Original condition guns
 

As someone that is relatively new to the Parker universe I am continually amazed at the scope of original condition guns tucked away in our member’s safes and gun rooms. Bruce’s gun, among others in recent discussions and some recent research in the archives have me mesmerized thinking about the guns that are out there. I’ve only been to a dozen or so good sized shoots or gun shows and have a feeling that I have only the most elementary understanding of the guns that are out there. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas it would be amazing if some of our more experienced and successful members/collectors could share a few photos to help us newbees grow our understanding of all things Parker and maybe spark some memories for our older members of the “chase” that resulted in their successful acquisitions. Thanks in advance.
DS

Dan I think I posted something very similar to this a long time ago. The advice given to me, maybe Dean Romig, was to "handle a LOT OF GUNS" and while I feel I am making headway, I have a hard time seeing a gun and knowing it it was refinished, restored, or original. The first thing I look for is unsharp engraving, then screw condition, case color, is it tight and weep holes. After that I often scratch my head and ask someone. I looked at a 16g VHE at Kittery a few months back and the guy behind the counter said it was all original. It sure looked it, but I just wasn't sure in the end and had nobody to ask. I passed as it was north of $4,000 anyways. I feel your pain.

I have believed for years that the reason it is so hard to find high quality guns is that they have all moved into the collections of people who have acquired large numbers of them. I believe that in almost every collector community, the best pieces are concentrated in a relatively small number of collections. This is true of guns, automobiles etc. In the case of guns, I think the concentrations are largely in the hands of people of a certain age, since the collecting started post WWII when quality doubles disappeared. I have notice a lot in the last few years that when a major collector dies, there is often a significant influx of expensive ones at auction. I suspect over the next few years this will drive a price decline in the high end of the market. Lower demand and more product available. Sad fact of life. These concentrated collections right now serve as a safe depository of these significant guns, but that function may not be served as well in the future.

It's like one experience I had at a car show in Huntington WV. In the midde of some really nice sports cars was a historic early Austin Healy. It was one of only six factory full race Healys with all aluminum bodies. A guy about 25 years old had the car and a complete exhibit with pictures of the absolutely mint car he had acquired and converted it into a hot rod with louvers, scoops, flares, Recaro seats, new dash, huge wheels and tires and a Ford V-8. He couldn't understand why everyone was stopping, looking, calling him an idiot and moving on.

Unless a significant number of young people get interested, a lot of these guns that have survived may disappear in the future.

Andy, I really just want to see some pictures of beautiful Parkers. 🤷*♂️🤞😎

Haha I guess I missed that part! But there's nothing like hands on.

Buy and study The Parker Story.

Talk to knowledgeable people.

Look at lots of guns .

Find a mentor that is not trying to sell you his gun.

Nice guns cost nice money.

If you come to Pheasant Fest , it may be helpful .

Thanks Bruce. With the exception of Pheasant Fest I have done those things. I've also managed to aquire some pretty special guns in my relative short experience. I'm a researcher by nature and love to analyze and participate in markets. The real reason for my post was to see some guns that are tucked away and I haven't seen at the shows or on line. I'm developing the opinion that I am yet to see most of the"best of the best" Parker guns still living.

Don't want to sound like an idiot, but what is Pheasant Fest??

It's a large scale trade show in South Dakota initiated by Pheasants Forever I believe. Originally geared towards pheasant hunting but much more comprehensive in todays example.

https://pheasantsforever.org/Pheasant-Fest.aspx

I'll go first Dan, might as well start in the basement with a Trojan :)

Randy that's just not right that you have that gun and not me. What a BEAUTY!

Thank you Randy. That's what I'm talking about. Stunning! Original box and hang tag. That has to be among the finest examples to exist.

The highest condition Parker I have ever had the pleasure of being custodian of is this 1893 16 gauge Grade-1 TL hammer gun on the lightened 0-Frame with Laminated Steel barrels.
It went down the road about 2015. It was fun to be the caretaker of it and to show and display it (I never shot it and I would be very surprised to learn it ever had been fired except test firing at that "dusty little pland down in Meriden") but nothing is forever.


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Dean that gun is stunning. Thank you for sharing!!!


Bobby

Thanks Dean. Amazing. 130 years (+-) of being apparently very well cared for but never fired.

