Jack,

Tell me about the "Borden Parker"? My business is named Borden Insurance, and my partner Allen Borden, is a Borden Dairy family guy.

I'm proud of myself as I have recently let go of 10 rifles BUT I have purchased 4 shotguns and commissioned another custom rifle:eek: BUT I'm 5 spaces in the various safes to the good:rotf:

The 12 step program is a myth, I can never get past step two:banghead:

One step forward and two steps back

Listen carefully. If you are not a carpenter and want to get your stuff under control, contact the people that I contacted to get my stuff under control. sales@7.62x54R.net They are a very professional Georgia company that manufactures completely finished gun racks that are screwed to your walls, in any design that you select from their voluminous selection on their website. Their main clientelle seems to be collectors who want to display their 7.62X54 Mosin Nagant rifles. The owner of the company is a serious historian on Mosin Nagants. However, I seriously turned their business around to build racks for shotguns, two level easy access racks, custom cut for single barrel, double barrel, you name it, with butts cut for eight gauge guns if you wish. Their standard rifle butt cuts are way too narrow for our shotguns. Specify butt trays at six and a half inches minimum. Everything comes in shrink wrapped packaging and no mistakes. Save money by ordering the racks unfinished. Mine are still unfinished and they look just fine. Two of my shooting buddies are semi-professional woodworkers and recommended that I use these people. One of my buddies has headed up the installation of my racks and is very impressed with 7.62X54R.net and their craftsmanship and prices. Your only job is to determine the distance from the top butt placement to the ceiling to accommodate your longest gun.
Then you don't have to worry about the floor to second level support. It is predetermined. The butt section of the top level guns is the barrel rest for the lower level guns, one piece of lumber. I think this is a design feature they created for my racks. You do have to specify the shape, (square or round) of the barrel channels, depending on whether you are racking single barrel or double barrel guns. Contact me by PM if you have questions.

Mark: The Borden Parker is a beautiful DHE 12 ga 28" Titanic barrels F/F with CPG and SBP. It was ordered by Charles W. Dimmick , a principle of the US Cartridge company in 1906 for presentation to Sir Frederick William Borden in 1907. The barrels are factory engraved on the top rib with Sir Frederick Borden. I would argue that this Parker may well be the most important Canadian Parker, certainly not by grade as I know of several A's B's and C's in Canada; rather, important by its significant Canadian provenance. Sir Frederick Borden was a Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Parliament, along with being an entrepreneur of note and a medical doctor. There is a biography of the man published under the title A Knight in Politics - that I profess is a fairly dry read but I got through it. His legacy is transforming a British commanded militia into a Canadian commanded free standing army. He needed a lot of ammunition to train troops and I suspect (yet to prove) that the US Cartridge Company of Baltimore played a role and the DHE was possibly a "token" of appreciation. What I do know so far (and I admit it is off and on that I research this gun), the Borden Parker is a Meriden gun, ordered by Charles W. Dimmick in 1906 and presented to Sir Frederick William Borden. The trail runs cold for me until it was purchased by Dale Riawetz of Kentville Nova Scotia, who unfortunately passed away and his wife only believes he got it from a Borden descendant or someone married into the family. From Mr Riawetz, it went to Joe Salter of Amherst New Hampshire. He is a family friend of the Riawetz family. Joe is a respected gun and militaria dealer. He advertised it as Borden Parker. I do Google searches from time to time for "Parker" and get all sorts of non-gun related hits and just about ignored clicking on that link, thinking another obit or shooting or whatever. To my surprise it was this DHE. I contacted Joe and discussed the gun and what he knew of it. Once I learned the provenance, I couldn't resist at least making an offer. I was once again surprised to have the offer accepted. He said he had given the widow much more than my offer as a friend of the family. I think he was just happy to see that lost puppy go to a good home. Definitely a decision made from the heart not the head. So, it now graces the wall as my prized non-family gun. Dad's VH is the most important provenance to this custodian of a few Parkers. The Borden Parker is not a stay at home queen. It looked in excellent condition so I had to try those F/F barrels on some long range wild roosters. This is how I learned that mal-functioning ejectors don't become extractors. The shells ejected but I could not close the barrels afterward. I managed to push the ejectors forward and re-load and get the gun closed. I did get me some roosters. I then sought the wisdom of an old friend and he gave me suggestions, which I followed and repaired the problem. There was some binding on the ejector rod in the barrel, thankfully not the forend mechanism. With some very judicious filing (and I mean VERY), the problem was cured and it worked smoothly. End result, some nice dinners. I'm a bit reluctant to take it afield any more as the wood finish is still factory intact but I did have to shoot it. Joe appreciated this picture.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...pictureid=6834

