Parker Sample Gun

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Ron, “nice” can be a relative term. The more you see, handle and learn from, the more weight the term carries. (BTW, good to see Fred Bear quoted. He’s a long time hero of mine.)

Thanks -- just fyi, I have been actively around guns for 50 years. I know a nice gun when I see and handle it. Good quality workmanship is unmistakable. Nicely figured walnut is far superior to straight grain crap. So when I say "nice" I mean it's a gun I would be happy to own today (which a lot nicer than the guns I owned growing up). I have a matched pair of Dickson Round Actions for example -- I wouldn't part with them. I also know what they are worth. I'm just surprised at the vague answers you get from people about gun values. Stuff like: "It's worth what you are willing to pay for it." duhh

Not many smart people -- especially smart people with money will just pay ridiculous prices for guns. No one wants to be taken advantage of. We want to pay a fair price. Guns will come and go -- there will always be another gun to buy.

What's a "nice" (good condition, shiney bores, etc -- you know what I mean) standard 12 gauge Parker GH worth in today's market? That should be a fairly easy question for a collector to answer. $2000? $5000? $7500?

Now add on the unique factor (the mistake of making a set of barrels with two different styles of damascus, and then actually finish the gun and sell it) -- now what's it worth? It's not $20,000 ... is it $10,000? $5000 -- someone on this forum should be able to answer that question -- at least be able to give a range: "It's probably worth between $5 - 6,000." Whatever... I know if I had been collecting Parkers for 20 years I'd be able to give a better answer than: It's worth whatever you want to pay for it.

I did get a few very helpful answers and I appreciate them and I do not mean to offend anyone. Sorry if I did. Happy New Year and Cheers!

[mobirdhunter]

Ron, thanks for the background. It helps in understanding what your “nice” might mean. There are so few mismatched barrel Parkers, I doubt anyone could place a value with any authority of knowledge. I don’t know of any collector intense interest, at least among those i know (which is pretty limited). Frankly, I’d view the gun as a collectible aberration, but I would think you could get it for what the going rate was for a “nice” gun in that configuration.

I know what you mean about the Dickson RA, as I, too, have (alas, only) one. They are in a class unto themselves. One our members has a RA 20 bore that I hope to handle some day.

So buy that Parker! Join our Association, meet us at the Southern in April and bring it along for folks to take a gander at.