Collecting In Difficult Times
 

These are difficult economic times for many, and I hear such discussions when Parker people and vintage shotgun people gather. While we like to display the rare, unusual and costly guns, there are many serviceable and fine shooting Parkers and collectibles that are not costly and within reach of many enthusiasts. I don't know of a single collector of high grade guns that looks down his nose at the base grade guns in terms of serviceability, in fact, many that I know leave the high grade guns in the rack and reach for the V's and G's when they go hunting.

Photos 1-3 show a damascus GHE 12ga and a fluid steel PHE 16ga. A person might be able to buy one of these that needs cosmetic work for under $2000 and $3000 respectively. Look for one that is mechanically sound, not cobbled together and needs barrel refinishing and maybe a little steaming to remove gouges and maybe you can do some gentle refinishing on your own. With these, or other low grade Parkers, such as a pair of V grades in 12 and 20, a person can shoot anything, upland game or waterfowl, and it will gain in value. These are all you really need and you are a Parker collector.

A lot of collectors like to have period accompanying things such as cases. The leg of mutton cases are available and not costly. Maybe you can pick up one for $80, maybe more, sometimes you find a real bargain. You put your old Parker in one of these and that's what they were made for.

Here's a Red Head pebble grain. There are all sorts and makers of these things.

This restocked V is a go-to gun for me. I love to shoot it and I don't worry about babying it. Note the full-coverage checkering on the fore end... way none-original but I really like it!

Many Parker collectors also like old cleaning rods. These are also not costly and hunting for them can be kind of fun.

Photo 1 shows a C M Powers cleaning rod made by the Fairies Manufacturing Company of Decatur Ill. Powers was a first rate trapshooter around the 1900's and a Parker shooter. One of our members has his AAH Pigeon Gun. They came in a box in a bag and come apart as you see it. The boxes and bags are rarely found but the rods can be found with a bit of searching.

Photo 2 shows other types of rods. BGICO was a Bridgeport company that supplied cleaning tools to Parker. You can find them in hickory, rosewood, ebony, the latter can be costly. Then there are ones from Marbles, Outers and others that are all interesting to collect and more fitting to a Parker than one of these fluffy plastic light sabers.

Photo 3 shows various inexpensive Parker paper, all reproductions and all available. These are easy to find and are often passed off for the originals, which are rare and costly. Its interesting to have some of this and these run maybe $15-20 each.

Others have various low cost items that are fitting for collecting on a budget and maybe they can post pictures. You don't have to be wealthy or spend a lot of money to have a nice Parker collection.

BGICO aka The Bridgeport Gun Implement Co. was based surprisingly enough in Bridgeport, Conn. not Meriden.

xxx

What da ya mean "Back East Somewhere" Bridgeport and that factory building happens to be about 10 minutes from my house! Never ever heard of Meriden Gun Implement Co.

Dave, if you have some of their things, post them. I have seen their reloading implements but those are costly today. I have seen a couple rods, the one shown and a nice ebony one, but no others. Maybe there would be something reachable for the low expense collector.

I've never been in Connecticut.

Actually Bruce alot of the BGI loading tools and such can be bought on Ebay pretty cheaply.Parker used BGI almost exclusively for their reloading tools. BGI just put the Parker name on them.

Another CT loading tool manufacterer is "The Torrington Gun Implement Co." and their stuff is pretty easy to find also.

I,ll put some pics up when I get a chance..:bigbye:

Dave, exactly. I know of a few things that are inexpensively collectible that accompany Parkers and maybe others do too, and can post them and get people interested in having a nice collection without spending an arm and a leg. You know we show these high grade Parkers but there are a lot of folks who can't afford them in this down economy and maybe there are some Parkers and Parker period things that would be fun to collect.