Very few scarce 12ga. repro's are showing up?
 

The 12 gauge repro's with two triggers and pistol grip and 28" tubes is one I can't find....DHE,BHE, steel shot spl....sporting clays classic....not a one!. The vary rare 410-s are showing up??/where are the 12-gauges??? When I spoke with Jack Skues about them... there is no known number that were made, only a estamate...I do not beleive 1800 12 gauges were made. This number comes from the Parker Story. Anyone have any ideas about were they are or this shortage? Thanks all Kenny Graft SXS ohio....(-:
















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I had a 28" 12 ga DT PG Repro. It was a two-barrel set. It was an early gun made for the NSFL, it had their logo on the gold oval and name on the side. To this day I am kicking myself for selling that gun. They are out there but rare indeed. (Also undervalued IMHO)

Kenny:

You are not the only one looking!!! I have been combing the various sites for months. The DT and pistol grip is very rare, apparently. Steve Barnett has some nice 12 DHE Repros, but no DT's.....Maybe we'll find something worthwhile soon.

John

Actually Kenny, according to Jack Skeuse, there were 2,137 12-ga. Repros built...how many of these have DT's and a PG is probably unknown--but they are out there and you"ll eventually find one. Happy hunting!:bigbye:

http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.p...pictureid=1028

Years ago I had an SSS with a pistol grip and BT that I had a hard time shooting well, due to excessive drop at the comb. Even after I had it bent up (which also changed the pitch, of course) I didn't like it. About a year ago I found a 12 ga (from James Wayne) with straight stock, splinter forend, DT and 28" IC/Mod 3" chambered barrels. It is now my duck gun and it has much better dimensions (for me), and I shoot it much better :).
Joe

Joe...Thats a very nice repro to have and hunt with. I prefer the pistol grip over the english stock. I shoot better with pistol grip, I have owned and shot both at different times and do better with pistol grip. I hope the right one turns up when I have some stash cash!...today would not be a good day...)-: Im still paying for that last 410/28 set....I plan to sell some hand guns and rifles after Christmas when the market is better. A steel shot spl. or sporting clays model would be my wish!

Chadick's has two double trigger 12's listed, a BHE and a DHE.
James

The BHE Chadick has is interesting, with what appears to be an oil finish and 32" "Replaced Parker Repro Brls.".

http://www.chadicks-ltd.com/gunpages/1200DG.htm

I looked at them early on..the BHE has non repro barrels, probably remington ??? and the SBP removed and pad added....BOO...The other has the 26" barrels 2 3/4 chambers. Im wanting 28" and prefer 3" chambers, pistol grip. Thanks for the notice James...Kenny Graft SXS ohio...(-:

12 ga. DT repros-Chadicks
 

James:

I talked to Hershel Chadick this morning and was informed by him that he sold everything he had, was now closed up and out of business. Furthermore he didn't have anyone to respond to emails so that's why mine sent a week or so ago never got a response.

John

I would sure like to hear more about the 32" gun. I think it is now residing just up the road from me, but I have not seen it. I think it is for sale. Too bad about Herschel. He may not have been everyone's best buddy, but he sure made sure that some great Parkers were offered to the general collecting public, unlike what the situation is now. Some very uninformed Parker guys think that the internet has opened up the collecting world to everyone, but they are quite misinformed. Herschel's ads in the gun publications included some guns that will never again see the light of day in the guns for sale world.

The last time I looked, William Larkin Moore had three 12 ga. repros for sale.

Gentlemen, I'm new to the forum and have a question. How is a Steel Shot Special marked on the watertable as opposed to a "regular" Reproduction 12 gauge? Thanks, Bill Stevenson

Welcome to the forum William. I don't own a SSS, but according to The Parker Story (pg. 175) they were stamped on the water table "12SS" as part of the serial number.

