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"Gunner's" Parker
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Last year at the Upper pennisula SXS shoot a thought crawled into my head. I try hard not to let these things happen as they are usually detrimental to my fiscall wellbeing.
I had seen some nice Fox guns that were custom engraved and restocked and thought that while I have several custom built rifles I never have had a shotgun built just the way I wanted. Well once I recognized the flaw in Fun Schwe of the safe I talked to bob Strosin of RES Engraveing who had done the work on the Fox's and a plan began to take shape. I needed a canvas for my project and a theme. i considered a Fox but at the end of the day I knew it had to be a Parker. I wanted either a 16 on an 0 frame or a 20 and as I have more than a few 16's I really leaned toward the 20. A VH or VHE that was mechanically sound with no pits in the barrels, no major flaws in any of the metal surfaces was a must. The theme part was easy I'd dedicate the gun to my little buddy Gunner. At the time this started he was 13 and dealing with some health issues. I hoped he'd make it through the winter last year so the ground would be softer digging, then he rallied for a while and in June I didn't think I'd make Hausmanns. While at the U.P. shoot this June I had called home and he wasn't well. I'm happy to report he is holding his own and with the grace of God will make it out for some birds with "his" gun this fall. The gun part actually came about as a referral from a friend about a member who had a VH 20 for sale. I contacted the gentalman and told him what I was looking for and why. He was somewhat hesitant about a perfectly good original Parker going for a project. The deal was made and I bought the gun sight unseen. I hope he approves of the transformation to Gunner's Parker. It was a typical VH with a PG, DT. I much prefer a straight grip so I purchased a trigger guard from Galazans. They also provided the twin Ivory beads that replaced the metal bead and the heel and toe plates. I'll include a picture of Gunner in this post but Marc Ouellette graciously took over 100 pictures of Gunner's parker and he has picked out a few to share with you and will add them to this post. |
Rich, she's obsolutely beautiful. I love everything about it. The engraving is gorgeous and that wood is a killer. Make me wish I was the dog!!:rotf:
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Would it kill you to smile? That gun is magnificent, you should be smiling ear to ear. It's everything you said it would be and more. Now I've got some special 3/4oz. loads that I can't wait to shoot in it. We need to see a picture of Gunner next to his gun. He's an amazing dog and truly deserves that gun. Wish I could say that about you.:bigbye: Thanks Mark, great job as usual.
Daryl |
All I can say is, a a fitting tribute to a lifelong pal. A wonderful dog, beautiful gun, and you as a caring owner. I raise my glass to you! If humans had the love and affection of a dog it would be a much better world Gary
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Well done!!!!!
I agree with Mr Corona. Please take a picture or two of Gunner next to HIS gun. |
Rich, Congratulations! The finished gun is everthing you said it would be. After seeing the frame at "The Hollow" I knew this gun would be very special. I love the checkering layout. Ya we need a few pictures of Gunner with his gun....:whistle:
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OK, it's an upgraded V. What's the new grade designation? It can't be a GH(Gunner H), so how about some suggestions? A COB Special? I need some help here.:rolleyes:
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I'll see what I can do about getting the two of them together. My greatest hope is that I can shoot a bird over him this fall with it.
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I refer to it as Gunner's Gun therefor a GG grade.
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So be it!
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Rich, I hope you and your pal get your wish. To bad it's so far I got some chuckers on death row I'd donate to the hunt. Sam would like to hunt with Gunner.
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Terrific pictures. Great looking gun. Got me thinking about doing the same thing now.
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A work of art! Nice going Rich.
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That is one of the most beautiful guns I have ever seen. The reason the gun came about is also beautiful. You have everything to be proud of on that one. Gunner is no slouch either.
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A fitting tribute to a fine dog and wonderful companion. No better use can be imagined than to take a fine Parker and customize it to honor one of God's finest creations - a dog that offers unlimited love and uncompromising devotion. Well done. Gunner deserves nothing less!
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Shaaazam!! What a Gun! That thing is a work of art from one end to the other. Big, big compliments to the engraver, the stocker and to the guy with the dream and the vision (and the checkbook) to see that tribute to "man's best friend" to the end result.
*pssst... can you shoot it?* |
:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh: :biglaugh:
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Rich, that gun is just beautiful, gunner I'm sure is proud to be a part of it. Who did the case colors? I realy like them. Good luck to you and Gunner.
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Rich ,Congratulations , Just an absolute Wonderful Gun , Gorgeous !!!!!!!!!!Every time you carry her it will bring to mind the wonderful memories afield with your Best Friend , what could be nicer ! Best ; Russ
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The case color's are bone charcol and were done by a company in Ill. and it didn't take much more than a couple of weeks turn around time. I can get their name if you like.
I have shot the gun three times at sporting clays and am ashamed to admit that the first two shots were missed BUT I'm sure Gunner wispered "Hens, Hens" in my ear and I lifted my head. I'm getting better with it each round, it points like a dream and fits like a glove so the only problems are with the guy behind it.:shock: |
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Daryl asked to give it a grade I think it should be a MBF grade...Mans Best Friend.
Here are a couple of pics with Gunner in his chair with his gun. |
Those, my friend are priceless.:cheers:
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I think the lower picture is classic!
