Stop...Hammer Time!
 

So, I woke up on Saturday morning and braved the ice covered roads down here in NC, and made my way over to Greensboro for the gun show. Maybe it was the weather and the icy roads, but I was pleased to see that there was no line at the door, and I was able to buy a ticket and walk right in. Inside, it was elbow to elbow, but I started to make my way around the show looking for that diamond in the rough. It wasn't long before I reached a beautiful display of Parker Hammer Guns owned by Mr. Hammer Gun himself, Gary Carmichael. Gary and his son were manning the tables and I spent the better part of the afternoon hanging out with them, looking at guns and talking shop. I had a great time. On top of that I've been looking for a Hammer Gun ever since the Fall Southern, but haven't been able to find one in the kind of condition I wanted. As you'll see from the pictures below, I think I've solved that problem with Gary's help. He sent me home on Saturday evening with a very nice 12ga "O" Grade Parker and it's exactly what I've been looking for. It's a #1 Frame gun with 30" Plaint Twist Barrels choked Full and Full, and has some great case coloring remaining. Being a #1 Frame gun, it comes in just over 7lbs and feels great in my hands. I'm looking forward to taking it out next weekend to shoot some clays at Drake's Landing. I talked to Daryl Carona on the way home from the show last night and he asked for some pictures, so Daryl, here you go.....:)

Mike

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That is a nice one.

What a great find! You're going to love shooting that one! Gary is a good friend to us all and he certainly showed that to you in putting you and that gun together.

Your pictures are wonderful and they reinforce our request in asking you to be our official photographer at last year's Fall Southern.

Very nice gun Mike. Dave Suponski and I also have that gun. I think Dean's 'Editor's Gun" is also the same. There's a squad right there.

very nice gun i bet them clay birds will hate to see you coming with this ole gal... charlie

Wow Mike, that's definitely a keeper. I would'nt expect anything less from Gary. I have 58320 so we will surely reunite these great guns at the Southern and give those Smith boys their first whooping in the hammer gun event. Congrats.

Great gun in excellent looking condition. I have # 50979, identical to this gun, which will also be making the trip to NC this spring.

Mike

Anyone would have bought that gun.

Mike, Congratulations! What a wonderful gun and you couldn't buy it from a nicer guy. As Edgar said I have the same gun but earlier than yours. Mine is from the first year of top lever guns. I shot it at Addieville a couple weeks ago and its a great clays gun. Man you take fantastic pictures.....:bowdown:

Very nice...enjoy!

:cheers:

Dave corrected me. The Editor's Gun is a grade 2. What's neat about it is the Vulcan barrels.

Nope... Sorry - The Editor's Gun is not a Grade 2. It is a Grade 0 or a Grade 1... but I think it is a Grade 0. I will look it up and let you know. It is made of at least 6 different Parkers, the last addition being the A-Grade forend tip I installed last Saturday night before shooting it at Addieville. This A-Grade forend tip is the one we used as the motif for the Distinguished Service Pin. It looks pretty nice on this 'one of a kind' Parker hammer gun.

Mike;
That DHBP tells me alot about your gun. It's in mint condition that matches the rest of the gun. Great find!

Mike, I wish I could take pictures like that! You need to be the PGCA Photographer! Thats my two cents. Gary

***Pssst, Gary - he is but don't tell him. We inducted him at the Fall Southern, shhhh***

Gary, it certainly helps to have such a great subject to shoot. Thanks again!

Official PGCA Photographer, I like the sound of that. Dean, do me a favor though and tell my wife that my new duty requires me to attend ALL of the SxS events where the PGCA will be this year. :whistle:

I'm looking forward to seeing all of these O Grade Hammer guns together at the Southern in April. I'm sure there's a photo opportunity in there somewhere....

[QUOTE=Mike.Smith;94683] Dean, do me a favor though and tell my wife that my new duty requires me to attend ALL of the SxS events where the PGCA will be this year. :whistle: [QUOTE]


No problem Mike but remember your promise to us last October.... that you would bring your wife along so we can all meet her and she can enjoy all of this 'Parker stuff' like Deb, Adina, Linda, Jeannie, Kathy and so many of our wives do.... Remember?

Teach me to listen to Dave. Shoulda stuck with my instinct.

Dean, I do remember and I'd love for you all to meet her. She's sitting next to me as I type this, and I've got commitment from her that she will at least join us all for dinner one night.

That's a good start Mike.

What a great gun. I'm surprised that a gun meant to shoot live birds would be built on a #1 frame.

Great gun and great pictures. That is a gun I know I wouldn't have turned down.
Gary, have you got any in 10ga?

10 gauge hammer guns
 

Paul here is a nice G grade hammer with 32" damascus tubes

:shock: Sweeeeet

them barrels look a mile long...nice gun... charlie