Trojans are great guns, built with utmost care. They will shoot great patterns because the bores and chokes are Parker. If you are like me and some others your first Parker will be a Trojan and as such it will never be for sale. You'll enjoy that Trojan whichever you buy, it will be special. It will also build in you a desire for a higher grade Parker. Take your time, seek competent advice and make sure your choice is not only sound but mostly or all original. Although different in appearance with differing features from all other grades there were fewer Trojans built than VH's. They were sold as knockabouts and used hard. Good sound original Trojan's may not be considered a collectors piece by many but they are becoming harder to find especially in 16 and 20 gauge. Take your time, share pictures, ask questions. Buy wisely because it may not seem like it now, but there will always be another Trojan given time (careful not to buy a pig in a poke).

PS. Trojans are a powerful gateway narcotic, there will be no going back if you buy one :)

Tell us more information about both guns. If he really wants to get you to buy both, deal hard on getting the price down - get brutal!. What price range is he quoting you for the 16 and for both??

Matt it sounds like you are in a great predicament and envy you. I say buy both of them. If the 12 gauge Trojan is choked full and full you can always use the RST spreader loads for upland game if you need more open patterns. Best bet is to shoot it at a pattern board though to see what it really shoots. I never had a 16 gauge until 2 years ago and now have 5. It is a great gauge and can handle most everything you reasonably choose to shoot with it. The only caution I would suggest is to make sure both guns fit you. I once purchased 12 and 20 L. C. Smith guns which were like new. I cherished those guns for a while until I shot them and found they had too much drop at the comb. Beautiful guns but when I threw them to my shoulder I was always looking at the back of the opening lever. Many of the older guns have stocks that are not the best dimensions for present day shooters. It can be corrected but do you want to do that? Good luck with whatever you decide. If you buy even one you will definitely have a case of the dreaded but loved Parker Fever.

Back in 1967 while home on leave ( I had just won an all expense paid 13 month excursion to the fun and sun capital of south east asia) my uncle stopped over to my Dad's house. He had a 12 ga. double barrel Parker brothers shot gun and two boxes of Peters shot shells. He knew I had been hunting with an old H&R single 12 ga. He thought perhaps I might like to us his shotgun. Well to get to the point it was about as fancy a gun as I'd had ever seen, engraved to the max and a chunk of walnut that was just short of being wild. I think that started this. I thought to myself, one day I'll have one of those. the only problem I had with that gun for two weeks was being afraid I'd drop it. it did manage to kill several partridges for me.

It's taken a couple years but I believe I'm getting close.

the 16 ga. built in 1917. It's a gun that has been hunted. The typical dings and scratches on the stock. Really no color to speak of on the frame. The barrels are full and modified, 28" long. the bores are bright with no pitting. One barrel does have a very small dent. I spoke to a gunsmith, he said $45.00 and an easy repair. The barrels and frame mount up nice and tight. There is one small area on one of the barrels that the bluing has been worn. The tag said $1,350 but he will take $1,200. Serial numbers on the barrels and frame match.

12 ga. 30" barrels, full and full. little more color on the frame, wood is much nicer. Bores are bright and the barrels and the frame are nice and tight. I believe this gun was built in 1926. It does have what I think is a Silvers recoil pad. the bluing on the barrels is very nice. The price tag shows $1,250. serial numbers on the barrels and frame match.

In about and hour, I'll be headed over to see what his package price is gonna be.

I would be very happy to own a Trojan grade Parker Brothers shotgun. kinda matches me.

FWIW I stopped by the Kittery Trading Post on the way home from an appointment I had nearby. They had a 12ga Trojan, 1913 gun (dolls head), 30" barrels (chokes were probably relieved as store tag said IC/Lt Mod. Wood was solid, good shape, checkering worn but good, action tight, barrels were probably reblued some time ago, 90%, very little cc. It had a brown solid pad on it. I did not look it over in greater detail, price was $865 if it helps.

It's a done deal, they both came home with me. The fun begins.

First thing first, tonight I'll sit here and enjoy them. Tomorrow, I'll search this site for a "How to" to take them apart for a good cleaning along with how to best take care of the wood cleaning wise.

The recoil pad on the 12ga. is a D.A.S. from Detroit not a Silver like I first thought.

Folks, thanks for your input and help, much appreciated.

One more question, whats a "Dolls Head"?

Matt

welcome to the asylum Matt

a Dolls head is the little rounded extention on the back end of the top rib

Good man Matt. The doll's head is the part of the top rib the extends pass the breach end and mates with the cut out on top of the frame. Some Trojans have them some don't.

The Trojan has what is called simply a "rib extension" while all grades above the Trojan, starting with the Grade-0 (or VH), have the true "doll's head".

Thanks guys. The 16 has the rib extension, the 12 doesn't

By the way, the gun shop has another Parker there. 12ga. hammer gun with "Twist" barrels.

The serial # in the barrels is 17845 and the number on the frame is 29829 so I'm guessing a mismatched gun?

Just putting this out there in case anyone has an interest.

Again, thanks so much for the help.

Matt