Non conforming details

[Bruce Day]

I see posts here about whether some gun is supposed to have this detail or that. While Parkers generally conform to given details for the grade and period of manufacture, there are always odd details. To many collectors, these oddities add interest and discussion .

For example, here is a 1910 CHE Bernard 16ga, not in any of the Parker records that the PGCA has access to, and with the pre 1898 grip cap ( non Parker logoed) and without either the 1905 or the 1910 bolt wear plate. Yet this gun is considered by knowledgeable collectors to be fully correct. So if I have any advice to give, it is to look carefully at non conforming details, but do not assume a gun is made up just because of those details.

Finally, I returned last night from taking a crew of Boy Scouts to the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. A couple photos of that and bringing this wonderful and unique place to future generations. In wilderness, we find our own preservation.

[OH Osthaus]

Far from an expert but the permeations and combinations possible with all the changes made in the building of Parkers over the years would seem to make anything possible.

Hope you enjoyed your scout trip, I have fond memories of the canoe trips through the Adirondaks when I was a scoutmaster

[Bill Murphy]

Although our friend, Bruce, didn't ask, I have an easy solution to the mystery. First, maybe Bruce would post the mystery serial number.

[paul stafford jr]

great c grade, i have a 1904 dhe that came with 28in Damascus barrels. it was sent back to parker after 1910 and fitted with 30in titanic barrels 3in chambers and no wear plate, I always thought that was odd but different. I just love these old guns. one thing bothers me is all these great old guns with the screws out of time, come on guys its a easy fix and makes them look much better.

[John Taddeo]

Bruce, beautiful gun, great scenery but how in the hell are you going to swim with those boots on????

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by John Taddeo

Bruce, beautiful gun, great scenery but how in the hell are you going to swim with those boots on????

John , that is one of our 6 foot, 180lb 12 year old little tykes. Many kids have only bulky athletic shoes. There are lots of rocks and I make them wear shoes of some type in the water.

[John Taddeo]

All kidding aside Bruce, it is a great thing you support the scouts and devote your time to something we seem to be losing in our society. I remember when a scouting trip was talked about event and now we barely hear of them in my part of the country. My hats off to you for giving your time to introduce these kids to the outdoors.

PS..one of our 6 foot 180 pounders?

[Bruce Day]

I could go on about how obesity among youth is a major epidemic, about dysfunctional families and drug and alcohol abuse, about kids who are already unstable because of unstable families.

At BSA summer camp with camp food, we have boys say that they get more to eat and better food than they get at home.

When we take them on high adventure trips, that may be the only occasion they have to experience something like that for the rest of their lives.

I've taken dads that are terrified of raccoons at night and have never camped out. They are afraid of the woods.

I've had boys whose mothers pick them up a Big Mac for a nightly dinner. They eat healthy for the first time, and talk about how they can hardly wait to get back so they can have a large soda and a large bag of potato chips.

I prefer 5-6 day trips into the wilderness because for some of these boys, it takes 2-3 days for the ill behavioral effects of bad diet to wear off. Lack of concentration, highs and lows, squabbling, much of it diet related.

In the BWCA, they hear wolves howling almost every night, catch 22" northerns and think they caught a monster, see moose , see eagles, portage canoes that they think are too heavy for them to lift ( 40lbs) and do not have violent video games and cell phones for a week.

I take along an old Shakespere fiberglass Wonder Rod which is pretty limber and bends a lot on a small fish so they think they have a large fish and can't break off. Last week I violated one of my own rules and left the forward treble hook on a lure. A kid and small pike embedded two hooks deeply in my hand .... one of the other adults had to cut one hook out, snip the hooks, and we were able to bend and pull the other straight out. After that I made sure to cut off the front hooks on all lures that were used.

I know we can't change lives as we would like, but we open doors, and maybe they retain something.

[charlie cleveland]

my hats off to you bruce for working with the youth... charlie

[StubTwist]

Well done Bruce!