My first Parker, a 12ga VH, is such a war horse. I wish it could talk. It has the stock from a much earlier Parker, almost no checkering left, the obvious signs of where the original owner(s) rested their hands when carrying it etc. It's also the quintessential grouse gun, with C/M chokes, a light barrel set, and 26" original barrels. It doesn't look abused- it looks like what a tool that's used for 100 years should look like.
This past week, I was honored to hunt with it on my first grouse hunt (ever) in the northern LP of MI. I didn't manage to hit any of the 6 grouse my dog and I raised, but I did shoot my first woodcock with it.
Today I scouted some fields closer to home checking if any of the fly bird woodcocks have moved into my area. Pic attached.
|