What's in a name?
 

Before the current issue of Shooting Sportsman hit the newsstands and mailboxes had anyone ever heard of Erv Walters?

I've been keenly interested in Parker shotguns for a good while but had never heard the name before.

The article would have been much more entertaining with good pictures of the gun.

Or at least a higher resolution picture of the gun than is shown. Maybe the intent was not to show a clear picture...

I, too am interested in Parkers, and just took the article on faith. Maybe Yes, Maybe No, but a well-told tale at that.
Working in a retail outlet, one sees a share of "messed with" guns that sure don't sound as if they were done by the fellow in the story.
Recently, a man came to me(us) with a 20 Gauge VH "Skeet Gun"; with only a few minor flaws, such as having a marijuana leaf outline beat into the bottom of the receiver with a set tool, or nail, or some damn thing. Also, recent cyanide brilliant case colors, a non-Parker Beavertail, lots of polishing with a buffer wheel; cut barrels, a "D" grade stock which I don't even think was original Parker, but it did have the teardrops pretty close, an added white line recoil pad, and other tender mercies. When I made an offer, the owner stomped out in high dudgeon,insulted like a woman scorned.
I am sure he then went to the next place to see if they wanted his prize for a value commensurate with its obvious rarity.

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

I think the story was fiction, not intended to be taken as fact.

I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember an article years ago about the famous George Flaim A-1 Special. George showed me that great "messed with" gun many years ago. It was hard to believe. Del Grego-Runge upgrades are great guns also.

How would we describe the Pachmayer upgrades?

They are elaborately done, to say the very least.

Only on occasion does a rather lame brain think the same thoughts as an excellent one:
I had the same thoughts regarding Pachmayers:
I saw one D.U. was auctioning to some lucky winner in one of the states (I was at a banquet in Iowa) some years ago, and my heart just was wowed.
I sure didn't think of it as a shameless copy.
But, don't light the torches just yet, as I will withdraw and begin the run to the hills.

Sam Ogle

Dean, this story reminded me of a quote from one of Hemingway's' biographers, who said that on occasion, Hemingway's version of a story or situation would oftentimes become "truer than if it actually happened." I think this is one of those times.

I agree. I took that story as pure fiction.