Thank you Gabby, I was a bit confused by the earlier discussions that called them SSS guns. I understand now it is shorthand for "Steel Shot Special". Mine is marked 12SS-00252 with 28" bbls, straight stock, beavertail forearm ,SST, and a skeleton buttplate. Do you know if the factory ever installed choke tubes on these guns? Mine had Briley thinwall chokes installed when I got it a few years ago. They must be early tubes because they are identified by hand scribed letters, not printed as currently done. The chokes are all but invisible and I have to tell people about them because no one has caught it while inspecting the gun. I shoot it regularly and enjoy it. Do you think the tubes hurt the value if they are aftermarket? Bill

The SSS's were never furnished with screw-in chokes. The standard factory choking of them, again per TPS, was .006/.018 with 3" chambers and .740 bores. I would have to say that your aftermarket Briley's will not help--and probably hurt resale value even though they add versatility.

Parker Reproductions did produce a 12-ga. model with factory screw-in chokes, named the "Sporting Clays Classic". These were furnished with 6 Winchester Winchoke Invisible choke tubes. There were reportedly only 125 SCC's ever built.

Thanks again Gabby, my son and grandsons would shoot me if I sold any of my Parker Reproductions. So resale value is not discussed in my house, I was just curious. My favorite is the straight stock, splinter grip, 28 ga. I call it the magic wand, so light and balanced. I'll be shooting a 20 after ducks in the morning. I bought it first, back in 87. Bill

Greg:

Glad to know there were only 125 SCC made. I bought one a few months ago after a soul searching conversation with myself about built in chokes in a Parker!!!! I have it at Keith Kearcher's shop for some minor work and look forward to shooting it. You are also correct in that it came with six Winchokes and since I have a couple of Winchester shotguns with Winchokes I now have a complete set, including extra full for Turkeys.

John

If you're like me John, you're gonna love your Sporting Clays Classic, as it's the most versatile gun I own. Mine and the very few others that I've seen were roll-stamped on the left barrel as having 2 3/4" chambers, but they actually measure 3"--which is what the brochures and several articles written about them spec them to be, however; there is another PGCA forum member that also has one, but he states that his chambers measure 2 3/4". What length chambers does your gun have?

The gun furthest to the right is my Sporting Clays Classic.

Fabulous wood on that one Greg!

Greg:

I will double check the chambers when I get it back from Keith Kearcher. It is stamped 2¾", but I don't recall verifying that with a chamber gauge. Mine is PG and BT, and was an ST. When it comes back it will be a DT.

John

John, please post details of the single to double trigger conversion, with cost. A lot of people would like to do that modification!
Thanks. Joe

Please send me Keiths contact info....I would like to get the project info as well. Thanks Kenny Graft SXS ohio....(-:

Here's a link to Keith Kearcher's website:

http://members.toast.net/keithkearcher/

Gentlemen:

The price quoted was $300 for the conversion from ST to DT. He has converted a number of Parkers. He tells me that the only difference after the conversion is that I will lose the automatic safety feature. That is, the safety will not reset after the gun has been fired and the breech opened. In which case I will have to remember to put the safety back on. Since I already have several shotguns that don't have an automatic safety reset I don't see a problem with this feature. As other PGCA members have indicated there is some wood work involved, partially causing the loss of the automatic safety feature. The gun is to be completed and returned to me within 3 weeks from his receipt. He has kept his timeline on other Parker DHE Reproductions and his work has been excellent. As soon as I receive the gun back and have a chance to shoot it several times I will post the results.

As you might suspect, the ability to convert from a ST to a DT motivated me too buy this gun and look seriously at a couple of others. I realize I am going against the advice of several very experienced members in attempting this conversion and hope it works out as anticipated. I am too damn old to do it any other way !!!

John

Thanks, John (how do you get this site to record a "Thanks?"...oh, I found the thumb). I think it's a great idea, and if Keith Kearcher is doing it, it should be good. Price sounds reasonable, too. Just think of all the Repro A-1 Specials we can all buy now to convert to DT :rolleyes:. I think that's about what I paid Rich Cole to convert my Beretta 687 from ST to DT.
Joe

How did the conversion go on the Beretta? I prefer the SxS but have been known to shoot an O/U as well. I have a couple of older Beretta's that are the European style with DT's as well as several in the 686 and 687 category that have the ST.

