John, so the twelves are slow selling. I don't care because mine are being put to good use. They will be a hard sell when I am ready to liquidate but sixty percent of real value will usually be more than I paid for them.

If you want a Purdey, the overwhelming majority of production is in 12 gauge.

I created this thread because I thought folks are simply “softer” than they were in the past. I’m not one to ask about that as I shoot a .375 Holland & Holland for pleasure at the range. Not everyday, but from time to time.

Mr. Bill, I have 12 gauge guns, and mentioned earlier that I have a Parker 12 gauge that is being redone, reurbished, restored, ruined at this time. I was advised by several people, including Steve Fjestad (a picture of myself and Mr. Fjestad looking at the gun while at the NRA show in Louisville, KY appears in the memorial Blue Book, later published in the DGJ) that the gun was not worth the money it would take to restore it. Being only the second Parker D grade that I had ever seen for sale locally, I ignored those wiser than myself and have had it as a project ever since. I have purchased one or two other 12's since. I do not object to the 12's, and have no disdain for the gauge, I just find the 16's and 28's preferable to the 12's. I miss just as many with the 12's as I do with the smaller gauges, and the smaller gauges are easier to blame due to having less powder and shot.

No 12 gauge is not "really unpopular", they are just not the shotgun fad today. People who shoot shotguns understand that the most effective gun is the 12 gauge. Other's are used for various reasons which includes what is the in thing at the time. If one shows up at the gun range with a 16 then he/she is cool. If he/she has a 12 then he/she is old hat.

I currently have 14 shotguns that are 12 gauge made by various manufacturers including Parker, Marlin, Franchi, Mossburg, Stevens, Hatsan & Winchester. I have a couple of .410's, one 28 ga. couple of 20's and a couple of 16's, none of which are Parkers. I don't plan on buying any more 12's unless it's a really great deal, because I don't need any more.

While I'm not a 12 gauge guy and never have been in the last two years I have bought several. A 12 gauge with a 7/8oz or 3/4oz payload is a pure pleasure to shoot.
As mentioned previously the UK has banned all lead shot which drives down the cost of a vintage Purdey, H&H, Boss etc. Two years ago at the Southern I picked up a matched pair of Purdey forward snap action guns for what one would have cost several years prior.
To the best of my recollection my shotgun adoptions over the last two years by gauge are 12's -6 (but in my defense there are two matched pairs), 16's-3 and 20's -2..
The only hunting I do with a 12 is some Quail hunting in Georgia and some Grouse hunting in MI with a Purdey light game gun and RST 2 inch shells. Essentially a 28ga load in a 12