Longevity

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I am amazed at the quality of the work that went into Parker guns over the years, Ever time I pick up a Parker that is 130-140 years old and it still works as it was intended to, I can't help but shake my head. What if they could make things today that would last that long? Sometimes I think the life span of modern manufactured items are dated to fail at a certain time in order to make the consumer by more. The workers in the Parker Gun Works were craftsmen, that were proud of what they built, and knew it had to pass final inspection, needless to say I bet very few of the guns failed to pass! A testament to proud craftsmen! Gary

[Dean Romig]

Sometimes I think the life span of modern manufactured items are dated to fail at a certain time in order to make the consumer by more.


Gary, that is absolutely the case and has been commonplace since about the 50's or 60's and is known as "planned obsolecense".

I couldn't agree more with you about the quality of Parker guns and so many other things that were manufactured with pride by consciencious craftsmen.

[Bruce Day]

xxxx

[Dave Suponski]

Gary and Dean, I agree with you gent's whole heartedly. What skilled hands created in this country years ago will never be found here again for the most part. Yes there are a few craftsmen still creating wonderful work but I think we will never see the volume of day to day craftsmanship to occured back in the day.

Looking around and seeing the loss of manufacturing that made this country the world leader just plain scares me.

I think it was GM that coined the phrase "planned obsolesence" Car's built in the 30's to the 50's just lasted too long. I remember my mother bought a brand new 63 Chevy Impala and I remember thinking that this car was junk compared to a 50's era car.

[Chris_Caile]

I agree with all… One of my other vises, beside old SxS is antique wall clocks (Regulator types). They have been in daily use for over 100 years and still keep perfect time, every few years a few drips of oil is all they need! The repos that we have received as gift run for a few years and then cost too much to repair.

[Rich Anderson]

My wife was reading that the average expected time for your home computer is 5 years. She sells appliances at a major box store and always reccomend that customers buy the extended warranty as these things arn't designed to last.

Look at what you get today even in guns, todays guns are stocked in some form of plastic, there are rubber panels where checkering is supposed to be and they look like something out of Star Wars. This goes for shotguns and rifles. We as a country have lost the air of nostalgia and taking some pride in what we produce.

I'll just keep my antique (solid Oak) furniture, my Parkers and Pre 64 M70 Winchesters or I'll have it custom built. One way or another it's Made in America with some pride.:)

[Dave Noreen]

Hunting guns are really shot very little, and carried a whole lot. Serious competition guns on the other hand get shot and abused a lot. From the records we've seen many instances the big name shooters sending their Parker guns back to Parker Bros. every few years for "removing dents and repolishing the barrels", "tightning the action", "restocking" and "overhauling". The guys at the gun club today were just talking about the end of season deal on sending their Ljutics back to Yakima for the complete overhaul and rebluing!! Nothing new.

[Rich Anderson]

It wasn't uncommon for the English to send their Holland & Hollands and Purdy's back to their respective companies for work after hunting season either. This is just a matter of takeing care of things and thats one reason those things last for a hundred years or more. Today things don't get repaired they get replaced. Have you seen a TV repairman lately or how about the Maytag repairman?

[Bill Zachow]

While I agree wholeheartedly that the average field gun of today can not hold a candle to the classic guns of yesteryear, many other things can and do. Back in the 50s it would have been very uncommon to have a car survive for 100,000 miles. Today, that is commonplace. Batteries for autos were usually shot after a couple of years. Now, 10 years is easy. Tires in the 50 and 60 usually maxed out at 20,000 miles if you were lucky. Today, 50,000 miles easy. The television you bought in the 50s for todays equivalent of $5,000 would not stop rolling and had more snow than the Donner party ever saw. Today's TVs give perfect pictures and audio for the 50s equivalent $20 at most. I could go on and on. Things are different today. In some ways better; in some, worse. The classic guns will live on and the new, plastic and rubber aerodynamic weapons will probably never become collector's items--thank heavens.

[Rich Anderson]

I have had to buy two car batteries in the last month:eek: Neither one approached 10 years old and can you say expensive:crying:

I agree that some things are better and they sould be with the advances in technology but Gary was referring to our Parkers standing the test of time and they do that exceptionally well and I doubt that there can be a modern comparison in todays mass produced realm.

[Dave Noreen]

I have a 2002 battery in my 1997 Ford F-150 which we drove up to Kodiak in 2011. I was really amazed when it started right up this spring. I'll be even more amazed if it starts next spring!!

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

There is one good thing, due to advances in medicine we are living longer! If not a lot of us would be in the happy hunting grounds, me included!

[chris dawe]

There is one good thing, due to advances in medicine we are living longer! If not a lot of us would be in the happy hunting grounds, me included!

As advanced as they are Gary ,I wish they were better...guy's,take it from me appreciate your family and loved one's for what they are to you,try to spend as much quality time with them as you can.

When the inevitable argument's of life arise try your damndest to end them on a positive note before the last word is spoken.

The memory's of your loved one's will be the best of it in the end,our's to cherish.

We can be damn sure they don't make them like they used to...shotgun's and everything else on this planet !

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Chris, I feel for you on the loss of your father, The way life is , we are all to busy during the productive years we could have spent with family, In the end only one thing matters! FAMILY! again my condolences Gary

[Rich Anderson]

Not a Parker but I think this will stand the test of time.
Custom built on a 1909 Argentine Mauser action. Inletted sling swivel studs and a skelton PG cap all of which have been case colored, Winchester Pre 64 style 3 position safty and a checkered Neider steel butplate. The pics are bad but there is 3 inches of snow outside and its well...cold.

[Mills Morrison]

I will not forget when I bought a c. 1895 GH and my wife bought a brand new Beretta automatic. We went to the gun club and hers jammed after a few shots and she fought it the whole way around the sporting clays course. No problems with the GH which worked like a charm. The Damascus barrels did not even blow up.

[charlie cleveland]

dont you just love these oldguns...mills that will teach your wife to buy a parker next time....ha thats sure a fine rifle i love these old military rifles they makefine custom guns..with imagination the sky the limit such as you have shown us here...heh move south no snow to worry about....been in the 70 s all of december so far...makes it rough on reer hunting though if you aint got a c in the tree house... charlie

[Thomas L. Benson Sr.]

I believe that true craftsman are still around. You don't have to look farther than the state of Ohio and the Amish.When we built are home my wife purchased our furniture with the intention of this would be our last purchase and it needed to last so she purchased the Amish made dining table,sideboard and bar stools. You will not be disappointed. We have other craftsman style furniture made locally that is of great quality also. Thomas

[John Farrell]

I took my 25 year old Rolex in for maintenance a couple of years ago because the winding stem shaft broke. The master watchmaker, upon returning it to me some weeks later, commented on the condition of the piece; he showed me the parts (6) he had to replace because they were worn out. I told him I had worn the watch practically every day of the 25 years while working, showering, sleeping, shooting, chopping wood etc.

With that he smiled and said I had gotten my money's worth out of the watch, which cost $1,200 in 1986. The repair was $750. The parts he replaced in the watch were current production. I wonder how long they will last.