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_069.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_065.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_045.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_067.jpg

Pheasants

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_002.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_006.jpg

Grouse

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_031.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_042.jpg

Woodcock

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_078.jpg

Wood

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_039.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_038.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_041.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_063.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_088.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_092.jpg

Nice Butt!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_101.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_108.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_111.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/Gunners%20Gun/GunnersGun_113.jpg

[Angel Cruz]

Rich, she's obsolutely beautiful. I love everything about it. The engraving is gorgeous and that wood is a killer. Make me wish I was the dog!!:rotf:

[Daryl Corona]

Would it kill you to smile? That gun is magnificent, you should be smiling ear to ear. It's everything you said it would be and more. Now I've got some special 3/4oz. loads that I can't wait to shoot in it. We need to see a picture of Gunner next to his gun. He's an amazing dog and truly deserves that gun. Wish I could say that about you.:bigbye: Thanks Mark, great job as usual.
Daryl

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

All I can say is, a a fitting tribute to a lifelong pal. A wonderful dog, beautiful gun, and you as a caring owner. I raise my glass to you! If humans had the love and affection of a dog it would be a much better world Gary

[John Truitt]

Well done!!!!!
I agree with Mr Corona. Please take a picture or two of Gunner next to HIS gun.

[Dave Suponski]

Rich, Congratulations! The finished gun is everthing you said it would be. After seeing the frame at "The Hollow" I knew this gun would be very special. I love the checkering layout. Ya we need a few pictures of Gunner with his gun....:whistle:

[Daryl Corona]

OK, it's an upgraded V. What's the new grade designation? It can't be a GH(Gunner H), so how about some suggestions? A COB Special? I need some help here.:rolleyes:

[Rich Anderson]

I'll see what I can do about getting the two of them together. My greatest hope is that I can shoot a bird over him this fall with it.

[Rich Anderson]

I refer to it as Gunner's Gun therefor a GG grade.

[Daryl Corona]

So be it!

[calvin humburg]

Rich, I hope you and your pal get your wish. To bad it's so far I got some chuckers on death row I'd donate to the hunt. Sam would like to hunt with Gunner.

[Brian Stucker]

Terrific pictures. Great looking gun. Got me thinking about doing the same thing now.

[Chuck Bishop]

A work of art! Nice going Rich.

[Paul Plager]

That is one of the most beautiful guns I have ever seen. The reason the gun came about is also beautiful. You have everything to be proud of on that one. Gunner is no slouch either.

[John Havard]

A fitting tribute to a fine dog and wonderful companion. No better use can be imagined than to take a fine Parker and customize it to honor one of God's finest creations - a dog that offers unlimited love and uncompromising devotion. Well done. Gunner deserves nothing less!

[Dean Romig]

Shaaazam!! What a Gun! That thing is a work of art from one end to the other. Big, big compliments to the engraver, the stocker and to the guy with the dream and the vision (and the checkbook) to see that tribute to "man's best friend" to the end result.


*pssst... can you shoot it?*

[Paul Plager]

:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh: :biglaugh:

[tom leshinsky]

Rich, that gun is just beautiful, gunner I'm sure is proud to be a part of it. Who did the case colors? I realy like them. Good luck to you and Gunner.

[Russ Jackson]

Rich ,Congratulations , Just an absolute Wonderful Gun , Gorgeous !!!!!!!!!!Every time you carry her it will bring to mind the wonderful memories afield with your Best Friend , what could be nicer ! Best ; Russ

[Rich Anderson]

The case color's are bone charcol and were done by a company in Ill. and it didn't take much more than a couple of weeks turn around time. I can get their name if you like.

I have shot the gun three times at sporting clays and am ashamed to admit that the first two shots were missed BUT I'm sure Gunner wispered "Hens, Hens" in my ear and I lifted my head. I'm getting better with it each round, it points like a dream and fits like a glove so the only problems are with the guy behind it.:shock:

[Rich Anderson]

Daryl asked to give it a grade I think it should be a MBF grade...Mans Best Friend.

