A Parker Repro Collection
 

The Jan/Feb 2021 issue of SHOOTING SPORTSMAN magazine includes a feature article written by David Trevallion entitled "A Parker Repro Collection - A visual feast of rare smallbores". In this article Trevallion shows us several of the rarest .410 and 28 bore Parker Repros on the planet owned by one unnamed collector, including three Parker Reproduction Invincibles (2nd pic below) along with A-1 Specials, BHEs and one BHE with D-Grade engraving (one of three known to me). It is reported in the article that there were only 41 .410 Parker Repros ever built and this gentleman's collection includes 11 of them, to go along with 13 28 gauges -- all of them hi-grades!

Any fan of Parker Reproductions and Parker Bros. smallbore guns are in for a real visual treat and a little insight into one man's collection.

Got my copy in the mail today. Interesting article for sure.

That is on heck of a collection! Gary

I was wondering when those guns were going to be seen completed.

I know that my Shooting Sportsman subscription is lapsing. I hope
Not before this issue...

I suspect I will be drummed out of the corps, but...

A Reproduction ain't the same as an original. Kinda like the reproduction Ford Cobras - nice cars, but...

Investing Mr. Gournet's talents on these is like having Van Gogh paint flames on a '53 Chevy

Hmmm... I think another visit with David might need to be put on my calendar.

David told me this follow-up article was coming up, I didn’t know when though. I know who he was working with on the article, does David attribute co-authorship to anyone?





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What is the difference between doing the work to a repro or an original? Or any other gun for that matter. A canvas is a canvas.

I disagree John.

No, a Repro isn’t the same as an original but in terms of materials, design, functionality, in fact the Repros are exact copies of the original Remington Parkers that Tom Skeuse sent to Japan to be copied, detail for detail.

But this an exchange of opinion that has been hashed over again and again over the years.
But there - you expressed your opinion and I expressed mine and we’re no closer to arriving at a consensus than before.
We can find “faults” (things we are not fond of) with the original Meriden guns, the Ilion guns and the Japanese Repros as well, but IMO they are all Parkers.





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...and I'll 2nd that!

Dean, if you enlarge the 1st pic I posted above you'll see in the lower left corner: "by David Trevallion photographs by William Geoffrey Wood"

Why is David T writing about Parker repros? His expertise is Brit guns and especially Purdey's. Has he been in th e US too long? :)

He has resided in the US since the mid-sixties and has worked on several hundred Parkers during that time and he knows a LOT of the Parker history. David has had many in-depth conversations with members of the Skeuse family and has learned so much about the Parker Reproduction project from its inception.

He was asked to write both of the Repro articles in Shooting Sportsman.





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Dean is absolutely spot on in his assessment of David Trevallion's qualifications regarding Parker Reproductions and Parker guns in general.

In the previous article that appeared in the Jan/Feb 2019 issue of SSM Trevallion wrote: "Parker Reproduction guns were in every respect equal - if not superior - to the originals."

Then, in this newest feature article and the subject of this thread, the very first words of the article begins with: "Based on my regard for the high quality of Parker Reproduction shotguns and the esteem I held for Tom Skeuse gained through stocking a number of high-grade guns for him..."

Further on in the article Trevallion writes: "When asked my opinion about the quality of the Reproductions, I related that when Tom Skeuse had given me the opportunity to purchase four complete Parker Reproduction receivers and barrels "in-the-white" I immediately had done so and stocked them. Several longtime clients bought the guns as soon as they learned they were available and had them engraved". So, not only did Trevallion believe these Parkers were quality guns, others did, too.

Trevallion's experience and longstanding respect by the most knowledgeable people in the doublegun business lends credence to know exactly and intimately what he's writing about.

Thanks guys

For some people (namely me) the ability to buy a 28g Repro for $4250 and experience a Parker first hand without taking a second mortgage was important. I was stunned with how nice it is and subsequently I joined this collectors association. Now I want more of them, Repro or otherwise. One could argue that it's all good in the end if more folks appreciate and preserve the "originals" after traveling through a Repro (did not use the word "real" on purpose). Oh and good for those who can afford a million bucks for a real Cobra, I suspect most cannot.

Damn nice collection !
Speaking of collecting, is there a list somewhere of the various configuration options that were out there ?

Not specific numbers,
But

DHE 20GA 2 barrel set with BT, choked X
DHE 20 GA single barrel, splinter, etc.

Would be interesting to see what holes one might want/need to fill in a collection.

Ha! . . . there will always be holes! Like for example, a few of the 28-ga. and .410 0000-frame ultra high-grade Repros shown in the SSM/Trevallion article maybe holes that need filling for some collectors!

But, the Parker Reproduction Price List for 1988 shown below will get you started.

Beyond this, all Repro brochures and literature are shown in the All Albums section on this site. To easily find them, go to the "Home Page", in the left hand margin click on "Parker Grades". A new page will load, scroll down to "The Parker Reproduction by Winchester". In the lower left corner there is a box titled "View Winchester Reproduction Literature". Click on that and it will take you to the brochures, articles and literature that should answer most of the questions that you may have. (Note: There may be some questions that could come up that are not answered in the aforementioned brochures, articles and literature). If that's the case and you're looking to expand your knowledge even further, read each and every post in this - the Parker Reproduction Forum. If they aren't answered there just ask a question in the forum - there are no dumb questions!

