Quote:
Originally Posted by Russell E. Cleary
Milton:
Four of the six Parker guns I own were legacies from my father -- Trojan 12; VH 12; VH 16 and DHE 12. In recent years I have added a GH 12 and a VH 16.
A WW II veteran, he departed from the usual path of his contemporaries by acquiring in the 1950s-1960s the Parker side-by-sides, and not repeaters, as were his buddies’ choices. Together they shot skeet and hunted Pheasant and waterfowl.
His preference for them was not because he was an antique guy, but because he was a quality guy.
Regrettably, despite my having a plethora of family photos of him, power-boating; sailing; fishing and standing near the classic airplane he restored and won prizes for, I don’t have a single one of him hunting or with a gun.
I live in a house surrounded by objects that were his and evoke his memory: furniture; photos; implements for hobbies and tools of trade; fishing gear; documents and various personal miscellany. But it is the guns that transmit the most meaningful connection to him.
As physical objects go, guns have a way of conveying in concentration a sense of its owner -- his (or her) character, experiences, relationships, and achievements, and do so inter-generationally, as best as anything I know.
I envy your early start in this and your mindful grasp of detail. Just keep it all in proportion and your rewards will be manifold.
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Your Dad sounds like he was a interesting man . When I look at these old guns I often wish that the original owner had written down some of their hunts or adventures with these classics .
Something about these guns they just carry a soul to them when you carry them afield . I dont have anything against new guns either but the best way I can describe it is you cant get doubles made like this anymore really . Especially a American double .
I wish I knew what some of the original Parker owners had on their mind when ordering these guns in uncommon configurations.
From what I could find about my Parkers original owner he lived to be 86 . With this one weighing a hefty 12lbs+ I wonder how long he kept it as he got it at 27 .