Old Beauty - too pretty?
 

As a new member I have a question:

When is it time to officially retire a beauty or to just go and hunt with it? I live on a Texas Gulf beach. Humidity stays above 80%.

I’ll share my Parker’s pedigree and some photos.

12 ga DHE, a 1985 appraisal from Collectors Firearms (Houston) listed it as having all original: 98% varnish, 95% bluing, 90% case colors.

I put it my closet where it has been for the past 33 years.
I duck hunted salt marshes with a Mossberg 500 instead.

I welcome your comments. Is this a common dilemma?

Wow! What a gun! Wipe it down occasionally with something like RIG, and enjoy shooting it

A special gun for special occasions that are controlled (good weather, a slip on stock sleeve, hard cased to the hunting site, etc.). There are tons of Trojans and VHs that will do if you want to shoot a Parker. Just my 2 cents.

It appears that Collectors Firearms appraisal of your Parker's condition was about spot on. It is a very nice example of a 1920's - early 30's DHE.





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WOW!!! That is a special Parker. I have faced that same decision. Everyones situation is unique, but in my case I sold my guns like that and put some of the $$ in more shootable guns. I will never forget taking a high grade, AHE, small ga, 28ga, out of the safe one morning and finding some rust. I sold it and purchased an nice VH 28ga that I shoot regularly with no fear. JMHO
David

Very nice Parker! It was 905 guns earlier than my 12 gauge DHE.

Gorgeous gun. Wow. I'd get some IBIZ carnuba wax and wax the metal up good and shoot it.

Yes, that is a beauty! It's okay to use it, just use it very carefully. Doves,targets, and maybe poultry shoots.

I appreciate all the comments and advice. I did put gun oil on the metal surfaces after taking photos. It was dry in the photos. It shines like a new penny.

It was a gift from my mother-in-law. She had earlier given me and another son in law identical FN 98 Mauser's still packed in cosmoline. I cleaned mine up and still hunt with it. He pawned his within a month for $50. She then gave me the Parker. He never got one. It was her way of testing.

I have two daughters with fine husbands, but they are not appreciative of the fine workmanship this firearm represents. I did give them both "test" rifles a while back and they still have them.

I'm new to forums in general. Bear with me because I do not know all the rules and etiquette.

Scott - here is a good tutorial on PGCA Forum use and appropriate etiquette.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9841

Best, Dean





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For me, if it’s a “Family” gun it never gets sold. I say with the caveat life or death type situations might make me break that rule. It would be tough for me to enjoy it fully in the shooting mode knowing that I’m depreciating the value. There are plenty of other guns to shoot. Yours is special in that it has a lot of original condition. A good goal would be to become an expert in preservation.

I understand if a person buys a higher grade and/or high condition gun and chooses not to shoot it much if at all . And that’s perfectly their right . But I am of the opinion , if I buy it I’m gonna shoot it . Granted High grade high condition guns will most likely be relegated to clay targets or very carefully in the Dove field .

You married well ! What more could one want in a MOTHER-IN-LAW.

That's a real nice gun Scott. You're gonna have to figure out what works best for you on the shoot/don't shoot topic. We all have an opinion. For me I used to collect and had a bunch of unfired boxed guns. It was neat for a while and I enjoyed it but eventually grew out of that phase. Now there is nothing in the gun world so sacred or valuable that I will not hunt with or shoot. I am careful and I avoid the rain. I always take a modern gun on hunting trips for those rainy days and it works for me. So far I have not marred any of mine to any extent at all really. If that gun or any other had been in my family I would have to keep it. I have some of Dads old guns that I may never shoot again but I will keep them and hand them down in some fashion. Enjoy it and welcome aboard !

Scott go shoot a round of sporting clays with the gun. You have preserved this gun for 33 years, you have the right to determine its future. I'm sure many forum members would pay retail to acquire your D grade.

Scott,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on owning that stunning DHE! With the high gulf humidity and condition of your gun, I would recommend keeping it in a gun safe or cabinet with a dehumidifier. Also, be sure to insure that gun for full value.

I certainly wouldn't hunt the salt marshes with it for ducks but I would shoot clays and upland birds with it. Just be careful with it and wipe it down good after each use and it will be fine.

