Non parker stocks--Buy or pass

[King Cobb]

I truly love looking at fine Parker Shotguns. Half the time I am on this forum is just looking at pictures Bruce or Dean or someone has posted.

My issue though is being of limited means, I tend to haunt the more bargain basement bin side of Parker buying.

That tends to have me considering guns that others may pass, cut barrels, scratched frames, and non original stocks.

I tend to not be bothered so much by the non parker stock, as long as the price reflects it and the wood and the stock are at least pleasing to the eye, even if not quite right for the gun.

Now, there are 2 parkers on GB right now that have SBPs on them that look like the end of a 2 x 4 that I won't touch, but a nice looking stock that isn't quite right doesn't bother me as much.

Was curious what other people thoughts on a non parker stock that isn't quite right but still looks good. Would you buy it or pass?

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

I've a few Parkers and one Fox Sterlingworth that have had some alterations done to them in the past, and I'm quite fond of all of them. They will never be " Best in Show ", but they look great at a distance and fit me well. Two of them, a 16 ga. and a 20 ga. have cut barrels, and are used mostly for hunting. The others have either been restocked or refinished. I would probably not buy any more with cut barrels though, but that's only because my hunting needs are covered by the ones I have. A nice piece of walnut always catches my eye, and if a quality checking job is part of the mix I usually get sucked into a purchase. I devalue a restocked, refinished, or cut barrel gun by 30% of what I think the gun should go for if in original condition. If a deal can be struck, there is always room for one more.

[Mills]

Second Austin.

[WHO]

Here is a CHE I purchased long ago. I bought it at a fair price at the time considering the stock is a replacement. The checkering is quality but doesn't match original Parker Brothers style. The wood is nice but lacks the figure of a C grade. I use standard and high base loads and don't worry about cracking the stock. It has been my go to gun for years. Sure, I wish it was all original but I don't worry about the wood near as much in the field.

[John E. Williams]

I don't worry over it too much, as long as the seller recognizes the devaluation such a mod applies to the gun from the collector's perspective. My all-time favorite Parker bird gun has what I believe to be an unoriginal stock and the seller agreed, pricing the gun accordingly. I love the fit of that gun to the point that it just plain isn't for sale, if that tells you anything. I guess the big draw for me is if it's at least relatively pleasing to look at, fits like a glove, and the price is right, I'm in.

[B. Dudley]

That CHE does have the correct checkering pattern for a straight grip CH. it looks like it just lacks the proper borders from the looks of it. Onviously the manor thing missing is drop points and appropriate wood figure.


In my opinion the amount that a restock reduces the value of a gun depends on the quality of the restock. Plain and simple.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Bill Holcombe

My issue though is being of limited means, I tend to haunt the more bargain basement bin side of Parker buying.

I'll second that !

Out of the 9 Parkers I have one is of collector quality maybe two . The rest were all bought because they were cheap/reasonable .

As to cut barrels I only have one with cut barrels and I think I have $100 in it . My only lifter has a non Parker stock and actually needs to be replaced because of uhm 'stress cracks" . But until I find a #3 frame lifter stock it'll stay as is .

When I was first interested in Parkers which was about 40-45 years ago I can remember reading Baers book and Johnsons book . Both were preaching only buy higher grades or 97%+ specimens and that was well and good in the 50's 60's and early 70's . But there comes a time and place when folks need to realize there are X amount of these guns originally produced and every year the number lessens from theft , fire , feast famine etc . So we are at a point in the "hobby" where a fella needs to buy it if he likes it regardless of what the deep pocket collectors have to say on the matter . And by no means am I knocking the collector that doesn't bat an eye at $10,000-20,000 guns , but for the average Joe that wants these guns to hunt and or shoot with he needs to get what he can of course as nice as he can afford . But if that means buying a boat anchor and making it to suit you then so be it .

I personally am not fond of "restored" or "upgraded" Parkers but I also realize there's a time and place for everything . While I prefer a gun in original condition even if it's say 40% finish , there are some I've seen that were restored and I've have no problem adding them to my accumulation .

So to me the bottom line is this ,

1. Buy what you can afford
2. If a fellow holds out for the cream of the crop he may need very deep pockets and more then likely his accumulation will not grow quickly if at all . Premium grade anything in the Gun World that is 90-125 years old is pretty much like hens teeth . Granted it's out there but those that have it usually hang on to it unless a rude amount of money is offered !

Just my opinion and for the most part you'll play hell changing my mind

[charlie cleveland]

if a replacement stock is donre right or close to right for a shooter i would rather have a new stock as the old stock.....cut barrels do not bother mein fact that old 8 ga with cut barrels makes for a great deer gun...handles good ...but i do have a thing for long barrels on a gun too....charlie