Guess I am a Parker Collector now!
 

I bought my second Parker yesterday, so I guess I am officially a collector now. After 3 years hunting and shooting clays with my first Parker, I saw another at my favorite gun shop that really spoke to me. My first Parker was a definite field grade VH 12ga, manufactured in 1898, and still pretty much in all original condition. Along with friends, with my first Parker, I have broken a lot of clays in Texas and shot a few Pheasants in Iowa.

My second Parker is a GHE 12ga. manufactured in 1890. It is a bit of a mixmaster, like my M1s. The original Damascus barrels were replaced in 1964 with Austrian Bohler-Blitz-Stahl steel barrels made by Johan Fanzoi in Ferlach, Austria. The original splinter forearm was replaced perhaps at the same time by a beavertail forearm with a different serial number than the frame. The original frame has nice engraving, while the case hardening is gone, but the fancy walnut stock is in great condition. Can't wait for Pheasant season this fall.

Good job. Post some photos as we love photos on here. Welcome to PGCA too.

Is it actually a GHE? Or just a GH. Being made in 1890, it would not have originally been equipt with ejectors. Parker did not introduce them until 1901/1902. So your may have been aftermarket, or returned to the factory at a later date for them to be added.

The water table markings on the hammerless frame is a "G" so it was built in 1890, so I guess it classes as a GH. Replacement barrels were fitted after 1964 and included the ejectors. The original barrels were likely Parker Damascus, and the replacement barrels are Bohler Blitz Stahl fluid steel made in 1964 by Jon. Fanzol in Fertag, Austria. The bores are sparkling. A Parker Beavertail forearm made in 1910 was added in place of the original Splinter forearm. Engravings are on the frame sides, bottom, screw heads, lever and barrel, including ducks and woodcocks or pheasants. The screw heads look untouched and are properly aligned. The walnut stock has fancy figuring in the grain, and looks like it may have been refinished at some time. The butt plate is not original -- it is a rubber recoil pad that is unmarked and in good condition. So what I have is a nicely restored shooter.

Sounds like a real nice gun. I'm interested to see pics of the barrels and stock. How long are barrels?

Surprise for me, the second Parker is a 16 gauge. There is no gauge marking on the barrels or rib, which are the Fertag Austrian steel barrels added in the 1960's. So when I tried to insert a 12 gauge the chambers were clearly too small. Then tried a 20 gauge and it dropped in side the chamber and I had to push it out with a ramrod. By elimination, 16 gauge is just right. I will work on some photos. And I need to get a Parker letter for it -- there is the serial number for the receiver, and a different later serial number for the beavertail forearm. I am really please with this gun.

Johan Fanzoi...he is pretty damn reputable ,just look it up

Mike Mc ,you have a great gun with great replacement barrels - horseshit #"s be damned ,shoot the gun and enjoy it .

I can't be more plain than that...and seriously Brian ,why nit pick ? if you know anything about sxs guns -Fanzoi is pretty up there ...if you know anything top tier European guns .

Three or four years hands on the bench experience - on North American guns don't make an expert on everything sxs ,best educate infinitum first and comment later ...bottom line....

This should be good !

Congrats Mike on your new to you Parker, I started with a P grade 25 years ago and now?well lets just say it sort of grows on you. All Parkers are great guns and a 16 gauge G is a great second gun, enjoy, Gary

Happy new year to you too.

Was there anything in my post (from 6 months ago) other than asking about if his gun did have ejectors or not?

Why the hostility?

[QUOTE=Brian Dudley;184686]Happy new year to you too.

Was there anything in my post (from 6 months ago) other than asking about if his gun did have ejectors or not?QUOTE]

Yes, the replacement barrels do have ejectors. The chambers are 2-3/4". The overall finish of the gun looks like it was restored at the time the barrels were changed out, sometime in the 60's. The bluing and wood are very good condition, and the recoil pad is not original. The engraving on the receiver is original, and the replacement barrels have complimentary engraving that matches with the receiver. Definitely a shooter.

I posted photos in a new album for my second Parker. I requested research letters for both the receiver and beavertail forearm.

That GH may be a mixmaster but it's a good looking one for sure.
Congratulations!

How do you view the photos?

After shooting a couple of hundred rounds for sporting clays, I am very pleased with my mix-master. The barrels are lifters, not ejectors. I want to figure out the chokes -- they don't seem to be as tight as full-full. I don't see a choke marking on the Austrian steel barrels.

Robertperly, click on the OP's user name and choose "public profile" from the drop down list. If the user has any albums they will be pictured on the right side of the window. Just click and view.

Apologies to my PGCA friends. I have been off-line for awhile. I missed a couple of years of pheasant hunting with my good friends in Iowa. I put my well-oiled Parkers in the safe for awhile. We have also missed a couple of years for duck hunting at Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas. Good news is I have a new grandson in Maine who may some day (along with his dad) be interested in my Parkers and other collectibles. Also have a couple of grand daughters in Colorado who may share that interest.

Proud of my Parkers
 

I have been off-line for awhile. I missed a couple of years of pheasant hunting with my good friends in Iowa. I put my well-oiled Parkers in the safe for awhile. We have also missed a couple of years for duck hunting at Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas. Good news is I have a new grandson in Maine who may some day (along with his dad) be interested in my Parkers and other collectibles. Also have a couple of grand daughters in Colorado who may share that interest

Hey Mike, Family comes first! Welcome back. Congratulations on the Grandchildren!, Joe

Right Mike, welcome back and congrats on the grandkids!

What town in Maine? I’m sitting in Maine right now (but don’t tell anyone - they don’t want non-essentials coming into their state.).





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Our son and his family are in Brunswick and Portland. We've visited a few times so far and discovered it is a beautiful place. Looking forward to going again if it gets to be safe. How is duck hunting in Maine?

Congrats on new Parker. They created a nice shooter for you and I enjoyed the other pics, looks like some great hunts and beautiful dogs. I would say you have many fun days ahead with your Parkers!

Mike, I agree with Chris Dawe, matching #'s don't make a great shooter. All that matters is you like it. I've built quite a few 2 barrels sets for friends and myself. The #'s don't match, but they're all great shooters! That's quite the gun you have, very nice! The G is my favorite engraving.

Chris, Tempe, AZ

Great pics but I really like the one with all the pheasants laid out and the look on the dogs face like he is trying to pick which one he wants for dinner!

Austrian steel barrels
 

I don't find any other references to Parkers with Austrian steel barrels. I think it is a rebuild with a refinished stock, replacement of splinter forearm with a beavertail, and adding a butt pad. The serial numbers on the receiver and forearm are different. The result is a very nice shooter.

Beautiful dogs
 

I am fortunate to have some great friends who live in Parkersburg, some time in Lake Park, and now living outside Des Moines.

Many years ago, my dad had a BHE 28, with a second set of smoothbore barrels made by Hambrusch. In addition, when they made those barrels, for an additional $800, they made him a set of 25-20 barrels, with ejectors. The Austrians know which end of the gun the bullet comes from.

Edgar, that gun still in the family?? Got any pictures?

I wish, Harold. He's been gone 35 years now, and we never heard of digital cameras back then. I believe he traded that gun to Gary Herman for an AHE20.

With Covid, it's been a year since we were able to visit the kids and grandson in Maine, or our daughter or granddaughters in Salem, OR. We are locked down in Texas, with hope of making road trips after completing vaccinations in February. I found a great lodge in North Woods Maine named Libby Camps, that we might try to visit in the future.

Always heard good things about Libby camps.





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I have enjoyed re-reading all of the posts and replies for my original message about my pair of Parkers. Thanks to all for taking time to share your thoughts and recommendations.