Well, ignoring the advice of one Ed Muderlack in his writings, I paid the premium to acquire my first Parker model with an E on the end. I typically agree with Mr. Muderlack regarding paying a premium for that E when it is easier to collect your shells without it, but this opportunity presented itself and there you have it.
Acquired this fine 12 ga from Patrick, and it is a nice CHE in my opinion. Has the small matter of attending to the buttstock issue and getting a Silvers pad back on it rather than that ugly ventilated recoil pad, but all in all a nice gun. Barrels are in nice shape, bluing isn't perfect but for now it doesn't bother me. Maybe long term it will get reblued, who knows. Its a 2 frame weighing in at 7lbs 15 oz, and while not as big as either of my 3 frame barrels, it does have some nice swamping to it. It was ordered by the Seattle Hardware Company in Seattle in 1904, and requested that it have ejectors, a silvers pad, and lyman sights with a LOP of 15". Some short armed wimp decided to alter that for a recoil pad.....
I really am a fan of the quality and condition of the engraving on this gun. It isn't anything dynamically different from Ds in many ways, but is better executed and seems to be somewhat deeper. If you really get into detailed comparing with a contemporary DH, the differences become more pronounced.
Anyway, the break at the wrist seems to be well repaired and solid, but the crack is still visible and there is glue in some of the checkering. I have been told it can be repaired, and I have also had some hesitance to work on a repair that has already been made. So we shall see what can be accomplished. I really have no wish or desire to replace this original stock. Its a well balanced old girl and for weighing in at 7lbs 15 oz with 30 inch barrels it seems a bit heftier than I would expect, but like I said it is well balanced.
Anyway, another project to mess with/occupy myself with.
New to me semi project CHE
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