Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Holcombe
My issue though is being of limited means, I tend to haunt the more bargain basement bin side of Parker buying.
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I'll second that !
Out of the 9 Parkers I have one is of collector quality maybe two . The rest were all bought because they were cheap/reasonable .
As to cut barrels I only have one with cut barrels and I think I have $100 in it . My only lifter has a non Parker stock and actually needs to be replaced because of uhm 'stress cracks" . But until I find a #3 frame lifter stock it'll stay as is .
When I was first interested in Parkers which was about 40-45 years ago I can remember reading Baers book and Johnsons book . Both were preaching only buy higher grades or 97%+ specimens and that was well and good in the 50's 60's and early 70's . But there comes a time and place when folks need to realize there are X amount of these guns originally produced and every year the number lessens from theft , fire , feast famine etc . So we are at a point in the "hobby" where a fella needs to buy it if he likes it regardless of what the deep pocket collectors have to say on the matter . And by no means am I knocking the collector that doesn't bat an eye at $10,000-20,000 guns , but for the average Joe that wants these guns to hunt and or shoot with he needs to get what he can of course as nice as he can afford . But if that means buying a boat anchor and making it to suit you then so be it .
I personally am not fond of "restored" or "upgraded" Parkers but I also realize there's a time and place for everything . While I prefer a gun in original condition even if it's say 40% finish , there are some I've seen that were restored and I've have no problem adding them to my accumulation .
So to me the bottom line is this ,
1. Buy what you can afford
2. If a fellow holds out for the cream of the crop he may need very deep pockets and more then likely his accumulation will not grow quickly if at all . Premium grade anything in the Gun World that is 90-125 years old is pretty much like hens teeth . Granted it's out there but those that have it usually hang on to it unless a rude amount of money is offered !
Just my opinion and for the most part you'll play hell changing my mind
