Patience...

[TARNATION !!!]

Parker Pacmania - Could look like this if you have succumbed

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite

Parker Pacmania - Could look like this if you have succumbed

I like that set-up, i am SO out of room. Been thinking of going that route, with another row above, my office/gun room/music room has 10’ ceilings, so that would work!!!

This case is two rows deep, and holds a lot....but not enough!,shame you cant stack ‘em!!,

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Mark Ray

I like that set-up, i am SO out of room. Been thinking of going that route, with another row above, my office/gun room/music room has 10’ ceilings, so that would work!!!

This case is two rows deep, and holds a lot....but not enough!,shame you cant stack ‘em!!,

Mark I can't quite figure out from the picture how you place and remove guns from that second row. How does that work ?

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

Mark I can't quite figure out from the picture how you place and remove guns from that second row. How does that work ?

Randy...It is a PITA. you have to remove a gun or two from the front row to get one in or out of the back row. So the back row houses rifles, and repeaters... I still have about 20doubles that live in cases, and another several, scattered around....

The damn ITIS has got a grip on me!!!

My favorite quote along the lines above...comes from the movie a fish called Wanda.

Kevin Kline to Jamie Lee Curtis....."Don't call me stupid!"
Jamie Lee in response......"You're right, because calling you stupid, is an insult to Stupid People!!"

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite

Parker Pacmania - Could look like this if you have succumbed

Jack,

Tell me about the "Borden Parker"? My business is named Borden Insurance, and my partner Allen Borden, is a Borden Dairy family guy.

[C.O.B.]

I'm proud of myself as I have recently let go of 10 rifles BUT I have purchased 4 shotguns and commissioned another custom rifle BUT I'm 5 spaces in the various safes to the good

The 12 step program is a myth, I can never get past step two

[TARNATION !!!]

Mark: The Borden Parker is a beautiful DHE 12 ga 28" Titanic barrels F/F with CPG and SBP. It was ordered by Charles W. Dimmick , a principle of the US Cartridge company in 1906 for presentation to Sir Frederick William Borden in 1907. The barrels are factory engraved on the top rib with Sir Frederick Borden. I would argue that this Parker may well be the most important Canadian Parker, certainly not by grade as I know of several A's B's and C's in Canada; rather, important by its significant Canadian provenance. Sir Frederick Borden was a Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Parliament, along with being an entrepreneur of note and a medical doctor. There is a biography of the man published under the title A Knight in Politics - that I profess is a fairly dry read but I got through it. His legacy is transforming a British commanded militia into a Canadian commanded free standing army. He needed a lot of ammunition to train troops and I suspect (yet to prove) that the US Cartridge Company of Baltimore played a role and the DHE was possibly a "token" of appreciation. What I do know so far (and I admit it is off and on that I research this gun), the Borden Parker is a Meriden gun, ordered by Charles W. Dimmick in 1906 and presented to Sir Frederick William Borden. The trail runs cold for me until it was purchased by Dale Riawetz of Kentville Nova Scotia, who unfortunately passed away and his wife only believes he got it from a Borden descendant or someone married into the family. From Mr Riawetz, it went to Joe Salter of Amherst New Hampshire. He is a family friend of the Riawetz family. Joe is a respected gun and militaria dealer. He advertised it as Borden Parker. I do Google searches from time to time for "Parker" and get all sorts of non-gun related hits and just about ignored clicking on that link, thinking another obit or shooting or whatever. To my surprise it was this DHE. I contacted Joe and discussed the gun and what he knew of it. Once I learned the provenance, I couldn't resist at least making an offer. I was once again surprised to have the offer accepted. He said he had given the widow much more than my offer as a friend of the family. I think he was just happy to see that lost puppy go to a good home. Definitely a decision made from the heart not the head. So, it now graces the wall as my prized non-family gun. Dad's VH is the most important provenance to this custodian of a few Parkers. The Borden Parker is not a stay at home queen. It looked in excellent condition so I had to try those F/F barrels on some long range wild roosters. This is how I learned that mal-functioning ejectors don't become extractors. The shells ejected but I could not close the barrels afterward. I managed to push the ejectors forward and re-load and get the gun closed. I did get me some roosters. I then sought the wisdom of an old friend and he gave me suggestions, which I followed and repaired the problem. There was some binding on the ejector rod in the barrel, thankfully not the forend mechanism. With some very judicious filing (and I mean VERY), the problem was cured and it worked smoothly. End result, some nice dinners. I'm a bit reluctant to take it afield any more as the wood finish is still factory intact but I did have to shoot it. Joe appreciated this picture.