Awesome, thanks !

Excellent article!

Excellent article by David.

When I returned to hunting after a long separation and wanting a SXS shotgun like I had as a kid. I was looking at Gun List and saw the add for the close-out guns. I was working in Cleveland at that time....summer of 1995. I called over to Findley Ohio Jaqua's fine guns and asked about a 20ga two barrel sets listed at 2995.00 and put my name on one. Drove over and took a loan to buy it. At that time I had a beagle dog and could hunt rabbits at mom's house, So I did. It was great fun and it started my SXS addiction. First thing I found out was the new gun had a SST that was useless for hunting. I remember the two trigger 12 dad had given me being better. So I sold that gun and started looking at SXS guns with real intent. My older brother was given a sweet little Fox 20 that was light and fast on game! I was given that heavy 12ga that smeared everything that was in the same field when shot! I decided on the PR in 20ga. with two triggers....it was a 28" gun that was choked too tight in the left barrel so I had both opened for rabbits. Still have that one...(-: 26 years later I own a heathy collection of the Skue's Parkers as they are called now....I like that, It rewards Tom for his exceptional gift to all of us who love double guns! My hi-lights are a 20ga A1-spl with two factory triggers, only one I have ever run across. A three barrel set Dt-PG- BTF 28-28-410 OO-frame, A steel shot spl, Sporting clays classic and a regular 28" DHE-12 DT gun. Four set of 20/16-s two have the Kreghoff barrels 28" Q1/Q2 the other set 28" M/F and two with Galazan Merkel barrel sets that are ic/X-f and M/F thes are great rooster barrels for them long shots out in Kansas Last are three more set of 28ga two with DT-PG-BTF and one with splinter that I recently bought from this for sale section...(-: I have bought and sold several others but kept the ones I use and like. I traded one of my Three barrel 28-28-410 to CSMC when I ordered my made for me Fox XE-spl. Not one of them has given me any trouble and some are welled used. They are solid investments that can be held in hand, enjoyed and hunted...better than money in the bank! Some pics over the years hunting with them. Oops...Fox gets the game snuck in. SXS Ohio

Very nice Kenny. I love my 28 PR so much I would consider a different caliber. I've read (on this forum??) that the 20 isn't scaled quite so elegantly as the 28. Next up hopefully soon is a "shooter" in 12g. Then build from there. Like I posted elsewhere, were it not for the PR, I would never have fallen into this Parker hole or looked at them. So far I like the hole I'm digging.

It gets better Andy.





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I'm wondering what gets better? The journey or the bank account? I think I know the answer to that :rotf:

The journey of course!

The fun is in the chase.





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Chase
 

AMEN

I have Repro's to blame for my Parker addiction as well. I was for the most part a Fox guy, but I also found repro's attractive and a good way to help build my Fox gatherings. Over the years I've flipped several repro's as a means to help build gun cash and keep a couple of decent repro's along the way.

Then a funny thing happened and I found myself slowly but surely thinning out my Foxes and filling the voids with original Parkers. Now when I open the safe it's filled with repro's and Parkers with only one lonely Sterlingworth survivor from the Fox days.

I guess in my case I could look at Repro's as a type of gateway drug leading to my Parker addiction.

I have to admit to a bit of naivety with this Parker thing. I don't know why it's happening, but it's all I think about. I don't even want to carry my other guns, which is a shame, I have some nice stuff. I spend my time reading about them, looking at photos, stalking other like minded people on this forum, and generally scratching my head wondering what the hell is happening to me. I went through this with Porsche's, wine, cameras, books and now this. I never pick cheap things and one is NEVER enough. And to make matters worse, I can't even tell you what I like about them. Add to that I really want a SBT and I don't even shoot trap but should probably take it up so I can get one someday. They look so freaking amazing. I think I need professional help : (

Welcome to our world!

the parker bug is almost incurable....charlie
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Jeff and Charlie you're not exactly helping me. I'm wading through the massively huge The Parker Story. I keep saying over and over, "Remember, you wanted to invest in race horses....this is going to SAVE you money....you're SAVING money..." I'm not sure it's working.

Andy, we know the fantastic pictures are huge distractions but I hope you started reading on page 1, then page 2, then page 3.... that’s the only way to truly absorb The Parker Story.





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Oh good. I thought I was just strange actually reading it ... : )

Damned USPS... I had thought that my Shooting Sportsman subscription had expired with the issue prior to this one, so about 3 weeks ago I went to Barnes & Noble and bought this issue.
Well, my copy showed up today in the mail.

What do you know. SAME thing here, except I subscribed to SS MONTHS ago and never got an issue. Got this one at BN and mine showed up Thursday.

Intresting !

Just got mine yesterday. That guy owns 11 of the 41 410,s made. Glad I have no burning desire for one of those. It might take a loooong while.

For those that aren't subscribers to SHOOTING SPORTSMAN or haven't picked up a copy of the magazine and have yet to read the article, here you go:
https://shootingsportsman.com/parker...ource=hs_email
I did notice that one additional pic was added to the online article, while one of the pics from the magazine article (the pic that included the BHE w/D-Grade engraving) was omitted from the online article.

Hi
Looking for a 20 or 28 gauge
28 or 30 inch barrels
Straight grip
2 triggers
Q1 Q2
Help please

They did not produce any 20 or 28 gauges with 30" barrels. A few 30" 12 gauges were made.