C Grade
 

Here is a C grade that was displayed.

That is a very nice C Grade top lever. Can we have some information about it? Thanks, Bruce, for the C Grade display.

Well, as I discussed, there are 4 underlifter C Bernards, and the general collector knowledge is that one survives. There are 35 top lever C Bernards, 10 10ga and 25 12ga. This is one of a handful of known surviving 12's. High barrel and stock refinished condition, uncut, newer Jostam Hy Gun pad, great barrels. SN 36,491 , an early top lever, ca 1883. There is a better one of these, but they are rare.

We had a lot of rare guns. A new , maybe never shot 8 ga CH damascus, nothing but drag marks on standing breech, nothing case colored over. A new 1917 deep cut engraving 28ga Acme, nothing but ejector drag marks. So many outstanding C grades where there were 4 or 2 known and they were all there. Now who knows what is in some closet someplace but I think the instances of those finds are getting fewer.

I personally brought 3 guns, all almost unique for one reason or another, but there were so many fine guns there that a person could spend hours looking carefully at each gun. Dean brought his newly acquired Benard, an outstanding example of a standard Bernard 12, and one that he bought at a very good price while others sat on their hands and hoped the price would get lower still.

So people have asked me to do a PP's article on C's, something updating the TPS chapter and I suppose I will do that with what we now know . C's had great variety and that can be discussed at length. But as I talked Sat night, I saw one of the ladies start to doze off and so I thought I had better cut this thing short before more start to get chair whiplash, so I did, and could go on and on until everyone is asleep.

Bruce- you gave a wonderful presentation on the Grade 4 guns. I thoroughly enjoyed it. To me, that really brings the People's Choice full circle. For those that might seek knowledge on the particular guns that are on display, we can have one of our resident experts discuss them. The People's Choice this year was something special, for sure.

Kudos to David Dwyer for making the phone calls, pleading, begging and doing the heavy lifting to get so many nice guns out of the closets. 3 C 28s in one place (all in nice condition to boot!) was really a treat.

Well here are a couple of displays at the show. Let's see if I can do this right
The first picture is of DH damascus guns 8 ga through 28 ga. The second pic is of Gary's Hammer gun display (very very nice)

A few more pictures...


1. Bill Mullins presenting Allan Swanson with a wonderful painting of Allan's Brittanies.

2. Adina Lowensteiner, Kathy Romig and Deb Frey at the Reception/Silent Auction Tabulation table. Thanks Ladies!!

3. A couple of tables of PGCA notables adjacent to the People's Choice of Grade 4 Parkers.

4. Browsing the Silent Auction items are Jeff Kuss, Jim Hall, Eric Eis, and Harold Lowensteiner. I can't make out the lady.

5. People's Choice display of Grade 4 Parkers. Nearest the photographer are Charlie Green's 10 bore built on a 6 frame with 38" barrels in near new condition. Next is Charlie Green's 28 bore on a 00 frame with 24" barrels also in near new condition. These two are 'benchmark' guns to be sure.


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This was the first annual meeting that we have had a chance to attend. It was nice to put faces with names and talk with people that share my same enthusiasm.
As an orginazation, we PGCA members are fortunate to be lead by a team of individuals with such expertise, professionalism and dedication.
The firearms displayed were nothing short of breath taking. A fine assortment of types and grades, nicely displayed.
Kudos to everyone involved.

Brad

I know its a teaser, but there are some interesting developments that will take place in the Parker collecting community in the next years to come. Some announcements will be made by other organizations and individuals that will tie into Parkers and the PGCA and folks will have to sit on their hands until then, but suffice to say, there are good things happening. Collecting quality Parkers will continue to be a bright spot in this ickonomy and we have the best in people, guns and organization .

Well I know I'm preaching, but if members would build up other members, be protective of the guns, be publicly supportive of the PGCA so that outsiders think this would be a good group to join, and help out the PGCA, think of what could happen. There are other vintage collector groups, but what other is as good as we are with the PPs and the website? Its seems to me we are positioned to be even more a leader than we are if that is what we want.

Brad, It was good meeting you and Laurie (?) too.

Best, Dean

Brad, if I knew you were going to be there, I would have found a way to attend. This is the first meeting I have missed in years. I have never missed a PGCA meeting for other than a family emergency. Both meetings I have missed meant that I had to unpack a truckload of great guns in order to stay home.

Brad brought the Damascus barrels I had left with Mark Ouellette for restoration.
I've got to say they easily met my expectations. Thanks Brad!! Nice work!! :cheers:

Raffle winner
 

The 2011 raffle was won by member Jack Strawhacker from Burlington, Iowa. I will have a picture for the Parker Pages. Liz and I got home Tues. PM.

As Dean would say, "That is one nice Parker" Bruce.

Welcome home Ed..!

Someone told me that you actually drove out of your way to deliver the Raffle Gun in person to Mr. Strawhacker, so as you could meet him in person and eclipse any delay in him receiving his prize? If so....

That's an amazing act of kindness, Ed..!!

You do an amazing job with the PGCA Raffle....

My best and my thanks always!!

John

Ed,

Delivering the raffle prize gun to Mr. Strawhacker in person was one heck of a good deed!!!

Mark

Ed, thank you for conducting, once again, a very successful raffle. "A job worth doing is worth doing well" and you have shown that you're the man for that job!!