Very high grade Parkers were generally treasured and there was undoubtably a small following collectors at all times but I believe following WWII up until Peter Johnson's book attracted more collector interest Parker's were seen as another out of production, tired old gun with a slower rate of fire than a repeater. Over and unders were sexier and guns like the Belgium Brownings were more highly prized at the time. Damascus and Twist Parkers were close to junk status until the late 1990's. The Delgrego family kept both interest and many guns alive through their work and source of original parts. the advent of both the internet and the PGCA has increased our knowledge and expanded the ranks of collectors. The work of Sherman Bell brought thousands of nice guns back into everyday use. It is a fascinating history of firearms manufacturing and use. The best time to buy a Parker is like the best time to plant a tree, about 30 to 40 years ago.
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