Budget Collecting
 

A Parker collector need not have a large investment in his collection. A very reasonable Parker is often a GH Damascus. These are very capable guns, they were important in cementing the reputation of the Parker gun, and were sold until Parker ran out of Damascus barrels in the late 1920's.

Here is a 1910 G ejector gun that gets frequent use. This one had the barrels refinished, the checkering cleaned out and deepened and the finish restored. Photos are shown of the barrel ends and the stock details for originality. The barrel chamber, bores and chokes are original, choked tight at .042.

Boxes of cartridges that I use in it are shown.

Collecting cleaning rods is low cost also. Here are an Outers, Marbles, BGICO and C M Powers.

Leg of mutton cases can also be obtained inexpensively and make a period correct accessory.

While many collectors seek the high grade and well engraved guns, a person can have a nice Parker collection and capable hunting guns with a few lower grade guns.

Excellent advice! I followed it and one of my favorite 'go to' Parkers for roosters (and soon to be goose) is a wonderful GH 12 on a 2 frame. It crushes roosters as far as I am willing to try- a wonderful and useful late season gun.

very nice gun and set up Bruce;


I like carrying them in the period cases, when I made the drawers for the back of the new truck I sized them for LOM cases.

I have not seen the tube for the wood cleaning rods before.

as always, thanks for the pictures

Nice gun. I had one just like it about ten years ago and I traded it away. Wish I still had it.

Thanks for sharing Bruce!

I agree Bruce! The owner of a very high end gun store once told me that he preferred the Parker G's, grade 2 guns. Why? Because unlike the grade 3's and higher, the grade 2's have not been "messed with"? Why would any try to spruce up a utility grade gun such as a Parker GH? There would be no profit in it.

Mark

GH Parkers are vastly underrated in my opinion. I love the ones I have.

Well done, Bruce! My budget does not allow for 'collecting'. My guns are used for hunting, and are all lower grades. I enjoy the ability to pick and choose from a Lefever H, Parker NH, Hollenbeck/Syracuse Grade 1 and a Greener Emperor. They are all in very nice, serviceable condition and provide as much enjoyment as a high grade gun.


:cheers:

I agree....just bought this PH grade on GB...I was amazed at how little it went for, considering its original condition. Can't wait to get her in my hands with some ultra lite RSTs...

Ruff, that was a good buy=bargain. Glad you got it and hope you enjoy.

To be honest Bruce ,the G is my favorite graded Parker...not too much ,not too little engraving,and the wood always seems carefully picked,my only complaint would have been the checkering pattern,it could of had a little more thought

Bruce ,Great Gun ! The Rods are very nice also , always enjoy your posts ,I think this level of Parker Addiction is pretty much where most of us are , with an occasional D thrown in , or a Higher Grade Shooter ! The gun Justin just bought was a real " Sleeper " seemed nobody much noticed it on GB for some reason , It was all I could do to keep from bidding on it but I am saving again for a certain gun , it is a beautiful gun and was an extremely good buy in my opinion ! Congrats on that Gun Justin ! Russ

I just bought a GH16 0 frame and am quite pleased with it. I bought it to hunt with, so was not too concerned with its issues. It is supposed to have 28' barrels but were damaged and were cut to 27"--still have alot of choke left. The barrels were also blued and I cant wait to get them stripped and redone--should look real nice. Haven't weighed it yet, but I'm guessing at around 6 lbs even. It should be a great grouse/woodcock gun. I've loaded up a bunch of light 3/4 and 7/8 oz loads to shoot thru it.
Russ, gun show at Washington this weekend--you going??

Hello Harold , Thanks for the Heads Up ! Wish I could go ,I enjoyed the day we walked the aisles down there ! As I recall you bought a " Nice Looking Grouse Getter " that day also ! We are tied up Saturday and of course I work Sunday so ,so much for the weekend ! Thanks for the invite ,we will do it again ! Best ; Russ

Bruce has brought up a great point in Parker collecting, even though some collectors don't follow his suggestions. As a result of keeping my nose to the ground and paying the price asked for the gun I was offered, I have brought several guns into my shooting collection. My VH 28 was bought on a skeet field from another teenager in 1960 for $130, an amount which would buy him what he wanted, a Savage Model 99 to hunt whitetails in MD. My wonderful VH 20 was bought at a MD auction for a reasonable amount, $800, and is now Rich Anderson's "Gunner's Gun". My GHE 16 was bought at a 1971 PA auction for $225 with other educated collectors in attendance, but many other great guns competing for attention. So the GHE slipped away from other bidders. My VH 12 was bought from another bidder at the same sale for $225 because she was intrigued that "I like Parkers and she had one that her husband was not shooting any more". That was my entire Parker hunting arsenal for a lifetime, total cost $1380, 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge. Except for the "Gunner's Gun", all sellers were people that I met, spoke to, shared information with, and added to the history of the guns. Even "Gunner's Gun" was from a local family whose home I pass several times a week. All but "Gunner's Gun" are still being shot regularly and will remain in my collection forever. Oddly, no gun show or internet finds in my hunting arsenal. Thanks, Bruce, for the idea for this post.