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-   -   Favorite Grade of the American Classic?? What say you? (https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41916)

Craig Larter 05-10-2024 05:18 PM

Favorite Grade of the American Classic?? What say you?
 
The recent release of Josh's book of the Eric Klein Collection got me thinking about my favorite American classic SxS grades. I must say that I like understated but classy looking guns, I'm not an over the top kind of guy. I appreciate the F Foxes and A-1 Parkers but they don't excite me. Maybe because I will never be able to afford one or they are just too excessive in decoration. For me the Parker grade 5's and 6's, Fox XE's and DE's, LCS A-2's and Monograms and Ithaca Grade 6 and 7's are about the best of the best. What say you???

edgarspencer 05-10-2024 07:10 PM

The Parkers I find the most appealing are grades 3,4,5 and 6, and while condition is important, I much prefer the guns which show they have been used and loved.

Brian Dudley 05-10-2024 11:02 PM

Ok. I will come clean…

The Baker Black Beauty.

CraigThompson 05-11-2024 12:15 AM

Parker Grade 2’s and 3’s so far . But I’ve always wanted a grade 4 or 5 with antlered critters in the engraving .

CraigThompson 05-11-2024 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgarspencer (Post 410843)
The Parkers I find the most appealing are grades 3,4,5 and 6, and while condition is important, I much prefer the guns which show they have been used and loved.

I’d rather have a well maintained honest 40% gun over a total resto any day ! Provided they’re both the same grade of course .

Bill Murphy 05-11-2024 03:37 AM

My collection is a shooting collection with a few exceptions, a very few.

Garry L Gordon 05-11-2024 07:18 AM

Grades 5 & 6 Parkers, with a soft spot for the twist barreled PHs. A grade 5 pre-1913 Smith always has my interest. The Fox XE is at the top of my list, too.

I also am partial to the Ithaca Flues grade 1.5 (like the Smith Ideal). I keep hoping to find one with Damascus barrels in the right gauge and configuration.

That BHE 20 with straight/splinter and two triggers in Josh’s book keeps me dreaming. :corn:

Mike Koneski 05-11-2024 08:00 AM

Since I shoot all my guns, whether Parker or Lefever, I want them to fit and be solid. I'm not into ornamentation on guns. Give me basic engraving and I'm happy. That said, I really really really like V grade Parkers and G or H grade Lefevers. Even the Trojan and Durston Special guns hold my interest. I'll save my interest in flashy for Hawaiian shirts!! :rotf::rotf:

John Davis 05-11-2024 08:20 AM

I'm going to say that the Grade 5 (B) Parkers, whether side x side, hammer, hammerless or sbt, is about the perfect balance of form and function.

scott kittredge 05-11-2024 10:04 AM

parker PH twist and GH Damascus ,They have just the wright look to me.

Daryl Hallquist 05-11-2024 10:10 AM

Here you go, Brian. A Baker Black Beauty about like it was when it originally left the store.

https://i.imgur.com/KAI7vm3.jpg

Ken Descovich 05-11-2024 11:21 AM

My latest and greatest is a Jacob Glahn signed L. C. Smith A2 recently purchased from Daryl Hallquist.
Thank you Daryl!

Dave Noreen 05-11-2024 01:33 PM

The lines of the Ansley H. Fox double with just a bit of border engraving like the HE-Grade Super-Fox or the early A-Grades. Not a particular fan of the bold engraving that showed up on American doubles in the early teens. For high end ornamentation I prefer the Glahn family engraved Lefevers or the D & E quality Remington Hammerless Doubles. Really dislike those lightning bolts on the sides of the barrels of several of the companies' high-end guns.

Mills Morrison 05-11-2024 02:22 PM

Parker Grade 2, 4 and 5. Fox early C grades

Garry L Gordon 05-11-2024 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen (Post 410885)
Really dislike those lightning bolts on the sides of the barrels of several of the companies' high-end guns.

I couldn't agree more! And not a fan of elaborate gold inlays generally.

Bill Murphy 05-11-2024 07:40 PM

My favorites are my graded Parkers with no engraving, a CH and a AAH. Second on my list would be very high condition V Grade and Trojan Grade guns that have never been hunting. Next on the list would be PH Twist guns that have, you guessed it, never been hunting. This doesn't mean that I don't respect my graded guns, but these less than normal collector guns are interesting too.

Craig Larter 05-12-2024 06:14 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I'm also not a fan of gold treatment on shotguns, but I think the gold ovals on Parker B's and above is a very classy touch. I also think the same of the gold line on LCS ribs and the gold "R" and "L" on Fox single trigger guns. Normally gold bird dogs are over the top for me. But my Lefever E 8ga with the gold setter on the trigger guard is way cool and perfectly done.

CraigThompson 05-12-2024 07:26 PM

All of a sudden I’ve gotten a taste for a Krieghoff K-80 in Bavarian or Danube grade . And I mean one from about 25 years ago not one of the present lazer engraved jobs .

Stan Hillis 05-12-2024 09:04 PM

I'm a different sort of guy, I accept that. But, that said, I've always had a soft spot for Fox B and BE grade guns. They were not made but for a few years and I always thought they were dropped because they were too nice for the price, and were unprofitable for Fox.

My 1918 BE 32" twelve gauge.