Dean we have a tutorial on ethics?? I guess I missed that one:rotf::rotf:

Wow! Great Gun and a wonderful story with it. As Rhett Butler said of Scarlet in Gone With the Wind, "What a Woman!" Give that lady a hug for all the Parker collectors!

A very nice gun Scott , and being a Family Gun ,I would hang onto it also but as far as shooting it ,as they say that's what they were made for ! I surely wouldn't do the Salt Marshes but I would buy some Low Pressure ammo to make sure the recoil was low in consideration of the almost 100 year old wood and shoot clays or an occasional preserve hunt where I didn't have to worry about tripping on loose stones ,moss etc and falling on it ! I have two guns I hunt like this one day a year for each gun and the rest of my days afield are with lesser guns which in their own ways are just as nice and really more fun to carry !

Scott,

What a great gun! You've read the range of opinions on whether, when, how and where to use a gun like this. I would just add to be sure to enjoy your gun, however you use or keep it. Once you figure out what you'll do, then respond with your opinion the next time someone asks the same (very appropriate) question...

I once drove about 60 miles to the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay to look at an AHE Trap gun. I decided to drive my Bimini top '75 Blazer beach buggy because it was a very nice day and I wasn't going to buy the gun anyway. Short story is that I did buy the gun and it started raining a gusher shortly after heading home. The rain poured in through the side curtains for the whole trip home. I have very little recollection of what transpired when I got home. It is all a blur.

And what happens when your research letter tells you your "original" beauty has been re-work at the factory? Or you suspect it's been re-worked at the factory? Or Delgrego worked on it (did I spell that correctly?)?

Maybe we should develop and offer a class in gun collecting ethics? Sorry, only kidding! I like the discussion -- every time it comes up.

How 'bout some cases where folks have changed their minds on what to do regarding originality, use, etc. I find that restored guns are going for a higher percentage of "originals" now than even a couple of years ago. I remember discussing this with Brad Bachelder during my last summer sojourn to Grand Rapids. Things change.

Some restored guns are better than others, which accounts for a change in the relationship in price between the two.

In my early days of being smitten by the Parker bug......I saw an AHE built from a VHE by DelGrego, Runge and other early transfers from the Parker factory. It was beautiful and signed on the water table by those who built it. Basically an upgrade by previous Parker employees, wish I had known enough to buy it. Seems many early great shooters of Parkers routinely sent their guns back to Parker for refinish as needed but at least they didn't need to go back for new barrels like the Brits. Point is, many of the nice pieces we are lucky enough to find may have been redone at some time by Parker, at least that is what I have been told and if so, I don't know how you could find fault with them. Mine are a poor man's small group but proud of every one of them but I now tend to keep them as found unless they really need repair. Just my two cents......

I hunt he salt marshes of South Louisiana & Speaking for myself I'd wax her up and shoot her no matter what the weather! I do also use a neoprene sleeve over the stock. Just make sure you have a good soft case in the boat/blind that you don't mind getting dirty. But you've got to clean the gun every time you return to the lodge. Take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you!

I bought one of these and you can bet my Parker will be riding in it in the airboat on the way to the blind next season.

https://duxbak.com/collections/trave...g-long-gun-bag

Might be worth considering...expensive case but looks to be the ticket for keeping things dry.

Now if I can just keep the dog from shaking off after a retrieve we'll be in business!!

Will it float woth a 9# gun in it?





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Not sure if it will float a 9# gun but I will have to test it out with my old 870 Special Purpose.

Can't hurt that thing if it gets drown...

Get George P to test it out.

Years ago and still use it, Cabelas made a dry bag for long guns. I have an old Harpers Ferry smooth bore Springfield that would fit in it. It has no padding but was just a big long tube that you fold and roll down like any dry bag. Would easily fit a regular gun case and then some. That bag can float a cannon when sealed up.

My Dad had one similar to the one you are describing called "The Gun Boat".

He used it for years but eventually it became dry-rotted and cracked effectively becoming a "Boat Anchor".

Hopefully if stored properly, this one will last a bit longer and serve well as the former versus the latter.