The ONE KEEPER Parker you could never sell
 

Some of us have one cherished family parker, others have had to acquire and build memories with a parker that had no family connection.

In this thread post a pic of the one Parker in your collection you could never part with and why.

Mine will not be the sentimental pic, as I have no family parkers, but I do love this DH that was made in 1898 and formerly belonged to a semi pro trap shooter in Pennsylvania. It just fits me ridiculously well and is without a doubt my best original condition parker in the safe.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=11772
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=11771
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=11770
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=11769
http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture...ictureid=11773

That’s a tough one Bill... I don’t know if I could decide.

Certainly the Grade 3 lifter that Austin gave me, the one with the P marked Laminated Steel barrels will never be sold.
Then there’s the DH I bought at KTP in about 2001 - that was my first-bought Parker and it means a lot to me.
Then there’s the 12 ga. Trojan I borrowed for three years in about 1961, 62, and 63 that I shot my only double on woodcock with... if only I could buy it from the owner - but it was purchased by his grandfather new.
Then there’s the little 16 ga. Lifter on the lightened 0-frame that used to be my good friend Edgar’s...

There are several more... please don’t make me choose Bill...






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That's a hard one but mine is a 12ga DH made in 1900 with original 26 inch Damascus barrels choked cyl and mod.

Very simple circa 1928 VHE 20 gauge . Had it about five years now but I’ve known it for about 50 years . Belinged to a friend that used to have a gun shop here in town , he was also one of my little league football coaches .

The Trojan 20 Julia gave me when we married is the obvious one.

thats a wise man Mills.

My fathers 20 gauge Trojan. Here with the next owner and me in the southern hemisphere it appears.

I'm with Dean impossible decision for me to make, a few I like because I have had memorable duck hunts, some have great condition and some just make me smile because they are so unusual. My choice for most memorable hunt is my AH 10 ga. I shot 5 drake mallards and a black with 5 shots the first time I hunted the gun. My favorite in terms of condition is my CHE damascus 12ga 3 frame and the gun take makes me smile is my D hammer 6 frame with 36" barrels.

The 1899 GH 12 gauge straight grip that my great-grandfather won in a card game.

This is a no brainier for me, Gunner's Gun a VH 20 customized in honor of my little buddy. We had almost 15 years together and when I take his gun out he's still with me.

Although I'd never sell it I do plan on leaving it to a friend when the time comes.

Harry C.:

Here is that nice photo of yours right-side-up.

REC

Now that's a great picture!





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My grandfathers 16 ga VH. Passed to my Dad who hunted it for years and to my brother who gave it to me as he gave up hunting for the most part.

The 16ga Trojan that I got my one and only honest-to-God-both-birds-in-the-air double with. Second would be Orphan Annie, my SBT with the cropped barrel, mostly because no one else would want it :rotf:! Then again, those are the only two I own!

https://i.imgur.com/gmXnLswl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/dCQ89gbl.jpg

I’ve posted this Parker before. My great grandfather ordered this Grade 3 12 gauge top lever in October 1886 and took delivery in March 1887 (per the letter). Will never, never be sold.

I don't blame you Tom, besides being a family heirloom that is one fantastic looking gun.

my old lifter 8 gauge would not be for sale because i wanted an 8 ga even when i was a boy.....just something about them old 8 s.......charlie

A little VH 20 given to me by my mentor Louis Goland when I was 7 years old , some 73 years ago. Later all of his remaining guns.

Allan

Boy, that's like asking which one of your kids do you love more.

There are two, both of them Trojans. The 12 gauge which was my Dad's and he hunted with extensively in NJ. before and after he returned from the Pacific during WW2 and which really sparked my interest in Parkers from a very young age. The other is a 20 gauge Trojan given to me by a dear friend. I guess I could just keep those two guns and they could satisfy all my hunting/shooting needs. But.... what fun would that be?:nono:

Thank you Daryl. Also, a couple of years ago I picked up a set of 30” 12 gauge Damascus tubes which I’m having restored and sleeved to 16 gauge. The original 28” barrels, which are in good shape, are Cyl/Cyl and I wanted tighter chokes for upland hunting and clays. The barrels have to be sleeved as the refinisher found 2 pin holes and suggested sleeving as laser welding the pin holes may not hold up long term and could be unsafe. I’m fine with the 16 gauge sleeves for this 1 frame gun. It’s a new dimension for an old gun.

Tom Jay, That's a finest looking grade 3 hammer gun I believe I have seen, and I have seen a few, Gary

The One Keeper
 

Like you Rich, some of my favorite memories were with a Black Lab named Mattie Grace, had a gun made in her memory get teary eyed every time I handle the damn thing she lived 15 good years, hop I can do as good, Gary

Mattie Grace
 

The old girl

Gary, That table behind Mattie's head sure looks familiar

Edgar does it have a drawing of the ISIAH L JEFFERSON , a Grand Banks fisherman

Give me a call tomorrow, Gary

Yes, Gary. Etched in slate.

Easily the VH 12 that was my grandfather's gun then dad as a boy, as a very abused gun, it was on my bedroom wall growing up. With much tlc returned to duty about 15 years ago.

This is for my special snowflake for college graduation. She'll keep this one.

What a beautiful gift!!

Is that a Turnbull job?





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Geoffroy did the engraving, Brian handled the reassembly, minor repairs and the rebluing. I believe it went to Doug's for case coloring. The special snowflake knows about it but has not seen it. I bought the C grade from Jim Thynne at Vegas 3 years ago with the intent to redo it for her. As usual with gun work, time frames are a suggestion and it was a year before I handed it to Geoffroy at the Southern last year.