With the help of the search Fred suggested I was able to replace the forend and everything functions appropriately with snap caps.

Is it best to store a Parker with the hammers down, i.e. dry fired, or with the mainsprings cocked? I have read about the complex ejector mechanism and would like to store the gun in the manner least likely to cause it to require repair.

Thank you.

Allow me to ask some pretty basic questions in the hope of solving your issue...

Since you said that all you did was remove the Forend and the ejector hammers are not tripped.

Is this the first time you have removed the forend since owning this gun?
Is the forend seating on the barrels and just the latch is not snapping?

Yes. the forend seats down on the barrels, but the latch was not closing until I followed the above advise to give it a squeeze between the latch and action.

This was the second time I removed the forend, I recall no difficulty reassembling it the first time- but that was about year ago.

Ok. So you got it.

I was gonna say... Just squeeze it harder. That is now they should be. A nice tight fit.

I have guns like that and what I do is hold the forearm in place as I open the action slightly and somehow they go in place with no problem. Try it and see if it works.