Clark Gable's A-1 Special

[Robert Delk]

In 1974 I went with Jim Austin to visit a local man that was a trap shooter and had several doubles.This was in Cedar Fall,Iowa. The gentleman was in his 70's then and was quite a hunter as well. He had hunted in South Dakota for ducks on the same marsh as Gable and had a photo he had taken of Mr. Gable getting out of a boat holding a high grade Parker and several ducks. Very nice photo and he said that the gun was an A1. All I could tell was that it had a beavertail forearm and a high grade checkering pattern.He also said Mr. Gable was very friendly and loved to hunt ducks.I should look up the family and see if the picture is still extant.

[C.O.B.]

Several years ago Dave Riffel who is a dealer in FLA had a CHE 20 that was owned by Clark Gable. There was a letter from Mrs Gable attesting to the originality.

I'm sure the Hollywood types enjoyed Parkers just as we do today.