Still in the family...
 

I'm the 4th generation owner of a D grade top lever. The gun is all original, no alterations and shoots well. According to the gun's PGCA letter my great-grandfather ordered the gun in October1886 and took delivery in March 1887. That's 130 years of continuous family ownership. It would be interesting to hear if there are other Parker heirlooms with similar, or even longer, length of same family ownership.

Very, very few of us have Parkers with family history dating to the original purchase of the gun. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful family heirloom, and in such great condition. That one needs a fitted case.





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what an absolutely great piece of family history - any old pictures of family with it?

1 frame - what are the barrel length and chokes - upland or waterfowl?

Great gun. On a 1 frame too! What barrel length?

The only family history I have are stories my Mom told me of her father and his Parker trap gun. That is a wonderful piece of family history there. I hope the 5th and 6th generations and thereafter enjoy it as well.

That is a very nice gun. Could u post pictures, of close up views.

What a blessing it is to have such a magnificent family heirloom remain in the family for so long.
My grandparents on both sides owned guns, but only one, a lowly little Eastern Arms .410 single shot survived. It hangs on the wall in my office as I type this.

A number of years ago, I purchased a DH 10 ga Damascus that was 95% original, just some rust on the toe of the buttplate where it sat for years in the closet. It was the seller's grandfather's gun that he had bought from Parker, (his GF owned the largest drug store in CO at the time) when I got it I was amazed at the condition, and I called him and asked are you sure you want to let go of it, it's part of your family's history and he just said "No" I have no use for it.........What a shame.

Envious of you, the pride of ownership and that wonderfull gun!

Wow, knowing it's history and something about the people that carried it would make a great Parker Pages article. I suggest you write it up, we sure would enjoy learning more. What a great heirloom!

The photos are from my phone camera and are not to detailed. I'll take better ones this weekend to post along with the letter. There are no photos with anyone with the gun but I have a photo of my great-grandfather with one of his Llewelyn setters that dates to 1890 which I'll post too. My avatar photo is another one of his Llewelyn's named Dan Gladstone, out of Gladstone and Champion Sioux. Barrels are 28" cyl/cyl. I'd love to track down a period correct fitted case if anyone knows where to obtain one.

If you put all of that up on the forum, an article in Parker Pages would be pretty anticlimactic...
There is plenty of space available in the next issue of Parker Pages if you so choose.





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Seems to me that Gladstone and Champion Sioux were famous dogs in the day.





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Dean, I'll send you a PM later about a PP article.