Julia's auction

[Big D]

Just got my notification of the March 11/12 auction. Looks like there are some dandy Parkers going under the hammer. AAHE 20, DHE .410, AHE Pigeon 12, CHE 28, GH 28, CHE 20.

Also a pre-war A5 w/full coverage engraving (and provenance)

And here I am stuck in Florida, with no access to a place to sell my blood.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Look closely at the descriptions and you will see that all the grade Parkers have barrel wall thickness' bordering on unsafe and IMHO most have been honed. The lower grade guns have acceptable thickness as does the .410s. The rest of them, I would pass on in a hurry at those estimated prices via internet bidding and would need to spend at least a full day doing my own due diligence with regards to finish and barres' shootability. Then again, if I could afford them, these particular guns would be off my radar due to buyers premium etc. and the difficulty to return them for whatever reason.
But that is just my opinion. Thanks Jim

[JLoew]

Mr. Dispagno- The Julia's Auction Company has done an extraordinary amount to support our organization. It is inappropriate to make disparaging comments about their wares on our website.

We wish to maintain a high level of partnership with their firm and gentlemenly decorum on our forum.

[BRDHNTR]

I wonder how many of these same guns get re-cycled on other auction sites. How much of this is a pattern in the gun auction business? I would imagine there are a number of buyers (I didn't say 'collectors' for a reason) who bottom feed these gun auctions for the churn and just to speculate on making more money on a future sale?

[Jim DiSpagno]

Those remarks we in no way meant to be disparaging. Far from it. It was meant to show that in fact Mr. Julia's operation does go the extra mile to give a very accurate description of the items offerred and that if time is taken to read their descriptions, then it will be seen for what it is and one can make an informed decision. That being said, From what I read, I fully stand by my previous post . IMHO Jim DiSpagno

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Josh Loewensteiner

Mr. Dispagno- The Julia's Auction Company has done an extraordinary amount to support our organization. It is inappropriate to make disparaging comments about their wares on our website.

We wish to maintain a high level of partnership with their firm and gentlemenly decorum on our forum.

Josh I see nothing wrong with his comment, he did not say anything disparaging about Julias, just pointed out the facts. Eric

[Bill Murphy]

A friend spied a AAHE 12 gauge bird gun at Butterfield's in California some years ago. The description included "barrel walls under recommended minimums" the British norm as far as descriptions of overhoned barrels go. I found the gun in a Parker Brothers Abercrombie and Fitch order where it was described as a 6 1/2 pound gun to be made "light as possible". My friend was able to purchase the gun for about $10,000 because of the cautious description. When the gun arrived, it was found to be in high unmolested condition with absolutely original bores. Do your homework and you will be rewarded.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

I think that Julia's does a tremendous job cataloging their sales. Thats why they get such high sales prices for their customers. And they get rewarded when they bring in the big bucks, so there is incentive for them to do a good job.
Just think if they were a branch of the USPS.........They would charge a high commission, get a low sales price and then lose the gun.

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Jim DiSpagno

Look closely at the descriptions and you will see that all the grade Parkers have barrel wall thickness' bordering on unsafe and IMHO most have been honed. The lower grade guns have acceptable thickness as does the .410s. The rest of them, I would pass on in a hurry at those estimated prices via internet bidding and would need to spend at least a full day doing my own due diligence with regards to finish and barres' shootability. Then again, if I could afford them, these particular guns would be off my radar due to buyers premium etc. and the difficulty to return them for whatever reason.
But that is just my opinion. Thanks Jim

A most interesting comment. Considering that nominal bore diameter for a 20ga is .615, and that most of the 20 ga guns that you judge to have been honed, have bore diameters of 615 and wall thicknesses of maybe .020, how is it that they have been honed?

We have had some analysis of so called thin walls as relates to 20 ga guns here in the past. There are many 20's that left the Parker factory at .020, 023 etc, under .025, and have clearly not been honed. If a person passes on 20ga guns because of less than 025 wall thickness without regard to original bore diameters, he will be passing on a lot of fine , shootable original bore Parkers.

Julia's often has some of the finest guns in the world and has been the place to go to for the top Parkers if they are within a person's means.

[BRDHNTR]

I have had a good deal of communication back and forth with Judy Labbe of Julia's when we were considering placing a BHE in the March auction. She was/is terrific to deal with, was always professional and helpful and a credit to their organization. She, I suspect, is indicative of the rest of the Julia Team.