Here are a couple of pics with Gunner in his chair with his gun.

[Paul Plager]

Those, my friend are priceless.:cheers:

[Dean Romig]

I think the lower picture is classic!

[Bill Murphy]

Rich, if I knew the project would come out that well, I would have given you the gun. The picture of Gunner resting on the gun is priceless. As Rich knows, the gun is fully provenanced to a town near me and never left Montgomery County, MD until I sent it to Rich. Rich has a copy of the original order and a billhead from the store where it was purchased, in 1917 as I recall. This is one of the "great projects".

[Dean Romig]

the only problems are with the guy behind it.:shock:

As is usually the case with a flawless Parker.

[Rich Anderson]

Bill I'm glad you like it. You have my address for reimbursement of the purchase price of the gun:biglaugh:

[Richard Flanders]

I can fully testify without reserve of any kind how much Gunner deserves this tribute to him. I've had some unforgettable times following that dog as he trailed a wily bird, and we found every last one of them. Truly a great dog. If a man has one dog like that in a lifetime he is a winner.

[Bob Roberts]

Congratulations on a truly wonderful tribute project. I would certainly nominate either of the photos of Gunner and his new Parker Brothers gun for display on the PGCA home page with a link set to this thread.

[Rick Losey]

Congratulations on a truly wonderful tribute project. I would certainly nominate either of the photos of Gunner and his new Parker Brothers gun for display on the PGCA home page with a link set to this thread.

I will second both the congratulations on the project and the nomination of the photo

I envy those whose dogs will pose, when hunting mine look at a camera and say they have birds to find, if i make them hold in the field or the house I get ohh if i have to sad face look
:)

Great picture

[charlie cleveland]

this storey of gunner and his gun will go down in parker history...glad i got to see pictures of this great pointer and his gun....mark my words gunner will go down in history now and in a way he deserves....charlie

[Dave Suponski]

COB, That second picture is a classic. Simply wonderful...I saved it to my computer.

I hope John D is watching...This picture would look great on our homepage. You there John ?.......:corn:

[Dennis V. Nix]

That is a beautiful gun. Everything comes together, the engraving, wood and steel to form a thing of function and beauty. It will be a pleasure to own and to shoot. Well done.

[Kurt Densmore]

Fantastic Dog, Fantastic Gun and Fantastic Pictures that do the gun Justice (which is pretty difficult to do). The gun just simply breathtaking. Kudos to all of the skilled craftsmen involved in the special "GG" grade. And to the very well conceived plan to put it all together.

I was skeptical that the pictures would be able to show its beauty but mark was able to pull it off once again.

Kurt

[Peter Clark]

Pretty fine argument for restoration and also for doing what you want with your own stuff! You have created a family heirloom.

[Rich Anderson]

I have had several PM's as to who did work on Gunner's gun and rather than go through each PM here is a list of people who did the work or supplied material.

Kip Wood at Central Michigan Gunsmithing did the stock work. he also re rustblued the barrels after he removed a small dent, reblued the trigger guard, opened the chokes and installed the twin Ivory beads and reassembeled the gun. He can be reached at www.centralmichigangunsmithing.com. Phone is 989-775-7040

Robert Strosin of RES Engraving did the engraving. His web site is www.resengraving.com Phone is 715-325-7550

Classic guns in Crete Illonis did the case colors. I don't have a web address but their phone is 708-367-1620.

CSM provided the new trigger guard, heel and toe plates and the twin Ivory beads.

I can highly reccomend Kip as he has done some stock refinishing on a couple of Parkers and has made a couple of custom rifles for me as well. Just looking at this is all the recomendation Bob Strosin needs IMHO.

[Jack Cronkhite]

A wonderful tribute to a friend. Hope to see Gunner and his gun on the opening page one day.

