Two new Parker's

[Bruce Day]

Over the last 30 years, there have been four books written about Parkers and what to look for in a collectible and shootable gun.
The PGCA has been in existance for 15 years and we have a great publication, The Parker Pages. We have this web site showing photos of good Parkers and we have helpful forum members who freely give advice.
PGCA members display good guns at most major gun shows.
The PGCA has had major displays at each of the last five Pheasants Forever Pheasant Fest gatherings, attended by 20,000 to 30,000 each time.
There have been dozens of articles about Parkers and what to look for in The Double Gun Journal, Shooting Sportsman, NRA Hunter, Pheasants Forever magazine, Quail Unlimited magazine, and probably others.

Any other ideas about what else we can do to get the word out?

[Bill Murphy]

I will stand by my advice to "be careful". I will give a further piece of advice, and that is to buy only guns that can be restored. Wendy's guns have been in the hands of persons who have destroyed them in attempts to "restore" or "repair". Bruce has attempted to give Wendy some places she can go to get information on what guns to buy. He has been diplomatic in not telling her to avoid guns like she has already bought. I will tell her to avoid such guns. Well worn or rusty guns that have not been in the hands of a bad gunsmith are a much better deal.

[Bruce Day]

I can't/won't pay $48,000 for a Parker 410 either, but there are usually some nice Parker V grade 12ga's available for anywhere from $2,000 to 3,000 and some have gotten fortunate and picked decent low grade guns up for less.

What could possibly be elite about this group? We welcome anybody with an interest in collecting, shooting and preserving fine Parkers.

There are many of us who shoot the old low grade, low condition guns that can be obtained inexpensively. Here's a couple, a 12 and a 16.

[Expensive Habit]

I know this is not an elite group, I was being sarcastic with that comment... and I am already a member (at least I should be, not sure why it only says forum member.....I sent my fees quite a while ago).

I asked for opinions on the guns and I got opinions. I have not taken offense to anyone's comments. I appreciate all the help and advice I receive on the forum. I will admit that I have ALOT to learn about collecting Parker's. I started at absolute zero knowledge a few months ago when I laid eyes on my first one.

I truly wish I could afford better Parker's and maybe someday I will actually be able to find one that I can afford!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Wendy Bonertz

I am already a member (at least I should be, not sure why it only says forum member.....I sent my fees quite a while ago).

Hi Wendy -

John Dunkle is... shall we say, "temporarily indisposed" but I'll shoot him a PM and he'll look into the matter of your membership as soon as he becomes available in just a few days.

In the meantime, let me say how delighted we are to have you as a new PGCA member. We look forward to hearing more about your Parkers as you learn more about them and decide how far you intend to go in making them your favorite shooters.

Dean

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

All,

Sometimes when we write we do not always express ourselves as we intended. Even professional writers at times suffer from this.

Wendy, you bought a couple good Parkers. We do not know if you got a great deal or paid a little too much. Frankly, the deal is done and should not matter. Believe it or not, our more experianced members just want to help new collectors like you "from getting taken advantage of". Please do not take offense.

So... you got a good deal on what this duck hunter calls "shooters". That's great! Please enjoy your new to you Parkers and continue to participate in this forum. As Bruce suggested, join the PGCA and get involved. The PARKER PAGES provides very informative information.

PS: Even though I have a few nice Parkers, I also have a few that I don't mind taking in a scull or layout boat. Those old "shooters" really earn their keep! Please check out Kurt D's recent thread in Hunting with Parkers/Saginaw Bay. You'll see a photo of me with a less than perfect EH 10 bore. I would not want to take my prize DH 10 in a layout boat!

Respectfully,
Mark

[Ed Blake]

Wendy - Before you shoot either of those guns have them checked by a qualified gunsmith, esp. bore condition and action lock-up. It's better to have one gun in good shootable condition than a handful of questionable beaters any day. Good #2 frame GH damascus guns and V-grades can be had for $1,500 and less all day long. Take your pick.

[Bruce Day]

That GHE damascus 12ga was a $1500 gun then I put $300 into refinishing the barrels. That's my standard duck gun and heavy load pheasant gun.

Further, I am a proud, card carrying member of the Minnesota Chapter of Bottom Feeders Anonymous.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Bruce,

Are 4's the biggest Heavy Shot that you've shot though your GHE? Would you have shoot HS 2's though it?

Thanks,
Mark

[Robert Delk]

I'm always of the mind that it is a great idea to take any collectible artifact that is not of "collector" quality and bring it back to some semblance of it's former self. When this is a Parker I would say that if the barrels are safe than go ahead and put some money into it if you like it and don't worry about getting your money back. The restoration work puts money back into the economy and a good gun is made better. I guarantee someone will thank all the people who had "bad" restorations made right sometime down the road.