My first was an 1877 vintage '0' Grade 12 gauge with 32" twist barrels. It was used hard and needed a little barrel work, but ended up being a nice shooter.

Those barrels look great Mark!

The right barrel was bulged about 3" from the muzzle, and both ribs popped loose at the same spot. Brad Bachelder managed to get them looking real nice for me!

My Grandfather had Parkers and Mom told stories of his trap shooting and hunting with them. In 1978 when I graduated from college (yes I went to college and even learned a thing ot two:shock:) I saw a Trojan 12ga at a gun show for $400. At the time I didn't know a Trojan from an A1 Special. I never could shoot tha gun and didn't like the two triggers. I traded it for a VH 12 then traded that for a Browning Citori grade 5 20ga and later sold that for God knows what but I wish I had that Trojan back. My how times have changed.:)

I guess I am lucky to own the first Parker I owned, but the first Parker I remember was owned by a black gentleman who occasionally did some carpentry work for my Dad. I remember it had Damascus barrels, but was shot regularly. I distinctly remember Plez shooting it at a dove hunt on our old farm. He never would sell it, despite several offers. I would love to track that gun down and buy if the seller was willing. Plez passed on years ago.

My first Parker was a T-Latch, when I was about 12. It had more rattles than my Ford. My first shooter was a VH-20, 28". That was stolen when I was first married in '72. The first one I ever shot was my Dad's first; a VH16. Still hunt with that one.

Mine was a single bbl 410 at age 12 but hunted with it very little as my Dad handed me his VH16 realizing I was strong enough to carry it all day. He also let me hunt with his German Schmidt & Habermann 16 ga double. Got my first double on grouse with that German gun. I believe it's still sitting on a rack in a gun shop in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Trojan 16 still have it and it is still my #1 go to hunting gun.

My first Parker was a 28 gauge 28" VH made in 1904 and ordered by William Wagner in Washington, DC. I bought it in 1960 on our local skeet field, paid the owner $130 for it if I remember correctly. I was 14 at the time and I believe my Dad fronted the money for me so I could complete the deal immediately. I still own the gun and shot a round of skeet with it two weeks ago. In the years since, I have bought a few other Wagner Parkers and haven't sold any of them.

Phew, I feel better reading this, I was afraid you might have bought your first one brand new :rotf:

That was a good one JB. Very funny.

My first parker had been blued and the wood black as coal. This was the wood hiding underneath. It was a DH that lettered with a Silvers pad, and originally did not have a safety but was sent back to have on installed. S/N 82226 One of the few D grades to have originally installed Vulcan Barrels.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...arkerDH002.jpg

Mine was/is a VH 12ga. with 30" barrels. I was up at the Kittery trading post with my Dad, he found it on the rack behind the counter and knew I had been lusting after a Parker for some time, so he paid for it and called me over to fill out the paper work.

Found the letter on my gun. It was ordered by Charles S. Burkhardt on March 7, 1896 and shipped April 18, 1896 to Buffalo NY. It states 30" Vulcan Barrels, choked F and F 2 3/4" chambers No Safety, 14 1/4 length of pull and 2 1/2 drop. Weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. Went back twice once 6 months later to restock, ( Take off safety ????) Reblue the frame ( Never remember it stating reblue the frame until now) Sent back again 6 months later to redress the stock and install new top lever spring, also ordered a spare. Was sent back again by MR F Cook at the colt armory in June of 1900 to clean, rebrown barrels and install Silvers pad.
I believe this was the 2nd of 16 guns made originally with Vulcan barrels.

My first was handed down from my father. A NE 10ga 32" Damascus believed to be his fathers. But my Dad's first cousin who is ninety-five and I see every morning, says the hammerless Parker was my Great-Uncle, Fleet's. He said his Father and my Grandfather's Parkers were hammer guns. "Uncle" Walter's memory and mind is amazing and if he says it was Fleet Mason's then it was.