This pic is a typical December hunt for me -30 with windchill taking it to just above -40 The Borden Parker's second trip with me.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...pictureid=6830

jack thats a nice gun and defently a good storey...if you hada ask me to go on that hunt with you i would have to said no because 40 below is way to cold for this old boy...charlie

Thanks So much for the story and explaination!

BILL, THAT sounds like the perfect solution....Look forward to deeper inquiry!

So, as I now understand it, there isn't anything like Parker Patience, just abandonment of desire. Tied to the mast and the crew's ears full of wax, is this the only safe passage?

So, as I now understand it, there is no need for anything like Parker Patience. Why should there be? High upon his horse the lone rider charged forth to his destiny, daring whatever Fate would challenge.

Square one.

Isn't that from "Tales of Sinbad"?





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And Mr Sharpe : The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain. I think you’ve got it.

Odysseus, aka Ulysses listened to the siren song whilst tied to the mast of his shop.
Not unlike the sweet siren song of that next Parker...:whistle:

I think that is from Homer's Odyssey, when Odysseus tied himself the mast and crew used beeswax so as not hear the Sirens so as not to steer ship into the rocks.

The movie O'Brother Where Art Thou is based on the Odyssey and is a very funny Coens brothers movie.

I need to figure put how to not look at gun sites on the computer. This has led to my financial discomfort on more than one occasion.

Right, Homer's.

How 'bout them sirens in Oh Brother Where Art Thou! Weren't they somethin'?:whistle:





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This is a recollection of a conversation that happened at the Southern HOF dinner. I actually have to thank Mr A. Wheaton for setting the flag in the ground for the his answer to my question answer of his question of how many Parkers I had. He said he had "a lot," I asked him how many in "a lot," he said about 200. The reason that I have to thank him is that my Pretty Wife was sitting between us and now considers that I have about 175 to go to get to "a lot," that she will let me get a few more.

How does this refer back to the subject of this thread, well let me put it this way, if one has the patience one will get "a lot" of Parkers.

"He said he had "a lot," I asked him how many in "a lot," he said about 200."


YIKES!!!:shock::eek::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

And just when I was starting to think I had a lot, I learn I’ve only just begun. Oh my.

I need to get busy. Have some catching up to do:rolleyes:

Just had an interesting conversation with my business partner concerning the above. He is definitely related to Sir Frederick. They have brothers in common in their heritage. They were all originally from Rhode Island, and some brothers were Tory's and ended up in Canada (Sir Frederick) and other brothers supported the revolution and eventually became the Borden Dairy faction of the Borden's! It is my understanding that Sir Frederick has an air force base named after him. Allen also intimated that the French Canadians were upset back in the day because Sir Frederick Borden was responsible for getting Canada in the Great War.

Amazing what history lessons Parker guns instigate!!!

Now waiting for the axe to fall with a connection to Lizzie Borden. Might need a lot of patience for that. On the Parker Patience front, I freely admit that I made every mistake mentioned throughout this wandering thread, including selling one (and only one) and now asking why I did that. One day of course all will be sold, probably at auction by my heirs. In the meantime, I need to convert a lot of patience into a lot of Parkers or maybe take up knitting. Cheers, Jack

Oh and yes there is Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario CLICK
Oh and not to be outdone, Saskatchewan named a village after Sir Frederick Borden, current population 287 (+ or - depending on lost strangers)

Ulysses, as has been answered. The lone rider is each and every one of us, always eyeing the next horizon, charging forward or not.