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;400153]The highest condition Parker I have ever had the pleasure of being custodian of is this 1893 16 gauge Grade-1 TL hammer gun on the lightened 0-Frame with Laminated Steel barrels.
It went down the road about 2015. It was fun to be the caretaker of it and to show and display it (I never shot it and I would be very surprised to learn it ever had been fired except test firing at that "dusty little pland down in Meriden") but nothing is forever..[/QUOTE

Dean how in the world did you ever let that one get away, oh my !!

[QUOTE=Randy G Roberts;400156]
Randy, I found myself suddenly without my regular source of income (I was downsized with no warning) and I still had a mortgage to pay. This one and a 90% CH with Bernard barrels went to that cause. Considering the alternative, I never regretted selling them for my family's security.





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There are many fine Parkers that are privately sold and are not advertised on web sites or on gun show tables. I have never bought a Parker from other than a word of mouth private sale. Find out who has nice guns that might be abvailable

Let everyone in the collecting community know your collecting focus. When a gun is posted on a forum or at a PGCA display that is in your wheelhouse but NFS let them know you would be interested in the gun if available in the future. I just purchased a once in a lifetime Fox from a good friend that I expressed an interest in 15+ years ago. Put out lots of feelers and be patient. The best guns do not trade publicly in my opinion. It takes decades to build a great gun collection if you're after the best examples.

Thanks Craig. I always appreciate your input. I seemed to have missed the
mark with the goal of my original post though. I’m not actively pursuing anything in particular and was only hoping to generate some pictures and discussion about high original condition guns for the enjoyment and enrichment of the group.

A few I am kinda proud of.

Fantastic Craig. Not difficult to be proud of those indeed. Thanks for sharing.



Bobby

As well you should be. Nice as always.

Thanks Craig. 3 D’s and a B? I think I recognize that B. That new B will fit right in. I love the muted blues and red/pinks of the original case colors.

Over the years many good guns have gone to gun shows never being offered for sale to the general public. In addition good guns need not be advertised in many cases as there is line waiting to buy those examples when offered.

This is the 1896 12 ga CH with 28" Bernard Steel barrels I sold to cover my mortgage. I loved this one and shot it a few times at Hausmann's. It was originally ordered with no safety and shipped to a customer in Waterbury CT but when it came to me it had a safety (You know how squeamish those Connecticut guys are about guns with no safeties.)


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Beautiful wood and checkering. Very cool knob detail. You’ve certainly had some beautiful Bernard barreled guns Dean.

I am very grateful to have had a father who had a fifty year passion for Parkers. His father's cousin was his mentor in most of his hunting, fishing and general love for field sports. He didn't actively encourage me; rather, his demeanor passively instilled that same love in me.
I have been lucky to own a few 'benchmark', often unfired examples. I absorbed every nuance and eventually passed them on. The guns that seem to come, and stay, are those that reflect their past owners love for them. Some had higher than average condition, and some had little remaining attributes we look for, like case colors.. These are the guns that whisper to me. I freely admit, there are some that don't go back down to the gunroom, but up to my bedroom. The guns whisper to me because they have so much to say, so many stories to tell. There are a few that excite me as much after owning them for years, as they did when the first arrived.

This 1892, Gough engraved BH, is one of only six 30" BH sixteens made. It was a Parker show gun for a few years, and eventually sold to a prominent Wilton, Connecticut doctor who brought over 100 children into the world. His passion for partridge took it's toll on the gun, and the long legged D4 barrels were eventually replaced with the finest Austrian 20 gauge barrels. Nonetheless, the long disused barrels begged to be reunited with the gun, and Breck Gorman just returned them to us. So many stories to tell.

From the top D,C,B,D,B

A long legged VHE 20 with a little color .....

Here a picture of my best condition Damascus gun, top gun in picture

Randy, We have a similar affection for the long legged ladies. Another beauty.

VHE 16
 

Since I cajoled you good folks to dig into your safes I felt like I should at least do it myself. This is my best example of an original condition Parker.

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1894 GH, very minty, perfect or nearly perfect Damascus....

😱 Wow Randy. That is amazing.

Original condition, you never know where they will turn up. This was at my wife's cousins house as we helped her with her parents estate.
The last known Parker with Damascus barrels, circa 1928. A DH 12 with 30 in barrels, and perhaps unfired. I showed it to a few at the Rock Mtn shoot.

That's a beauty Harold. I remember you writing about that gun recently.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your beautiful Parkers.

Harold I recall that gun, it's a dandy!! Just a great specimen. The pictures will never do that gun justice.

Randy, I am shocked that even with the original box, hang tag, etc that you would own a 16g gun with ONLY minuscule 28” barrels!! :shock::shock: