Why is a 12 ga Parker a "boat anchor" these days?

[King Cobb]

Ian, good luck on your purchase. Parkers and this forum are great. While I am significantly on the young end of our forum's age spectrum, I have been able to have a membership to CCA, WCA, and this forum. Even made it to the CCA convention in Dallas last fall. I enjoy collecting the others and actually have more Colts and Winnies than I do Parkers, but this is the only association I have put in for a lifetime membership on. I haven't purchased a parker in close to a year, but I am happy with my 4. This is a great forum with tremendous knowledge and is very friendly. Some members get a little more defensive than others about postings but it is a good crew. I find it far more engaging than winchester collectors forum.

I encourage you to find that parker and buy it if it interests you. I purchased a nice VH 7 or so years back that has turned into 2 DHs, a CH, and a CHE I dearly love each of. All 12 gauges.....ok technically one is a 10 ga with a 12 ga barrel added at the factory
Fine guns and I am more than happy with them. Not a boat anchor in the bunch. I have shot a multitude of brownings, Remington, and winchester shotguns over the years and not a one including A5s, 21s, superposeds, model 12s, 870s, 1100s, or whatever else I have fired have matched the shootability of my parkers. I heartily encourage you to try it out if you have the interest.

One point you may be missing is that the E on your GHE adds a pretty good premium for MOST buyers. Personally ejectors vs extractors doesn't amount to a hill of beans to me.

General advice is to buy the best parker you can afford. It took a bit to get me to understand that and stop buying whatever junker parker I could find or easily afford. They just eventually pass down the road and are more of a pain to sell.

Again, this thread has riled and ruffled some feathers on both sides. But if you stick around you will find we are a pretty amiable bunch.

Regarding premiums for age....I would not pay a premium for a pre 1899 parker. It's a nice bonus on an internet buy, but nothing quality wise....Now I might pay a premium for a 3 dog DH or CH but that is another matter.