This pic is a typical December hunt for me -30 with windchill taking it to just above -40 The Borden Parker's second trip with me.

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite

Mark: The Borden Parker is a beautiful DHE 12 ga 28" Titanic barrels F/F with CPG and SBP. It was ordered by Charles W. Dimmick , a principle of the US Cartridge company in 1906 for presentation to Sir Frederick William Borden in 1907. The barrels are factory engraved on the top rib with Sir Frederick Borden. I would argue that this Parker may well be the most important Canadian Parker, certainly not by grade as I know of several A's B's and C's in Canada; rather, important by its significant Canadian provenance. Sir Frederick Borden was a Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Parliament, along with being an entrepreneur of note and a medical doctor. There is a biography of the man published under the title A Knight in Politics - that I profess is a fairly dry read but I got through it. His legacy is transforming a British commanded militia into a Canadian commanded free standing army. He needed a lot of ammunition to train troops and I suspect (yet to prove) that the US Cartridge Company of Baltimore played a role and the DHE was possibly a "token" of appreciation. What I do know so far (and I admit it is off and on that I research this gun), the Borden Parker is a Meriden gun, ordered by Charles W. Dimmick in 1906 and presented to Sir Frederick William Borden. The trail runs cold for me until it was purchased by Dale Riawetz of Kentville Nova Scotia, who unfortunately passed away and his wife only believes he got it from a Borden descendant or someone married into the family. From Mr Riawetz, it went to Joe Salter of Amherst New Hampshire. He is a family friend of the Riawetz family. Joe is a respected gun and militaria dealer. He advertised it as Borden Parker. I do Google searches from time to time for "Parker" and get all sorts of non-gun related hits and just about ignored clicking on that link, thinking another obit or shooting or whatever. To my surprise it was this DHE. I contacted Joe and discussed the gun and what he knew of it. Once I learned the provenance, I couldn't resist at least making an offer. I was once again surprised to have the offer accepted. He said he had given the widow much more than my offer as a friend of the family. I think he was just happy to see that lost puppy go to a good home. Definitely a decision made from the heart not the head. So, it now graces the wall as my prized non-family gun. Dad's VH is the most important provenance to this custodian of a few Parkers. The Borden Parker is not a stay at home queen. It looked in excellent condition so I had to try those F/F barrels on some long range wild roosters. This is how I learned that mal-functioning ejectors don't become extractors. The shells ejected but I could not close the barrels afterward. I managed to push the ejectors forward and re-load and get the gun closed. I did get me some roosters. I then sought the wisdom of an old friend and he gave me suggestions, which I followed and repaired the problem. There was some binding on the ejector rod in the barrel, thankfully not the forend mechanism. With some very judicious filing (and I mean VERY), the problem was cured and it worked smoothly. End result, some nice dinners. I'm a bit reluctant to take it afield any more as the wood finish is still factory intact but I did have to shoot it. Joe appreciated this picture.


This pic is a typical December hunt for me -30 with windchill taking it to just above -40 The Borden Parker's second trip with me.

Just had an interesting conversation with my business partner concerning the above. He is definitely related to Sir Frederick. They have brothers in common in their heritage. They were all originally from Rhode Island, and some brothers were Tory's and ended up in Canada (Sir Frederick) and other brothers supported the revolution and eventually became the Borden Dairy faction of the Borden's! It is my understanding that Sir Frederick has an air force base named after him. Allen also intimated that the French Canadians were upset back in the day because Sir Frederick Borden was responsible for getting Canada in the Great War.

Amazing what history lessons Parker guns instigate!!!

[TARNATION !!!]

Now waiting for the axe to fall with a connection to Lizzie Borden. Might need a lot of patience for that. On the Parker Patience front, I freely admit that I made every mistake mentioned throughout this wandering thread, including selling one (and only one) and now asking why I did that. One day of course all will be sold, probably at auction by my heirs. In the meantime, I need to convert a lot of patience into a lot of Parkers or maybe take up knitting. Cheers, Jack

Oh and yes there is Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario CLICK
Oh and not to be outdone, Saskatchewan named a village after Sir Frederick Borden, current population 287 (+ or - depending on lost strangers)