If the conversion on this SCC DHE Repro works I think it will open the door for others to jump on some of the ST's that are on the market. I know that is on my mind as well.

Does Keith Kearcher or Rich Cole provide the parts neccesary for the double trigger conversions they do for the $300 price? Of course, except for a Repro, I wouldn't want to convert any Parker to double triggers if the gun had a working single trigger. I am having a long and lean Parker with an Infallible trigger restocked and will keep the single trigger as long as it works well. Are we converting single trigger Repros that work well?

Bill:

Keith provides parts and labor. All I did was ship him the shotgun. I understand your feelings about your older Parker and not wanting to convert it.

John

I would considder this conversion except....lenth of pull will increase aprox one inch with the forward trigger addition. Its a real job to shorten the butt stock of a DH with skellitin butt plate. I had it done one time, shorten stock 1/2"...job quality was O.K. but not as good as original work. A trained eye would see the modification. cost was 3-400.00 can't remember exactly. thanks all Kenny Graft SXS ohio ...(-:

Hmm, so if I converted an ST Repro to DT, I might have a 14 3/4" or 14 7/8" LOP? That would be excellent; most of them are so short. My 12 ga is 14 3/4", but that seems uncommon. John and Bill, I love the DT conversion Rich Cole did to my Beretta. It's the only O/U I own, but I had to have the double triggers. Cole provides all the parts (still has an auto safety). It may actually have been less $ than I remember since I also had him adjust both trigger pulls. He doesn't advertise the conversion on his website, but I'm pretty sure he still does it. Bill, I would convert a Repro with a single trigger, whether it worked or not, since I don't like single trigger shotguns.
Joe

Joe:

I used Rich Cole on an old Beretta SxS I have. 12 gauge, 3 inch chambers, 32" barrels, Full and Full and DT's. Beretta wouldn't help, he did and did a great job. It was a gun my father bought me and my first "real" duck gun, before steel came out. Still have it and every now and then I turkey hunt with it.

Greg and other interested members:

The 12 gauge Parker DHE Reproduction SCC was received from Keith Kearcher today with two triggers in lieu of the single trigger that was original. Keith also returnd that trigger and all the working parts. The DT's feel just like they should, comfortable and crisp. I don't believe it moved the LOP up more than maybe ½ inch. It feels good and looks like Keith did a very good job. Cost was $300 plus shipping. He charges $35 to send it back via FedEx. The work took less than 3 weeks. As mentioned previously the only change that may be of concern to some is that the automatic safety feature was lost. Now, after the breech is opened, you have to reset the safety yourself. That is of minor concern to me. I would recommend Keith as a gunsmith for a Parker. This is the second Parker of mine he has worked on and his work is good, priced reasonably, and he turns it around quickly.

John

Thank you John. Detailed pics of the converted triggers would be appreciated if you're able to post them!

ST Repros have two screws which go under the trigger guard visible in the "Y" area of the trigger guard directly behind the trigger, the DT guns do not have these screws...does your converted gun still have these screws in place?

I'd love to see pictures also. Thank you!

It would be worth $300 just to get rid of the automatic safety.

John, would you mind measuring the LOP to the front trigger, please? I'd appreciate it.
Joe

John, you must be busy shooting your newly converted to DT Repro. There's a bunch of us anxious to hear from you!...:corn:

Sorry guys. I have been on a hunting trip and just returned last night. Give me a day or two and I'll try and send photos. I have not shot the 12 gauge yet, since I was on a quail hunt in South Georgia and was shooting a new (to me) VHE 20 ga with 2½ chambers using Polywad Vintage Shells 2½ inch ¾ oz. 7.5 shot with a psi of about 8500. Nice shooting load. If you can hit'em it kills'em..

John

Bill,

Bring any guns you want to have the automatic safeties changed to the Southern this year and I'll be glad to do them, and show you how to do it yourself.

Carl.