[Bill Murphy]

Rich, thanks for sending copies of the historical information on Gunner's Gun which I had misplaced. To add to that information, my accountant's wife is a direct descendant of one of the partners of Chiswell and Nicholson, the store where the gun was purchased. They are many generation residents of Montgomery County, and their first son was named "Nicholson" after the family name. They live within four or five miles of the store, even closer than I do. The successors to the Chiswell and Nicholson store were Chiswell and Jones, or maybe it is a different business altogether. The Jones family were long time merchants in Dickerson, MD, and the Jones family continued to an old trapshooting buddy of my teen years, Lloyd Jones, owner of the International Harvester franchise in Dickerson, which flowed down from the general stores of his grandparents and great grandparents. I found more information than I will ever need by googling "chiswell nicholson dickerson maryland" and "chiswell jones dickerson maryland" It brought us way more information than my accountant or his wife were aware of concerning her family and its businesses, even though they are amateur local historians. I have located one more identical 20 gauge VH in the Parker orders in my files that also came from that store. Unfortunately, I have no hope of locating that gun even though it probably lives just a few miles from me. I shot Gunner's Gun for many years before I sent it to you and enjoyed it very much, even though the chokes were a bit aggressive. It's one of the most original little Parkers I have ever owned, considering that it showed long time field use. The gun never went more than ten miles from its original place of purchase, even after I found it at a local auction. The original owner was a resident of the town where it was bought, if my research is correct. I bought a very high condition VH 12 gauge Parker from the same estate and failed to buy an earlier VH in almost as high condition. It seems the owner used the 20 gauge for almost all of his hunting, even though he owned three Parkers. His name was "Eader" and I'm afraid what I'll get if I google his name with the name of his home town, Dickerson, MD, or the neighboring Poolesville, MD. I still pass a mailbox with the name Eader when driving to and from my gun club. The 12 gauge VH that I did not buy at the auction is an "order book" era gun which I should have lettered, just to find out if it also was purchased at the same store. I have the serial number in my records, but am reluctant to order a letter on a gun I don't own. I hope this information is of interest to you, Rich.

[Rich Anderson]

Bill thank you for the historical information on Gunner's gun. It's both interesting and amazing at how these guns travel from one place to another.

I'll have Gunner's gun at the Southern and your welcome to take it out for a round on the course if you wish.

I was going to take it out hunting this am but we got an ice storm and there will be little travel today, maybe tomorrow or Sunday.

[todd allen]

What a beautiful gun, and fitting tribute to an old friend!

[Matt Valinsky]

All I can say, Amazing..................

[Bill Murphy]

To the top for the poster with the brown VHE 20.

[Tony Ambrose]

VERY difficult to not look at this thread for Lord knows how many times!

I certainly have a very soft spot for old dogs and beautiful shotguns.

[Jack Cronkhite]

I have yet to see Gunner's Gun up close and personal but that is on the bucket list. I also have issues with soft spots. The one in my head has seen some dogs of shotguns find their way home with me and of course a few decent ones. But the one in my heart is reserved for gun dogs (all dogs welcome but there is a special corner for gun dogs).
Cheers,
Jack

[Rich Anderson]

Jack good to see you here again and I hope all is well. If you can make back to the U.P. I'll be sure to bring Gunner's Gun with me.....or I could come and hunt Pheasant's Daisy loves Pheasants.

[Stephen Hodges]

Rich. glad this threat was revised again.. Great gun, for a great dog I am sure. I had a very special Lab in the "80's that lived to be 16........so I know what a very special dog is. That is a beautiful tribute to a very special dog.................Steve

[Rich Anderson]

Thanks Steve, Gunner was a wonderful companion and is missed terribly.

[Richard B. Hoover]

"I want to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

What a wonderful tribute to your precious fur person. Congratulations to you and gunner.

