28 Bore Parker Repro
 

I have pruchased a 28 bore Parker Repro s/n 3714. I read some where that only 3500 of the 28 bore Parkers were made. I wonder how this one has the s/n of 3714. Anyone have any thoughts. Thanks, Grady

Hi Grady - and WELCOME!!!!

If you don't mind, I'm going to move this to the Reproduction Forum - as a lot of us have, enjoy and shoot these fine reproductions.. In that forum, you question may get better noticed, OK??

My thanks and welcome again!

John

Grady,
I don't have my copy of the Parker story handy right now, but my current blue book states that there were 4,203 28ga DHE repro's.

I just wish there were records for the repro's like there is for the original Parkers. There's a lot of questions that need to be answered on the repro's. I'm still wondering if all the extra parts were actually destroyed after the flood, or if someone is sitting on them waiting for the right time. Similar to when galazan all of a sudden came up with all the A-1 specials in the white.

The Parker Story reported that there were an estimated 3500 28-ga. DHE Repros built, but in a subsequent article written by Nick Sisley for Shotgun Sports Magazine it was reported that there were actually 4,203 of them built.

I would recommend that you read this article that is on the "All Albumns" part of this website. Here's a link:

http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.p...pictureid=1031

My understanding of the Parker repro parts that were submerged in a flood is that the insurance company paid the loss, took the salvage and refused to sell the salvage for liability reasons and they--the parts--were destroyed. Insurance companies commonly sell salvage to recoup part of their loss. But NOT this time!!

This, in itself, will add value to the Repros as time goes on.

Ya know, we have been talking about these 28 gauge Repros now for a few years on this forum. They went up in price until a two barrel set, common old DHE with double triggers and beavertail, sold for ten grand at Julias. Yes, ten grand. Now they have hit the tank, kind of like when they were trying to sell the leftovers at closeout prices. Let's get out there and buy what's for sale. What don't we understand about 4203 guns? I know what configuration I'm looking for and I'm going hunting.

Bill, they "tanked" precisely because of the $10K Repro that sold at Julia's. Because of this one event the market quickly became flooded with 28 ga. Repros from closets across America all expecting to capitalize of the "new market" for them.

28 bore Parker Repro
 

I didn't even know about the $10,000 Reproduction sale until this thread as probably many didn't know about it either who are looking at gun listings. On the internet & magazine listings like Gun Digest most all sales of all shotguns including Parkers, Repros, Win 21s, Smiths, Ithacas ,Foxes, Auto 5s, etc all have hit big downturns in sale price listings since the beginning of this year or earlier and I'd say they were influenced very little if at all by one sale. It's more of "I'd better wait to buy" attitude of the now economy, until buyers think it is safe to come out and spend again.

I never heard about the Jaqua's $10,000 gun either. I find it hard to believe that that one sale affected the prices much, if any. Sounds more like someone with more money than brains had to have it :rolleyes:!

My point is that there is no better time to buy a 28 than now. Prices are lower than they have been in years and the selection is out there. The ten grand 28 gauge DHE was sold at Julia's, not Jaquas.

Right, Julia's; that's what I meant. I agree, prices seem to be staying the same right now, and I bet most sellers would go for at least 10% less than asking price, with the poor economy. These are nice and not anywhere near $10,000!

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Par...n_id=100157752

http://www.gunsinternational.com/PAR...n_id=100151315

Joe

That first one is a real beauty Joe. Case hardening seems unworn and the grain through the wrist is just as it should be. I have a set like that, SN 28-1, and I REALLY like it. I paid nearly that for my set a couple of years ago. If I was in the market for another set or for my first set like that, this one would be mine in very short order. I wouldn't wait for it to come down further; you just lose that way on something like that as someone else will snag it.

OK, Thanks. I'm new at this and appreciate the help. Grady

Has the value of .410 reproductions gone down also? Don't see many for sale. Bill

Yup....its a buyers market if the seller is willing move the gun....My last 410 set was perchased 1000.00 below asking price from CSM, Lou played really tuff on it but gave in at the last minnit not to loose the sale. Thats 1000.00 less than I paid for my first set from few years back.....I plan to keep them for a while...the 410 sets will continue to rise due to rarity, only a handfull were ever completed.....approx 15-20 guns total and only 9 DHE grade, couple BHE and the rest in A1 specials...thanks all Kenny Graft SXS ohio...(-:

Thanks for the reply and information, GH16.

Kenny, the .410/28 ga sets I've seen are on the OO frame. Are you saying there were less than 10 DHE sets made? I've heard of OOOO frame .410 guns but maybe thats just a tall tail. I didn't know .410's were that limited in production. Do the totals you gave for the .410 include the entire run of Reproductions during the 1980's? WOW! Bill

I've seen more 28/.410 combo sets for sale in the last year than ever before. Of the ones I've seen for sale the 28 ga. barrels are stamped 00 frame while their counterpart .410 barrels are stamped 0000 frame almost without exception.

I know we've discussed this before Kenny, but how do you account for what was reported in Sisley's interview of Jack Skeuse in Shotgun Sports Magazine? I've included a link to the page of that article where Sisley wrote that 100 .410 0000-frames were built with 33 of them completed when the factory was shut down, take a look...

http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.p...pictureid=1027

From the information I have seen on the reproductions I built the following production number table:

DHE 28 Gauge........................... 4,203
DHE 20 Gauge........................... 5,800
DHE 12 Gauge........................... 2,137
DHE 12 Gauge Steel Shot............... 350
DHE 12 Gauge Sporting Clays.......... 125
DHE 410 Gauge.............................. 33
BHE 28 Gauge................................. 7
BHE 20 Gauge.............................. 100
BHE 12 Gauge.............................. 100
BHE 410 Gauge............................... 9
A-1 Factory Engraved, All Gauges... 150
A-1 Custom Engraved, All Gauges.... 300
A-1 28/.410 Combo........................ 16

Plus 500 16 Ga barrel sets that fit on the 0 frame 20ga DHE

We appreciate and thank you for putting that chart together Bindlestiff, it's much better to have those numbers in an easy to read format.

Do we believe that the DHE 28/.410 sets were put together from some, or perhaps all of the 33--or possibly more--of the mystical 0000-frame .410 barrels/guns?

All I know is what I read in the Parker Story and in the Remington papers, which are all posted in the "Parker Grades" web page section on the repro's. That is the source of the information in the chart above. There may be a ref to the 28/410 sets in the Remington papers but I don't remember if its there, sorry.

The DHE .410s identified on the above chart are not, to my knowledge, 0000 frame guns. They are 00 frame guns sold with .410 barrels. The BHE .410 guns, again, in my opinion, were the only 0000 frame guns sold in catalog configuration. Additional 0000 frame ungraded guns were offered, uncatalogued, for finishing by "others", mostly Geoffrey Gournet. I don't think anyone knows how many of these guns exist, even Geoffrey. I have asked Geoffrey if any of these guns are still available and he has indicated that no more are available. Time will tell. It would be wonderful if someone with more information would post.

Thanks Bindlestiff for your time and expertise. You information is a great help
Grady