Old Parker
 

And to keep interest in Parkers up, here is a 20ga with 26" damascus barrels. Bill Murphy was talking about these things being rare. I suppose they are, not very many were made because they cost as much as a more effective 12 or 16 ga. This one, four are known today by my imperfect and informal count. Again by my imperfect count, about a quarter of the C's made between about 1900 and 1905 had the round or roundel side panel engraving and with that you get something unusual on the floor plate, this one a wood duck. No arrows on the rib engraving.

Lots of people have seen this one before, but only in the interest of getting some guns on the forum for people to look at, and we have some new people, here it is again.

I've used it quail and pheasant hunting but it is only a 20ga and a little limited out here so I have to pick my shots more carefully. Its original factory chokes at about .005 and .025, about cyl and full, like quite a few upland Parkers. wt is 6 1/4lbs. Plenty barrel wall thickness, which I kind of like in a damascus gun. Sometimes I shoot RST's , sometimes factory Winchesters or Feds in 7/8oz depending on what I have around but I've used it on clays and I load down to 3/4oz. Lots of these old 20's were originally intended for a 3/4oz load.

Kinda nasty out today, cold and drizzly, so these are indoor photos, and not as good as natural light outside.

Bruce
I just love those C" with the roundel. Thank you for sharing it. Ever seen a C with a roundel and Bernard barrels??
David

I've heard some member of a secret Parker small bore Bernard society in Michigan owns one.

I know of a Bernard C grade small bore with Rondel engraveing in the Great Lakes region.:whistle:

Please show us some more pictures of The Wood Duck on the Bottom and the dog on the other side

The picture that you made of the dog on the left side is unbelievable


Thanks

PDD

David, I have seen a couple.

Ever see a GH with roundelle engraving? I have, and I missed it on a Gunbroker auction a couple of years ago... :crying:

WOW! I have never seen one but would sure love to. If any of the members of the secret society are coming to the Southern, and could bring one, you would make this old mans year.
David
:bowdown:

I would suggest coming to the banquet this year in Louisville 09/10/2011. Since the theme is going to be C grade guns, I wouldnt be surprised if one shows up....

So we know that there are not very many 20ga damascus guns, and I've counted about four known C damascus 20's, so now how about a one of a kind, at least no others are known.

Here is Gordon Smith's V grade 20, original and letters.

So two friends of mine both own C 20's and here we have three together.

One has Acme barrels. The middle damascus one is extraordinary high condition and has deep cut engraving with a ruffed grouse on a log and drumming.

PS my error.....not a grouse, a pheasant.

here you go

Brought back up for Chuck and Craig.

WOW!!!

I'll bet the pointer on the left has a heck of a nose. An old hunting buddy had one that looked like that. We call him alogator. smiles and grins.

Thanks as always Bruce

There was a CH 12ga Bernard with roundels at the Vegas Antique show last weekend. Priced at about $7500.

You should have bought it!

Bruce ,I am getting in on this Thread a bit late ,But I just have to say ,every time you show this gun ,I am more impressed than the time before ! When I met you in Maryland a couple of years back ,you showed me this gun and I have never gotten over it ,I thought at the time ,this is the nicest little Twenty Ga. I have ever had in my hands ! Thanks again for showing it to us all ! Russ

Russ, you are too kind. There are a lot of nice Parkers out there. Charlie's 20 ga C is every bit as nice if not better and there are plenty more fantastic guns. Thanks to Bill Wheeler for recognizing the inherent value of damascus many years ago, putting it away and thanks to Jack Puglisi for putting it in my hands and making my stewardship of it possible. So so so many great people in this collecting and shooting thing we have going here.

those three guns together are wonderful .... i REALLY REALLY need one with a damascus barrel of course.

Thank you Mr. Day for all the great guns you show us and the wonderful knowledge you share.

Dean, I'm kicking myself now for not at least getting the sellers info. I was so sick that day I just wasn't thinking right.:crying:
That's the second Bernard 12ga in that price range I've missed in the last month!

ol' stinkin shore bird -- CHE oo frame 24" 28ga choked mod/full -- what a woodcock's nightmare

Larry, you are too kind. Fellows, 90% of what I know about Parkers I've picked up from The Parker Story and the Parker Pages, and anybody can be up to speed if they just read and study those sources. I've had some good teachers for the other 10% and looked and listened. We have some real experts out there who are not on here very much and who many people would not even know. A good buddy of mine says its the empty drum that makes the most noise. Some of us just try to encourage Parker collecting because we like to share our passion.

Chuck, what an outstanding gun and what a privilege to be the caretaker of that one. A beauty!!

Bruce
Thanks for the kind words -- she is with a new owner and I am sure doing just fine. I have to move them or my wife would shoot them all. I really like seeing all the nice Parkers posted and there are some great guns posted here and some great guys too.I second the Parker Story. There is soo much information and it was done top notch.

Chuck it would be a nightmare to Woodcock and Quail if it was opened up to skt/skt:eek::rotf:

would'nt be the first time its been done......now where is that dremel tool