My first Parker.
 

Well I bought my first Parker at a small auction today, a CH 13194X 12ga 30" Bernard bbls, pistol grip. I have been a member of the PGCA for quite a few years but never owned a Parker, to many Foxes to chase. I plan to bring it to the Southern for the experts to inspect. Just a nice solid gun. The figure in the barrels is off the charts. I would like to thank Mark Conrad for helping me get the specs on the gun prior to issuing the letter. It was a real nice buy at auction.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t.../DSC_0003a.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t.../DSC_0023a.jpg

Very nice!

Very nice , That's some first Parker ,Mine was a Trojan 16 Ga. ! Could we see some pics. of the bottom of the receiver ,I really enjoy the C Grades Different Engraving Styles ! Thank you ; Russ

Craig, you lucky so-and-so!! That CH was engraved during the period that so many of us think is one of the best periods of Parker history when some of the finest and most desirous engraving was done.

Steve is quite the (closet) Parker collector. I'm sure he must have helped guide you on this one too.... if only he could tear himself away from his fabulous Kautzky Fox :whistle:

Yes pictures of floorplate does it still have the SBP? Mine was a loose ol hammer gun. Oh great gun gotta love thoes C's.

Well Craig...I was a long time coming but you finally stepped up to a Parker. I guess you won't be shooting the Fox's much anymore.....:rotf:

You didn't actually think you were going to get away with buying a Parker without hearing some crap.....did ya...Congratulations my friend.

Craig, seems you're the third Fox afficiando to slip lately.:rotf:

First Frank with his 12/20 VH combo, me and a hammer 12, now you and this beauty. The barrel pattern is a killer. How's the gun choked?

Congrats
Mike

Congratulations, Craig - outstanding gun from the "Golden Age" of engraving and barrel finishing. Et tu, Brucie?

Here is a picture of the floor plate, choked IM/F
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t.../DSC_0004a.jpg

On the contrary... our ranks boast several other Fox afficianados who (secretly) own Parkers. Of course, they don't shoot them in broad daylight lest their Fox contemporaries find them out :shock:

NICE... five ducks - what these guns are made for... not stags!

At the tip of the lowest duck's wing there appears to be a duck blind with two shooters in it. Am I seeing things or do you guys see it too??

No duck blind but that would be neat.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t.../DSC_0004b.jpg

What a sweetheart she is! Awesome flock of turnip's.

Yes Craig; it is Fred Kimble and W.W Greener, the latter on an extremely rare and secretive trip to America to compare choke boring philosophies, design, and efficiency. Afterwards no doubt there was a 'gentleman's agreement' as to who would claim to be the true inventor of choke. And there is no blind because, as all of the hard core duck killers know, .."the best blind is no blind at all."

A friend of mine is a celebrated Michigan wildlife artist who won the duck and trout stamp competitions 7 times. One of his winning duck stamps had hunters in a blind in the background. After that, hunters depictions were outlawed. Another example of PC taking over. Imagine - the people who buy the stamps cannot be shown in the stamp. :cuss:

Craig,
Wow! That's one hell of a first Parker. Too bad you can't shoot it in the Bo Whoop for score. Looking forward to drooling over it at the Southern.
Daryl

Looks like a very nice and fairly unmolested C. For your first, you did it right!

A couple of lightly buggered screws, IMHO, doesn't even begin to enter the category of "fairly unmolested". It's just a very, very nice CH.

I especially like the ^^^^^^^ border engraving rather than the often seen XXXXXXXX style of border engraving.

Absolutely Dean, A person gets to thinking he knowes a little something then he's humbled by a keen eye I didn't even notice the border:bowdown:.

Thanks for the comments. A few screws are a little buggered, that's why I want to have the Parker boys look it over at the upcoming Southern. I plan to do nothing until then.
To show you how little I know about Parkers, the auction cataloged it as a CH, I dry fired it this morning and low and behold it's a CHE. :)

Ejectors! That's just awesome!

Also awesome "new" Parker Craig. You did very well.

I only said "fairly unmolested" because I could not see the whole gun the pictures.

I realize this gun is not a high condition collector gun, it's an old war horse--I plan to shoot it and preserve it as is with a few tweaks
Here are a few more pictures. Craig

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...6_edited-1.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...2_edited-1.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...1_edited-1.jpg

Great gun, Craig. What is the serial number of the new prize? Letter on the way, I assume.

Well I wouldn't call it a war horse. It sure was cared for.

Remington called a very similar barrel material "Legia P." on their higher grade doubles --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...Liega20003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...Liega20002.jpg

Wow! That's pretty. Looks almost like a snake skin - especially the top picture.

Craig,
Don't short change yourself here, this gun is FAR from a work horse and definatley in the collector category. Guns that clean, in C grade, with ejectors and Bernard steel barrels are not easy to locate. Don't second guess your purchase or worry about a few buggered screws and bruses on the stock, bring it to the Southern and see makes fun of you for carrying that old clunker around! As they say, she looks great for her age, your a lucky guy, enjoy it.

The more I look it over the more I like it, nice honest basically untouched example. I paid $2450. so I think I did all right. I live close to Turnbull's so they are cleaning and lubing it and repairing the buggered side action screws. I plan to shoot it at the Southern.

What a deal! You certainly can find the Parkers and Foxes. Will you share your secrets with me at the Southern. I'm still looking for any 32" Fox, Sterly on up.
Daryl

Wow, great deal! It's nice to see that there are still good guns to be found at great prices. You did good!!

Craig,

That is one mighty fine Parker!!!

Congrats!

Richard

I received my letter from MC in record time THANKS. As you can see no mention of the Silvers Pad. My understanding is if it had a Silvers pad it would be reflected in the price (an additional $5.00) The pad is rock hard plus the butt is curved and the widows peak is present on the top pad/stock. What is your best guess on the pad. The LOP with the pad is 14", same as the letter? Thanks Craig (beginner Parker collector)
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...rkerletter.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...6_edited-1.jpg

Craig: you'll be lucky if the "Parker Police" don't arrest and fine you for practically stealing that gun! You did very very well....

Craig,
Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful gun. I love the C grades. I have a B but I just seem to like the Cs more. Yours is outstanding.

Best Regards,
Larry

Craig, my "best guess on the pad" is don't mess with it. If the gun is ever offered to me with other than that pad, the price will be way lower than if that pad were still there. Originality is everything, even if originality is a few years later than the manufacture of the gun.