I don't have patience, never did and never will. I did accept the suggestion to read The Parker Story. It's been on order since May 3rd. It is on it's way, that's two weeks of patience, forced patience.

Received The Parker Story and wow what a package. I've bought higher end books before but this set is magnificent. I did not have a chance to open it yet but will after coffee this morning.

Put a big pot on, this will take awhile!

You owe it to yourself (and to those of us who have done so) to read it cover to cover (each volume of course) as well as those Parker books that came before it.

It is a long, but fascinating, read and it will be very fulfilling to have done so.





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Some of us in Quixotic fashion... :whistle:





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For those of you that may have an interest in gun racks for whatever purpose I thought I would mention that I have been in contact with the folks that Bill referred us to. I had an 8' section of wall in my gun room that I have been pondering on for a while so this spurred me on. I was a little skeptical at first as the owner (Ted) does everything by email. It did not take long to realize that he knew what he was doing. He worked up various drawings and was more than patient and responsive. In the end he came up with something I liked for my application and it has been ordered. Looks like mid July is the delivery date. Prolly do a separate thread on it when it's finished in case any members have an interest. Pic attached of the unit I ordered which is a 30 gun free standing unit. It will come unassembled but after viewing the assembly instructions/video on the website it should be childs play. I plan on finishing the unit myself. Thrilled with the process, now for the actual product, stay tuned. Also thanks to Bill Murphy who was kind enough to speak to me and some others as I understand it on these gun racks, Bill was most helpful !

That is cool.

If I were having one built I would specify that at least two of the shelves with cutouts for the butts be canted up at the front edge by 3 - 5 degrees to allow for of the guns' pitch.





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Dean I made my base with an 8 degree rise over 10 inches. No guns rest heavy on the toe of the butt plate and all still fall to the barrel support. Base has one inch high-density foam covered with fake leather and each spot on the visible base has a cutout for the butt. Worked for me. A cabinet would be nice for books and of course Parker Pages. Maybe next time. Cheers Jack

Dean, why we do things is a subconscious urge that has no mode of communication, hence it is very hard to explain. Parker Mania like any other compulsive disorder is basically getting hooked on dopamine which is the feel good hormone that we naturally produce and is the basis of addictive behavior.

Ask a millennial why they are addicted to facebook, snapchat, smart phones in general and very few can explain why they can't live without it. Every time they hear a ding that someone liked their post or sends them a text, they get shot of dopamine.

Essentially shooting and collecting old sxs's and more particular Parker's can in worse case scenario become an obsessive compulsive disorder that we can get so ingrained and dependent and part of our lives it takes complete control of us.

I think the link below is a perfect example and Pete's reaction to hearing the Siren song is a perfect example. Instead of the women doing laundry picture those fine ladies sitting on a rock with an oil cloth polishing an old Parker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXpRxzmawjw

Dean?........?






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Love it. "A lot" is a great loose and respective description. A lot to someone could mean only a little to someone else. Essentially it is really an undefinable metric.

Remember years ago my first trip to NYC. Went to Carnegie Deli to get a bagle with cream cheese for breakfast. Being from the South and a grit eater was not really accustomed to bagles and cream cheese nor hash browns for breakfast, but when in Rome, so I went with it.

Waiting in line to place my order similar to the Soup Nazi scene from Seinfeld crossed with placing an order at the Varsity in downtown Atlanta so when its my turn I order a simple bagle with cream cheese. The fella asks me how much cream cheese, like I did not know I had a choice. He asks again how much and I am clearly stumped and adds do you want a little or a lot. So I ask how much is " a little" and how much is "a lot".

