Another stone turned over!

[Craig Larter]

I enjoy doing research on these old guns and our task is becoming less difficult as Google and universities digitizes more historical documents. I am fortunate to own a Parker AH 10ga that was on display at the Madison Square Gardens Show of 1897. Up until recently I have been frustrated finding much information except for written accounts of the show in NYC. Well my luck changed today and I discovered the 1897 issues of Forest and Stream are now available and searchable from the U of Michigan. To my great joy a image of the Parker Booth is included in the article with some text which I have shown below. Just imagine the gun below was in that exhibit 120 years ago with 80 other Parkers, amazing!

[charlie cleveland]

what a great gathering of parkers...you sir have one fine parker...if only we could know each stories that our old parkers hold....charlie

[Mills]

That is amazing. It is amazing how much you can find online.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks for sharing Craig!

Imagine walking into that booth and feasting your eyes on nothing but the very finest brand new Parkers right straight from that "dusty little plant down in Meriden." What an absolute treat to have been able to talk Parkers with none other than A.W. DuBray - though I'm sure he commanded the floor.







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[Dean Romig]

By the way, do I count six-iron crolle on those barrels?


And six elk in the air over that fence all at once.





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[Craig Larter]

Dean I do believe you are correct. As you can imagine it is the center piece of my Parker collection and as I gather more historical information the more I admire it as a great example of our sporting heritage.

[Jeff K.]

I have searched, but that is the first picture I have seen of the Parker display. Well Done!

[Keavin Nelson]

And to think even back the "they rested nudely in their racks"!!!!!

[David Noble]

Thank you Craig for finding and posting this! Your AH 10ga is stunning. I will be saving this picture and article also as I possess a second gun that was in this same exposition! Mine is a 20ga BH serial number 84040. My gun was in the 1896 and 1897 shows. It was later returned to Parker for addition of auto ejectors, single trigger and fluid steel barrels. I think it is great that two guns from that show are now in our fraternity of collectors! I wonder if others here might have guns from this show?
My BH is pictured below and in a couple of follow up posts. (I can only post one pic at a time from my iPad)
Thanks again! David.

[Brett Hoop]

Wonderful in every way!

Thanks for sharing.