I provided a new home for a BHE 410 that belonged to Ottis. The gun resides in the hands of a fine gentleman from Pa. and a frequent provider to the Bod. He has posted pics of the gun here before but probably would not have a problem refreshing the view. Here is a gun that also belonged to Ottis. This gun , A dhe 28ga according to the letter was a gift for winning the Western Amateur Golf Tournament and immediately traded to Parker for a 28ga A1 special affectionately referred to as the "little persuader" . The letter for the A1 and the dhe 28ga both speak of the trade. The Dhe was then repurchased from parker by the gift owner and remained practically new and covered in a dried grease when I purchased it.The A1 28ga was also,I believe, owned by Ottis. It has changed hands a few times but has been displayed for sale by a Michigan dealer and has been fitted with a set of titanic steel 410 barrels. Bill and Kevin are both very knowledgeable on Ottis's life and his story would make a great Parker Pages article.Here is the Dhe 28ga with very nice relief dhe engraving.The gun, when I photographed it, was still covered in the grease. The gun had all of its original case color and was on a 00 frame.Sorry for the lousy photos.

Gable 1934 with M11

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With John Barrymore (?M21) skeet shooting in the Hollywood Hills

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Bill Jaqua bought the "Little Persuader" maybe 20 (?) years ago, for something approaching $100K The transaction was written up in the center column of the Wall Street Journal, and helped legitimize high quality guns as an investment alternative. The gun was sold quickly for what I understand was a handsome profit for Bill

Bill Jaqua was another gentleman that has had some tremendous guns thru his store. A gun that recently sold was the "Roosevelt Fox". Lore has it Bill Jaqua sold the gun and financed it so that the owner could fill an already outstanding collection. Mr Jaqua was also a mentor to Jack Puglisi who also provided some of the rarest Parkers to ever come to market. I remember reading a paper ad in a gun magazine where jack had 3 A1 specials in 12, 20 and 28ga. All gorgeous guns in fantastic condition. These early collectors have seen the best of the best and its neat to sit and talk with these guys about the days when these guns were discovered.

A lot of the Hollywood Parkers were sold through the gunshop of Alex Kerr. I just visited with a close friend of his a few nights ago actually.

Destry

Destry -- you are right -- Rich's hollywood gun is a gun that was thru Alex's shop.He would order some really nice guns for his customers. Frank Pachmayer was another California dealer/smith that had more than a few good guns thru his shop

I was fortunate to know both Ottis Odom and his wife, Ruby and would stop by their home frequently to admire his Parker Collection. During a visit in the 1980"s, I asked Ottis what was the highest price he had paid for a Parker. His response was that a man had called him wanting to buy a Parker collection consisting of every gauge (12 ga, - 410) and in every grade available. I'm sure with the exception on the Invincible. Ottis explained he had every gun the man wanted with the exception of an A1 Special 28 ga. but new where he could buy this gun. Ottis gave the man a price and the man agreed. Ottis explained he paid $125,000.00 for the A-1 Special and the deal was done. I could not stand it and asked Ottis who the man was. His reply was that he could not remember the man's name but that he sold Lady's Underware. Guess Ottis was not impressed enough to remember, I'll leave the rest to you.

Clark Gable A1 Parker
 

Thanks for te info....Any whereabouts of the Joan Bennett DHE 20?

The Joan Bennett gun is in the hands of a PGCA member. I first saw Joan's gun in the fifties at an NRA show on Herb Glass's tables. By the way the person Ottis was referring to, if I am correct about his identity, DID own an Invincible at the time. This was well back in the days when the Invincibles were still "lost". The first Invincible was only "lost" to those who did not own it. That story may be told one day, but not today.