Parker Repro Leather Cases

[Bird Dog]

Were all of the factory original cases the same?

I've seen the "standard" case which I believe is tan leather, two latches, and has the green "parker reproduction" emblem on the inside of the top lid. I've also seen a couple that were similar but different. One didn't have the emblem, although it was claimed as still "new in the box." Another only had a central latch and to leather belt like buckles encircling the entire case. Are these also originals?

[Reggie B]

Belts and buckles are not original. They have 2 latches and came with a zippered canvas dust cover.

[Bird Dog]

Did all of them have the black emblem on the inside of the top lid?

[GH-16]

Here's my observations about repro cases.

For the most part they were pretty standard across the board with a few exceptions & configurations.

The two most common are the single barrel cases for both 26" & 28" barrel lengths. The specific 26" case will have a slightly offset carry handle and the 28" will have an offset handle along with a longer accessory compartment. The exception is there were 26" guns issued with a 28" case & they would have a felt covered spacer to take up the extra room in the barrel section so the shorter barrels wouldn't slide around.

Then there were the multi-barrel set cases in both two barrel & three barrel configurations and the oak & leather cases for the A-1 special guns.

Every factory repro case I've seen has the green felt lining with the black-gold logo. The exception to the logo is toward the end of production into the close-out days there were some guns shipped without cases and then shipped later as they became available. Then there were cases sold later in the game by dealers like Cape Outfitters (Jeffs Outfitters) that were true repro cases, but some of them didn't have the logo in the case top, but the original logo could be bought from Cape or Galazans to apply yourself. These logo's came in a rectangular form but the oval part could be removed before being applied to the case, but I have seen a couple of them applied in the rectangular form. I've also seen these logo's applied to other than repro supplied cases by people who for some reason wanted or needed a case for their gun.

I have seen cases with red felt liners, but I've always suspected them to be Embebi "spelling?" made cases bought after the guns were issued. If a case has external straps or buckles it isn't a factory repro case with the kicker that the A-1 special cases might have had straps & possibly red felt but don't hold me to this.

There were also two different outer covers as well. The early covers were (for the lack of a better description) a pale-yellow color, fuzzy & easily torn, they just weren't good quality & are seldom found any more. These were replaced by the canvas with leather corners seen on most repro's in today's market.

Please don't take any of this verbatim, I'm just adding my two cents based on my observations over the years.

[Bird Dog]

Very thorough explanation. Thank you!

[James L. Martin]

I have 2 26" 20/28ga cases. On both the handle is off center.

[GH-16]

Originally Posted by James L. Martin

I have 2 26" 20/28ga cases. On both the handle is off center.

I stand corrected!

After looking at several cases on guns international. I see that the 26" cases do have an offset carry handle. It's been a long time since I had one of these cases in hand and I was going off memory which can play tricks on me at times as I'm growing older. Heck in my mind, I still think I'm a 20 something year old young buck

Thanks for the correction and I'll edit my original post.

[Bill Murphy]

Maybe you're both right. I have a case cover with no offset that I am fairly sure is an Emmebi case cover for an early Repro. Of course, I may be mistaken.