What mistakes have you made buying Parkers?

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

I have made my share of mistakes until I bought a wall thickness gauge, bore mic, and order a Parker letter or Fox factory card before taking my wallet out. Judging condition only comes from years of looking at guns and purchasing a couple of bench mark guns. I question collectors that say they have never lost money on a gun. The only way to accomplish that in my opinion is don't buy your first one LOL!

Man, how I would love to be shown how to use these tools properly. I have a drop in choke gauge, chamber gauge and the gun measuring tool from Robert Louis I picked up used.

[mobirdhunter]

I have never made a mistake acquiring a Parker. (So, Andy, I've got a couple to sell if you are interested.)


(OK, in case the humor was missed in that statement, I should mention that my middle name is "Mistake.")


(OK, to further my case, I have every double gun I ever purchased. So what does that make me? Again, middle name -- Mistake.)

But, I'm content with what's in my gun safes.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Not a Parker mistake, but early on I would buy any double that was priced right. Gauge and configuration didn't matter neither did maker. Shot them all and sold them all. Got my money back from all but one. Even that one I only lost out on about $150. So, specialize in what you want to buy. Me, Parker and Lefever. I pass on Eurotrash!!

[C.O.B.]

The wisdom of Daryl Corona comes to mind here. You don't pay to much but you might pay it to soon. Meaning sooner or later you will realize the value of your past purchase.

[Andy]

I appreciate the "offer" Garry : ) I'm now sitting on a real nice condition 12g LC Smith with 28" barrels that I thought I "stole." I can't sell it! I'll donate it to the RGS or fundraiser for the NRA and at least feel good about it. Probably the best use I can make of it. I keep wondering what to get next and I don't really need anything more to use but somehow I think I'm going to lose that battle. Overall I'm blessed to have what I have.

[todd allen]

The biggest Parker mistake I ever made was NOT buying one. At a pigeon shoot somewhere in a super secret not to be named place. A gun dealer offered me a 32" DHE 28 gauge (out of an estate sale) for $3500.00
I figured I didn't really need a 28 gauge, so passed.
My buddy and I still lament that one to this day.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by todd allen

The biggest Parker mistake I ever made was NOT buying one. At a pigeon shoot somewhere in a super secret not to be named place. A gun dealer offered me a 32" DHE 28 gauge (out of an estate sale) for $3500.00
I figured I didn't really need a 28 gauge, so passed.
My buddy and I still lament that one to this day.

I will say again, in gun collecting (and life in general), regret may be the strongest felt emotion. It's certainly one of the longest felt emotions. Todd, that one must truly haunt you.

[todd allen]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

I will say again, in gun collecting (and life in general), regret may be the strongest felt emotion. It's certainly one of the longest felt emotions. Todd, that one must truly haunt you.

Yes, that one haunts me. Even though it was close to 25 years ago, I should have bought that one. Funny thing is, if it were a 20 gauge, I would have been on it like a duck on a june bug. A 32" 20 gauge would have been a find.
My old friend, and PGCA member Chuck, was there and handled the gun as well, so I have someone to share the shame with.
BTW, I picked up a sweet little 0 Frame 16 hammer gun at the same shoot. 200 bucks.

[Garhart Stephenson]

The only Parker mistake I ever made was trying to buy a GH 16 ga. from Griffin & Howe last year. Barrels measured well below safe minimums. I was the second member here to buy and then send that exact gun back (found out when I posted about the gun here).

I ended up getting soaked for the shipping and insurance both ways, even though I brought it to their attention that they knew full and well it had been returned by the other gentleman and they insisted on passing it off on me anyway.

I know G&H has a gunsmithing department with the tools to measure that barrel set. Not sure what happened to the gun after I returned it. Hopefully they fit another set of barrels to it to render it safe and useable.

This deal soured me on G & H. I skip right past their listings on GI every time. I won't even consider purchasing from them after this ordeal. I however, am not soured on Parkers. I love my EH 10 a good deal and enjoyed taking my last 20 Canada geese with old damascus lady this past season.

[Double Lab]

Looking back more years than I care to remember the only mistake I could admit to was buying too many 12 ga. and not enough smallbores especially in AH Fox. Of course that means 20 ga guns as I don't consider 16 ga a smallbore but I have a few of them also.