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/72733_800x600.jpg

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/72734_800x600.jpg

Ian Civco 05-12-2024 11:37 PM

Purdey, standard engraving all the way! Still working on owning one.

John Albano 05-13-2024 08:31 AM

I’m with Stan on the BE Foxes!

Frank Puryear 05-13-2024 10:31 AM

1 Attachment(s)
+1 more on Fox B Grades

Andrew Sacco 05-13-2024 11:00 AM

There is something about a PH with twist barrels that seems right. The barrel pattern with that classy understated engraving is just perfect.

CraigThompson 05-13-2024 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Gietler (Post 410995)
Guns, are like Women, I like all of them.

Harry

Damn if that’s so Jap women are fine but I don’t care for their guns very much . Spanish women are fine but I don’t care for their guns to much . I need not go any further or I might be called racist :rotf:

Phil Yearout 05-13-2024 11:47 AM

I really like the Fox 2nd generation engraving but A grades are all my paygrade can support...

https://i.imgur.com/Ddi7bMNl.jpg

but overall, Ithaca engraving is pretty hard to beat (grade 5 here),,,

https://i.imgur.com/VHoNGcjl.jpg

keavin nelson 05-13-2024 01:11 PM

A big soft spot for Parker Cs w/Bernard barrels! And a B Fox is a fine gun! Recently developed a liking of the Ithaca NIDs, the 28ga are sweet.

William Woods 05-13-2024 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Yearout (Post 411015)
I really like the Fox 2nd generation engraving but A grades are all my paygrade can support...

https://i.imgur.com/Ddi7bMNl.jpg

but overall, Ithaca engraving is pretty hard to beat (grade 5 here),,,

https://i.imgur.com/VHoNGcjl.jpg


Nice photo layout Mr. Phil.

Craig Larter 05-13-2024 06:17 PM

My current two favorites are Fox XE's deeply engraved with heads down Fox and Parker BH's. I favor guns made before the great conflict WWI.

Garry L Gordon 05-13-2024 07:39 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I do like gold when used in moderation. Here's an example from a grade 6 Parker that looks very appropriate to me.

Kevin McCormack 05-13-2024 08:01 PM

Damn the pay grade(s)! Buy what you want and if that means chummying up with the lady at the credit union, go for it!! The term "budget" is like a noose around your neck when the one you've always wanted comes up at auction. Bust a move and think like a businessman - finance and duration of terms (e.g., buyer's premium and line of credit extentions). Once you spend your first $10K on a gun, it starts you thinking......how did I do this??

edgarspencer 05-13-2024 09:24 PM

2 Attachment(s)
No argument from me, Garry. The grip cap treatment, beginning with the grade 5 were 'just right'. I also like finding them with engraved initials. Sometimes a letter sheds light on them, sometimes not, but that just adds a little mystique .

To Craigs point, I too find the earlier gun engravers put a little extra effort into their detail.

Phil Yearout 05-13-2024 09:27 PM

OK; I’ll re-phrase my “paygrade” statement. The fact is that shotguns are not my only hobby, nor the only thing I choose to spend my money on. And to that end, the guns I own. - plebeian as they may be - are exactly what I choose to own. I’d never spend $10k on a shotgun even though the lady at the credit union would approve the loan. Just not that important to me.

Brian Dudley 05-13-2024 10:00 PM

I really like any Parker hammer gun grade 3 and above. The bolster sculpting that was done starting at grade 3 level is hands down some of the nicest styling that one could ask for on a gun. And a set of Bernard barrels would sweeten it even more. So I guess I would say a grade C (4) Parker hammer gun.

Stan Hoover 05-14-2024 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley (Post 411072)
I really like any Parker hammer gun grade 3 and above. The bolster sculpting that was done starting at grade 3 level is hands down some of the nicest styling that one could ask for on a gun. And a set of Bernard barrels would sweeten it even more. So I guess I would say a grade C (4) Parker hammer gun.

I would have to agree with Brian on the Parker hammer guns, not so much a fan of the low grade with round bolsters, but the grade 2 with sculpted breeches and then they just get better as the grade goes higher.
I haven’t owned nearly all the American hammer guns, but but in my opinion, Parker hammer guns are as good as it gets!
Ithaca NID’s grade 3 are one of my favorites, of course grade 5’s and 7’s are attractive also:)

Stan Hoover 05-14-2024 09:14 AM

3 Attachment(s)
Did someone say they’re not a fan of gold:bigbye:

Mike Koneski 05-15-2024 11:14 AM

Don't forget for that classic styling and overall solid construction, Crescent Arms hammer guns are hard to beat. Just sayin'. :corn:

Daryl Corona 05-15-2024 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski (Post 411174)
Don't forget for that classic styling and overall solid construction, Crescent Arms hammer guns are hard to beat. Just sayin'. :corn:

Can't verify that without pictures, just saying.

Daryl Hallquist 05-15-2024 12:29 PM

Brian, I note you are moving forward from the Black Beauty . I, too, like the sculpting on the Parker hammer guns.

https://i.imgur.com/9UgJcCn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/g2X1vUf.jpg

Ronald A Moore 05-15-2024 04:41 PM

Gun Grades
 
Like the guy said when you spend 10,000.00 the first thing you think is why did I do that, It was the same as my first Rolex, 15000.00 but I wanted it and bought it some asked why I needed it, I said it had nothing to do with need only want.

Ron


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