He does not define or even take time to describe he just loudly sounding exasperated yells back to me do you want a little or a lot. Clearly I now have everyones in the store looking at me and this interactive scene. So I try and diffuse explain, "hey I'm not from around here and this is my first time here so can you show me what is " a little" as compared to "a lot". He just blinks once or twice and yells at me again do you want " a little or a lot". Faced with this challenge and point of no return discussion in my most clearly laid out over exaggerated southern redneck tone I could muster, I replied "Give me the damn lot" and everyone in the store cheered.

Then he asked me if wanted the bagle toasted. I replied whatever you recommend and he yells "toasted or untoasted". I yell back "toast the shee-it", and the crowd chuckles. I look back and fella behind me is shaking his head and laughing. I am thinking man have I stepped into it now.

So the fella makes the bagle and I am watching to make sure he does not do something weird but I don't know what or really notice how much cream cheese he puts on it. He quickly and efficiently wraps it up puts into a bag and I go and pay for it he has this shit eating chuckling grin on his face similar to a dog I once had that would like to roll in anything rotten and then want to come and rub on my leg wanting me to pet him. At this point I am wondering if I should even eat this thing.

I go outside and unwrap the bagle and there must have been two inches of solid cream cheese in between the bagle halves. I thought there is no way this is right, this guy is messing with me. I mean my heart almost locked up looking at all that cream cheese. I mean this really had to be a joke and my wife told me, maybe you should not of told him where you came from. Anyway so I am suspiciously eating this thing and trying to choke it down thinking the whole time this guy is laughing his ass off telling people how he punked a redneck with cream cheese. That is until I noticed a few other people walking out with bagles and cream cheese and they had just as much or even more on their bagles then I did and from all appearances seemed to be native New Yorkers. I was clearly baffled.

So the remainder of my time there and every time I meet someone from New York I ask them how much is " a little or a lot of cream cheese" to them and answers vary.

Something messed up. I quoted a reply of yours in subsequent message but then it referenced some one elses post. Below is your quote

Right, Homer's.

How 'bout them sirens in Oh Brother Where Art Thou! Weren't they somethin'?

Confused and Confusing.

Gun Racks Complete
 

Back in May within this post Bill Murphy made us aware of a gent building gun racks. I will not elaborate on that as you can scroll back and read it and obtain contact info if you desire. I indicated that I had ordered a set to fill an 8' section of wall in my gun room. The original plan was for the supplier (Ted) to deliver them some time this week. Imagine my surprise when they were delivered some 2 weeks or more early. Ted said he had a big job come in and wanted to be sure he got these out in time. That rarely happens these days.
They were everything I expected. The fit and work was just perfect including the assembly instructions, actually easy to assemble. I applied a coat of stain and 3 coats of tung oil. All the barrel notches in the top rail are wide notches for SxS guns but Ted will build them any way you like. The pics are just cell phone pics but they will get the idea across.

That is awesome

Thats a nice rack. I had a gun cabinet at one time, but we got rid of it and got a gun safe when the 1st kid was born. Our current house has a built in Safe in a locked cabinet. It does the job, but while secure, it doesn't exactly allow for display...

The person who built Randy's racks built my racks and I am very satisfied. His name is Ted and his website is 7.62x54r.net . His work is as good as it gets. I did not opt for any staining because it adds to the price and I just don't need it. My vault is about finished thanks to Ted and a friend, Larry Cole from Rockville, MD, who jumped in for the hard work.

The website is great. This link here will take you right to where you need to be

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRacks.htm#Info

It is a good website but it only gets better when you get some info to Ted. He is amazing at this gun rack biz. I basically gave him an idea with some wall dimensions and from there he drew up a plan and we modified and tweaked until it was just what I wanted. For anyone that has an interest in finishing their own racks it is so simple and takes little time. Tung oil goes on really easy and fast with an applicator pad.

It's really unfortunate that Ted is no longer in the gun rack business. He saved me thousands of dollars in carpentry work. His work was professional and unusually quick. Too bad, we would like to see Ted back in business.