My first Parkers after years of wanting one
 

Well my first Parker Bros shotgun will be here tomorrow , I was going to wait but im too excited haha . I have been wanting a Parkers since I was about 14. Now at 27 I was finally able to own such a piece of American craftsmanship .

I have to mention a fellow PGCA member here , because without him it wouldnt have been possible . Mr Josh Loewensteiner , a heavy #6 frame is my one of my dream doubles . Honestly I never thought I would own one well especially at my age . Thanks to Mr.Josh however he made it possible for me to get a Parker that probably would be out of reach for me normally . Finding someone to work with someone as young as me to get the classic/vintage double they usually can only admire from a distance means alot to me .

I have been doing a little research on the original owner listed in the research letter on it . S Sankey , he was from Russell County AL . From what I could find he came from a large family in that area . The only S Sankey I could find born there or from that area , is Sims Sankey . I believe Sims was his middle name and his full name was Henry Sims Sankey . Was it common for people to go by their middle names back then ? I think he had quite a few Henrys in his family so perhaps thats why he went by Sims .

I managed to find his resting place , it seems just about all of the Sankeys are buried in 2 cemeteries there .https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...ry-sims-sankey

He must have been a interesting fellow to order a 12lb+ 10 ga Parkers .
He lived only about 2hrs from here , eventually I would like to take the Parkers goose hunting up there . I think it would be quite the experience taking it hunting on or near its original hunting grounds 117 years ago .
If I recall this Parker has made its way up to New York some Im glad its coming back close to its original home . Mr.Sims ordered it in 1902 and received it in 1903 when he would have been 27 and now 117 years later at 27 I am getting it . He lived to be 92 , I wonder how long he kept his 12lb Parkers ? I know its impossible to know but I like the idea of someone ordering such a unique Parkers at a young age and using it for many decades .

While this does not directly have anything to do with Mr.Sims Sankey I think this was perhaps a cousin or so of his . http://kilgorecousins.blogspot.com/2...re-family.html

I found it a interesting little read . They was born in the same county and buried in the same family plot so I am assuming they are related but not sure how .

Anyhow I am probably getting long winded but I am excited to get my first Parkers and a unique one at that . I will post the pictures tomorrow when I go pick it up .

Congrats on the new Parker. Please post pics of the Parker once you get it! Got to love The Parker gun!!

Congratulations Milton, I still remember the excitement of my first Parker. It was a VH 16 with 30" barrels. Now I can't remember how many I have without some deep thought. You can never stop once you start!
Chris
Tempe, AZ

What I like most about Parker Bros is all the different and cool configurations they would do for a customer . My favorite guns are the big vintage guns used by waterfowlers and wildfowlers as they call them across the pond . I never care much about what grade they are , if its a big heavy double then I like it haha .

Im not biased against English doubles either , I appreciate all vintage doubles .
Though there is just something about Parker guns .

I have looked at a many #3 frame gauges , but I knew if I got one I would still be yearning for a #6 frame. So I just kept waiting and I was starting to think I waited too long and missed out on ever getting one .

Sometimes though things just work out for you in the end and you get that double you have always been wanting .

I could see myself getting into collecting PH grade Parkers , my #6 frame needs some little brothers to go with it haha .

I just got back from picking up my first Parkers and its amazing to finally hold it . The fellow who works at the FFL I believe his name is Ben . He said the first thing he noticed when he opened the box was the beautiful damascus pattern .
A old thread I dug up on here about 116794 revealed the pattern is or was called rubin royal which is a bit different than the twist pattern you would usually see on a NH/PH .

The weight is not bad I think its 12 3/3lbs but as Ben pointed out its very well balanced for such a large gun , I think that is probably due to how the barrels have alot of taper to them . They start huge at the breech of the #6 frame and look to taper down to the muzzle to what youd see on normal sized 10 gauge doubles .

Even with being such a big gun the pistol grip fits my hands perfectly and I consider myself to have small hands but the grip is not what I would call meaty or beefy . Actually I would say the pistol grip feels slimmer than the pow grips on the two english 10 gauges I had . The stock fits me like a glove , perhaps Mr.Sims Sankey was around my stature . When I shouldered the big Parker it felt like it was made for me , I was really surprised . I have read alot of times these old doubles from back then the stock measurements can be ill suited for modern shooters .

As a first Parkers I think its amazing and I am pretty proud to have been able to pick it up . Once again I have to thank Mr. Josh Loewensteiner for making it possible .

What is the barrel length Milton?

32" which to me is about perfect on a 10 ga double . On the #6 frame the 32" dont feel long at all haha .

Very nice! Those are about the ages I was between when I first wanted a Parker and when I got my first.

I knows its a big gun but Parker really knew how to make a big double feel good in the hands . Compared to the 16lb 10 ga muzzleloader I have the #6 frame feels pretty light haha . To me though the 2lb weight difference between this and the Bonehill I had . Its hardly noticeable and the Parker is much better balanced . Where as the Bonehill was quite muzzle heavy .

I bet with the 1 1/8 oz RST loads this Parker will be a gentle giant .