A VH is just a VH -- but this wonderful Parker was lucky enough to be chosen to make a perfect canvas for your GG, which is now a truly unique and perfect gem. The wood, engraving and checking are magnificent. I hope gunner will be able to enjoy this jewel with you in the field for many more hunts.

Richard

[Rich Anderson]

Thank you Richard for the kind words. Gunner is pictured in my Avatar with his gun. Unfortunately he passed away the day before bird season opened.

[Bill Murphy]

I have to open this thread again to state that my famous Wirehair, Eva, famous from side by side shoots, is alive and well and will be 12 in October. She is very athletic, 55 pounds, and waiting to visit at the Vintagers next month. I hope my good friend, Anderson, will visit with his latest pup.

[Scot Cardillo]

Really want to see this gun - any way to view the photo's w/out setting up a photo bucket account?

[Eric Eis]

Really want to see this gun - any way to view the photo's w/out setting up a photo bucket account?

Send Rich a pm, he will send you pic's , its a beautiful gun.

[Rich Anderson]

Scott what with the change at photobucket I'll take some pictures and post them on this thread. Marc Ouellette took the original pictures and I'll ask him if he has them and if so would he post them again. He is really good at taking pictures. I know Gary Charmichael posted a picture of it with his gun dedicated to his dog Mattie and I think they were under a topic about wood.

Bill I won't be at the Vintagers.My daughter is getting married 9/23 then I'm off to the Upper peninsula for a month of grouse hunting. My new hunting companion won't be here until after the southern. I'm taking no chances and am getting a started dog.

[Rich Anderson]

Ok Scott here goes nothing:rotf:

[Rich Anderson]

That worked out pretty well so here are some more.

[Scot Cardillo]

wow - that is just extraordinary! I have long wanted to do something similar, in honor of my first shorthair. I hope to follow your lead someday. Thanks for sharing.

Great job and very tastefully done, Rich.

Here's to Gunner :cheers:

[Rich Anderson]

Thanks Scott. If I can help you along the way to your custom gun just let me know.

[Brett Hoop]

Mr. Anderson

The gun is outstanding, the motive supreme! Your first day tradition gets a tip of my hat. If Heaven is all I can dream it to be I'll need to take a whistle.

[Bill Murphy]

Scot and Daryl, my Maryland Parker buddies, read the Maryland provenance of Gunner's Gun on page 4 of this thread. The lovely Linda was not shooting her VH 20 and decided to sell it to Rich for his project. She is one happy camper after seeing the results of Rich's project. This is a 1917 gun if I recall correctly.

[Daryl Corona]

I'm very familiar with this gun and Rich sure did it and his dog justice.:bowdown:

[Jack Cronkhite]

On a geographical exercise of near epic proportions, I was able to find, in the dark, 6th Street in Channing Michigan. A single light cast a faint glow on a silent figure in a leather lounger. I was about to meet Rich for the first time and it happened to be grouse season. Crazy Daisy was wary of a strange character arriving but warmed soon enough to another dog person who also smelled a bit of Hoppes. We had good conversation and a night cap or two and a hearty breakfast. (there was a brief sleep between night caps and breakfast). The woods were glorious and the grouse abounded but not particularly close enough. That did change and it was a memorable time. So much so, another trip happened a couple years later.

The second trip saw me have the opportunity to handle (not shoot) Gunner's Gun. To have that gun in hand is a whole different experience even than viewing these amazing pictures. It is truly a wonderful gun and a tribute to a great dog that I can only wish I could have met.

Hope the grouse are cooperating with you Rich.

Cheers,
Jack

[Rich Anderson]

We will see Jack. The first week of October I'll be in Wisconsin hunting then back to Channing for the rest of the month. Your welcome anytime.

[Bill Murphy]

This was once my wife's, "The Lovely Linda's," gun, and she is impressed with the result, as am I. I gave as much historical information on the gun as was available, and resulting gun was as good a result as could have been expected. What a great gun.