Opinions, please.

[Coach]

Gentlemen,

I don't know if my opinion will matter, or change anyone's opinion on the topic, regarding originality or suitability of guns shot in competition. It is just my opinion.

As to originality of specific Parker Guns: The proliferation of custom guns and subsequent modifications to originally manufactured guns, either by Parker or others, is a subject that can be debated to the end of time. I can see that Parker would make a gun to an individuals specification that could amount to just about any practicable combination of frame size, gauge, bore, barrel length, and weight. The specification of an individual may or may not be noted in surviving documention.

As to the configuration of restored Parker Guns: There are restored Parker guns out there that are obviously not done in the manner that would be expected of the factory. I personally own a gun that was in really bad shape and obviously modified by a trap shooter to include porting of the barrels. When I had this gun restored Turnbull I was told that this heinous modification could not be repaired. Who is to say that if Parker had received a request for this type of work on a custom gun wether they would have refused? I personally don't see this as a benefit to the shooter but others might disagree. As I stated up front, this just my opinion.

I would personally not like to be tasked with determing the originality of a Parker Gun, or any other gun, as suitable for competing in any particular shooting venue and I would not like to see the requirement of having letter documentation as a prerequisite to using any particular gun in competition.