The so-called “Prince of Wales” or “POW” grip on a Parker gun is a misnomer.
The true Prince of Wales grip was originally designed and made by Churchill who made shotgund to the specs and fitting of the Prince of Wales, King Edward VII (formerly Prince Albert Edward, eldest son of Queen Victoria). No other gunmaker could make a gunstock with this particular design and name it a Prince of Wales grip. This from David Trevallion who received his gunmaking and stock-making training at Purdey’s of London.
There is the P - pistol grip which is different from others (“C”) that had a capped pistol grip and then there was the “B” for ball grip, which in my opinion was the distinctly bulbous ball on the pistol grip of earlier hammer guns.
In any case, Parker never made a Prince of Wales, either capped or not, nor did they ever refer to any of their grips as such.
I only wish they could have been more definitive in recording the type of grip a gun had.
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"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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