20ga DHE 24"
 

How about a change of pace?

This is the little gun John Dunkle likes. He shoots it well.

I wrote an article about it in the Parker Pages several years ago. It was ordered in 1910 by Mr Howard of Halifax, Nova Scotia for his fiancee' in Red Springs, North Carolina and had to be delivered before Christmas or no sale. The gun is 5 3/4lbs, rounded on the toe, 14" LOP so she was not tiny. IC and Mod. She married him and went to Halifax and used the gun into her 80's. Ron Granger, a British Columbia PGCA member and collector, then acquired it and then I got it from Ron about 6-7 years ago. The gun had not been messed with. The Titanic barrels were mostly silver and blotchy, so I had them refinished and new wood finish top coats rubbed in to cover bare places. The ejectors were gummed up but Rem Action Cleaner solved that. Other than that, the gun is as it was made.

In my research, I found that the area around Red Springs NC was home to Royalists before the Revolutionary War, many of whom fled to the Canadian Maritimes when the war ended yet maintained family ties. The Howard family was known in shipping circles in Halifax, so perhaps that is the connection.

The records do not show that many D grade 20/24" were made and show no others with either a half pistol or a checkered butt, so this is likely a unique gun. I don't think there are many Parkers known to be made for a woman; this and the Annie Oakley guns come to mind.

Bruce; I can see why John would enjoy carrying that gun ,It is a beauty !! Sure would make a nice light Grouse gun ,especially with the 24 " barrels. The Stock is really nice ,I really like the half pistol grip ,although at this time ,I have no Parkers that has one ,but most of mine have the Pistol Grip stocks . I set up at the Greensburg show this past weekend ,there was a fellow there with a 28 Ga. VHE ,w/ 24 " barrels ,a nice gun ,but completely refinished .

Round butts and checkered pasts are my favorites. Did I say that right?

I don't why some people feel that they have to completely refinish guns, individual preference I suppose. I don't do it. This gun has some scratches left in the wood, the patina of age, not dirt, is still there. I did enough in my opinion to make it presentable but somewhat minimal restoration. Each to his own.

I believe you did Bill ! :)

If I would have one completely redone ,it would have to be in really poor condition ,Some age and patina always looks nice on an older gun , plus in most cases ,if you are a buyer, trader and seller , If and when you turn the gun you end up eating most of the cost of the restoration , and you are limiting yourself to potential buyers ! Years ago ,I picked up a little 410 Field grade ,LC Smith really rough condition,I had the gun completely refinished , The gun looked really nice,and when I decided to move it ,I explained it had been refinished and who did the work ,I sold the gun eventually and the hardest part of the sale was it being completely redone ! I believe I would have gotten the same amount ,or more for the gun had it been tight and looked even half way presentable ,as I got for the gun after the refinish !

Works for me... ;)

As well - that little 20GA 24" D grade is one of the sweetest little Parkers you'll ever see... It's really light, but, with he shorter barrels - you have to force yourself to swing through, as there is no momentum. As for a perfect N.E. grouse/partridge/timberdoodle/woodcock/snipe (<--did I cover all the bases??) double, this Parker would be "the ticket".

I did offer to "store" it for Bruce in my safe - with full visitation rights (once a year, for one day..) - but he gracefully declined by raising his eyebrows, covering his face with his hands and violently shaking his head as in disbelief....

I was soooo close....

;)

John

Nice little gun Bruce. There's a 24" DHE 28 w/steel bbls in Anchorage. Gorgeous little gun but has been restocked twice. Current owner had the replacement stock with a monte carlo replaced with a nice original style. MC stock was quite obviously not original; didn't match the forend wood at all. Gorgeous little gun.

You're right Bruce, about not many documented to have been ordered for a lady. You mention the Annie Oakley guns as an example. My Damascus barreled DHE 24-inch 28 gauge (149020) however is one such "lady's gun" having been ordered for Jessie Bishop by her husband Henry A. Bishop in 1912 and specified to be supplied with an "Annie Oakley style case".

Russ:

Larry Baer

Bruce,

I am just wondering, how is it that a refinished Purdey's value is not effected, but a Parker or any American double is? Is it that the British opinion so differs from us.

Bill

Dean,

I'm so glad to read that you have great grandmother Jessie's Parker! I remember her talking about it when I was just a small lad. Seems that she set the gun, along with the case, on the bumper of her car, got distracted and drove off leaving the gun behind. Realizing what she did, she and Henry returned a short time later and the gun was gone!!!

Since I'm the only surviving descendant of my dear departed great grandparents, the gun is rightfully mine. Sooo, in order to dampen your disappointment on returning the gun to me, I'll gladly pay you for your trouble and send you a check in the amount Henry paid originally for the gun. Should cover the cost of shipping:p

Now that is what I call a true friend!

I was present at the sale of a 24" CHE in 28 guage in 1976 to a gentleman from Kansas by a well known dealer from Maine. The gun was in an Abercrombie & Fitch case and about unfired condition.Jim had obtained the gun in a trade. He had a new Caddy and traded even up to get the gun.I heard later that the gun was sold for about double what the gentleman from Kansas had paid for it. A year or two's salary for me each time it traded hands.

Hmmm... let me think that over... :corn: ____________ :rotf:

Bruce ; I have read this in Baer's book ,also ,I am sure this has been proven over and over again , The Smith I mentioned had a very wore hinge pin and many other issues ,we brought it back to life so to speak ,but there is no doubt if the gun would have been solid ,it would have been an easier sale in original condition than refinished !

Bruce,

That's the Attorney's answer, I am looking for your opinion. I have also seen part of you meager collection, although it does not rival the Parkers I have managed to put together on my fixed income, you could at least explain this phenomena.

You Bird shooting Friend

Bill:shock:

It was worth a try:bigbye:

Whoa, Bill. Now don't try to start something. Remember we have fellows here who always have the superior opinion and whose ideas are better than anyone elses'. So I'm not biting. We can continue this conversation on the Kansas prairies.

It has been my experience that any refinished American gun, blued or case colored, is a "refinished" gun. . . granted, some, like Turnbull's, are fabulous looking guns but are, nonetheless, what they are...

The statement a poster made about the Purdey is incorrect. An original Purdey, like an original Parker, is worth more than one that is refinished. Of course, a naive buyer can inflate the value of any piece of junk in his own mind if the seller cooperates.

The wood ducks and doves wouldn't stand a chance