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Rich, if I knew the project would come out that well, I would have given you the gun. The picture of Gunner resting on the gun is priceless. As Rich knows, the gun is fully provenanced to a town near me and never left Montgomery County, MD until I sent it to Rich. Rich has a copy of the original order and a billhead from the store where it was purchased, in 1917 as I recall. This is one of the "great projects".
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Bill I'm glad you like it. You have my address for reimbursement of the purchase price of the gun:biglaugh:
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I can fully testify without reserve of any kind how much Gunner deserves this tribute to him. I've had some unforgettable times following that dog as he trailed a wily bird, and we found every last one of them. Truly a great dog. If a man has one dog like that in a lifetime he is a winner.
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Gunner and his gun pic on PGCA home page
Congratulations on a truly wonderful tribute project. I would certainly nominate either of the photos of Gunner and his new Parker Brothers gun for display on the PGCA home page with a link set to this thread.
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I envy those whose dogs will pose, when hunting mine look at a camera and say they have birds to find, if i make them hold in the field or the house I get ohh if i have to sad face look :) Great picture |
this storey of gunner and his gun will go down in parker history...glad i got to see pictures of this great pointer and his gun....mark my words gunner will go down in history now and in a way he deserves....charlie
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COB, That second picture is a classic. Simply wonderful...I saved it to my computer.
I hope John D is watching...This picture would look great on our homepage. You there John ?.......:corn: |
That is a beautiful gun. Everything comes together, the engraving, wood and steel to form a thing of function and beauty. It will be a pleasure to own and to shoot. Well done.
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Fantastic !!
Fantastic Dog, Fantastic Gun and Fantastic Pictures that do the gun Justice (which is pretty difficult to do). The gun just simply breathtaking. Kudos to all of the skilled craftsmen involved in the special "GG" grade. And to the very well conceived plan to put it all together.
I was skeptical that the pictures would be able to show its beauty but mark was able to pull it off once again. Kurt |
Pretty fine argument for restoration and also for doing what you want with your own stuff! You have created a family heirloom.
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I have had several PM's as to who did work on Gunner's gun and rather than go through each PM here is a list of people who did the work or supplied material.
Kip Wood at Central Michigan Gunsmithing did the stock work. he also re rustblued the barrels after he removed a small dent, reblued the trigger guard, opened the chokes and installed the twin Ivory beads and reassembeled the gun. He can be reached at www.centralmichigangunsmithing.com. Phone is 989-775-7040 Robert Strosin of RES Engraving did the engraving. His web site is www.resengraving.com Phone is 715-325-7550 Classic guns in Crete Illonis did the case colors. I don't have a web address but their phone is 708-367-1620. CSM provided the new trigger guard, heel and toe plates and the twin Ivory beads. I can highly reccomend Kip as he has done some stock refinishing on a couple of Parkers and has made a couple of custom rifles for me as well. Just looking at this is all the recomendation Bob Strosin needs IMHO. |
A wonderful tribute to a friend. Hope to see Gunner and his gun on the opening page one day.
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Rich, thanks for sending copies of the historical information on Gunner's Gun which I had misplaced. To add to that information, my accountant's wife is a direct descendant of one of the partners of Chiswell and Nicholson, the store where the gun was purchased. They are many generation residents of Montgomery County, and their first son was named "Nicholson" after the family name. They live within four or five miles of the store, even closer than I do. The successors to the Chiswell and Nicholson store were Chiswell and Jones, or maybe it is a different business altogether. The Jones family were long time merchants in Dickerson, MD, and the Jones family continued to an old trapshooting buddy of my teen years, Lloyd Jones, owner of the International Harvester franchise in Dickerson, which flowed down from the general stores of his grandparents and great grandparents. I found more information than I will ever need by googling "chiswell nicholson dickerson maryland" and "chiswell jones dickerson maryland" It brought us way more information than my accountant or his wife were aware of concerning her family and its businesses, even though they are amateur local historians. I have located one more identical 20 gauge VH in the Parker orders in my files that also came from that store. Unfortunately, I have no hope of locating that gun even though it probably lives just a few miles from me. I shot Gunner's Gun for many years before I sent it to you and enjoyed it very much, even though the chokes were a bit aggressive. It's one of the most original little Parkers I have ever owned, considering that it showed long time field use. The gun never went more than ten miles from its original place of purchase, even after I found it at a local auction. The original owner was a resident of the town where it was bought, if my research is correct. I bought a very high condition VH 12 gauge Parker from the same estate and failed to buy an earlier VH in almost as high condition. It seems the owner used the 20 gauge for almost all of his hunting, even though he owned three Parkers. His name was "Eader" and I'm afraid what I'll get if I google his name with the name of his home town, Dickerson, MD, or the neighboring Poolesville, MD. I still pass a mailbox with the name Eader when driving to and from my gun club. The 12 gauge VH that I did not buy at the auction is an "order book" era gun which I should have lettered, just to find out if it also was purchased at the same store. I have the serial number in my records, but am reluctant to order a letter on a gun I don't own. I hope this information is of interest to you, Rich.
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Bill thank you for the historical information on Gunner's gun. It's both interesting and amazing at how these guns travel from one place to another.
I'll have Gunner's gun at the Southern and your welcome to take it out for a round on the course if you wish. I was going to take it out hunting this am but we got an ice storm and there will be little travel today, maybe tomorrow or Sunday. |
What a beautiful gun, and fitting tribute to an old friend!
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