GH 16ga Pristine
 

An attempt at Parker appreciation. Its for those who are interested in pristine Parkers and indicators of originality.

Here is a substantially unused, original condition GH 16ga. These are the case colors that are so difficult to duplicate and the blue-black nitre bluing.
Note the standing breech, which is a dead giveaway to use. Shell ring marks appear on the breech face after use and and they and primer pits will show through re-color case jobs. If an attempt is made to file out the rings and pits, then poor fit will result. This gun shows few marks on the breech face, demonstrating its little use.

Also, look at the barrel breech ends for the radial filing ( damascening) marks. All grades of Parkers that I am aware of were finished this way. These marks wear with extensive opening and closing of the gun. They can be refiled during restoration but it must be carefully done or else poor barrel/face fit will result. Even V's were done with radial filing; I don't know about Trojans.

The case colors show better on a lower grade gun; that is, one without lots of engraved surfaces. Engraving does not hold the case colors well. Correct Parker case colors are light, almost translucent, and enhance the engraving rather than hiding engraving.

The left barrel looks like its been fired a few times, the right barrel not at all.

Bruce: could you please post a high resolution ultra close up of the standing breech for a PictureTrail example of an "As new" condition gun and thanks!

Question: How many would shoot that gun, or keep it in the safe as strictly a collector piece. I'd have to shoot it, being the philistine I am about such things.

I don't own this one, a close friend does; however I own a high grade Parker in about the same condition that is substantially unshot. Here is our thought process, and I believe I can speak for my friend on this.

If a person owns just a few Parkers, he wants to shoot them all. However, there are those rare Parkers that show little or no evidence of use and the responsible collector needs to preserve those in high condition for future generations. Its a caretaker philosophy, that those who own those few guns are preservationists for others. Its also economic, in that those few unshot guns bring high value and taking them out and shooting them can reduce value but more likely is scratching them on the car door or other damage. He has explained that shooting them would be selfish and we have other guns to shoot.

But most importantly, my buddy has told me if I ever shoot the one I have, he would find out and I would be in deep...........

Ed, I'll never shoot mine :nono:

I would shoot it once, because Bruce stated right barrel looked like it had been shot before then make it a safe queen or trade it down the road.No sense in making it another well used Parker.

But - thanks for letting some of us shoot it when you weren't looking.......




:shock:







:bigbye:





;)






John

OOOOO YA :rotf: scott

Bruce and Dean, I can respect that. If I ever come into one like that I'll trade for a couple really good shooters. I promise I won't shoot it before it gets to the right hands.

Nope... just looked at it again and guess what?..... You guys are jerkin' me around :bigbye:







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