Lt. Cmdr. Averill's Opening Salvo
 

Since I’ve always believed the best offense is an 88MM nutcracker, allow me to make a few comments on the Averill article before someone levels their sweet little .410 at that poor, defenseless Fox in the hen house! :nono:

1) While I don’t know much, I do know that Remington date codes are not found on the top rib AND that as far as I know, PB never built guns on a 1 ½ inch frame. (Unless of course it was that Hayes covert- op, HO-scale, 64 gauge with lightening cuts?) Therefore, two points for the “proof house” in East Jordan, MI.

2) Also, please note that my opening paragraph was altered somewhat. My intro read:

“As an envoy from the Fox Nation, I rarely go hunting for Parkers. Oddly enough they just seem to fall into my lap. And like a pimple on prom night, they have an egregious habit of emerging at the most inopportune times.”

Holy forcing cones Batman, I can’t even get “pimple” past this Editor? I hope she has an ample supply of red ink!

3) For the Navy men in our midst, Averill served aboard the supply ship USS BRIDGE, the battleship USS UTAH and as a surface warfare officer on the destroyer USS KANE. He also represented the Navy at the prestigious, Chicago Air Races for several years running. He exceled at every task they threw his way and I have little doubt had he lived, he would have ascended into the Admiralty if not by Korea, certainly by the time hostilities in Vietnam started to escalate.

4) Finally, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few additional pics that unfortunately didn’t make the cut.

1) Underbelly shot revealing some wonderful case colors and the absence of the “PARKER” stamping

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC_3232.jpg

2) A wider angle (and far more poignant) treatment of the engraved name plate on Averill’s leg o’ mutton case

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC_3145.jpg

3) BTFE close-up w/Parker catalog

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC_3300.jpg

4) Side shot w/Parker catalog

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC_3328.jpg

5) I wish they could have enlarged the hat photo just a bit. Here’s the close-up sent to me from the EBay seller. I damn near went into
tachycardia that night!

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC_3411.jpg

Here’s to all who served in that, “gut-bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war!!” :bowdown:

Has the DGJ issue containing your article started to hit mailboxes yet?

Incidentally Steve, that sure looks to me like early Robert Runge engraving.

Dean,
I read the article two days ago after it came in the mail.
Jeff

Thanks Jeff, Maybe I can expect mine tomorrow... before the weekend anyway, I hope.

Dean

Averill
 

Steve ....Your article was certainly well researched and written with tremendous feeling. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it. What a great gun and historic story to go with it. Thanks for taking the time to share it with the double gun community.

Steve, well written. Can you fill us in on how you gathered all that information?

I haven't had the chance to read the article yet so please fill us in on how you and the gun met.

a fine storey of a remarkable man...charlie

Steve;
I just love guns with provenance and your gun is just dripping with it. I have a couple of 20 ga. Parkers with no Parker stamped on the frame. I refer to them as transition guns. Really, really neat story, gun and cap. You need to buy lottery ticket my friend.:bowdown: