Why the high price on .410 and 28 gauge Parker shotguns?

[edgarspencer]

Everything goes in cycles. 40 years ago it was short barrels, today long barrels are in greater demand than almost any 26" gun. 40 years ago, very few people were actively shooting the 16. Today, they are as hot as they have ever been.
What goes around, comes around again. If you live long enough, you will see small bores demand slip some, then come back. 40 years ago, I inherited two Parker .410s. I don't regret selling them, and my dad rarely shot them. Demand for short barreled 12ga guns may not come round in my remaining years, but they will come back.
Virtually every collectable has a cyclical popularity.

[Researcher]

When the last "Boomer" interested in these things is gone maybe the price will come down for anyone left who happens to still be interested.

[Andy]

I guess that's what I mean by "fad." Everything is cyclical. Raise young women who wear bell bottoms and weird crap you haven't seen in years and they say, "Dad, it's boujee..." and you have no flipping idea what boujee means.... What goes around comes around. Don't chase the stock market or barrel length or gauge unless you really need it and can spare the cash then that's awesome for you. If you don't know what boujee means google it like I had to.

[MrBojangles]

Good. I sure can’t wait until the fad ends!

There were no bids on this one this morning, I was going to place a lower bid on it, which couldn’t have been less than $17,500 as that was the opening bid. Maybe $20,000…

Sometimes objects do sell at the opening bid or one or two bids after that.

The bidding war already started.

https://bid.guyetteanddeeter.com/lot...-skeet-shotgun

I am a professional with an advanced degree and a good job…but this is still a stretch for me.��

[ED J, MORGAN]

We are getting older, lighter guns are easier to carry, and small gages are the lightest,

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by Ian Civco

Why the high price on .410 and 28 gauge Parker shotguns?

Because they’re worth it.

-Victor

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Anfrew Sacco

A .410 is a fun gun but they surely don't pattern well

As someone who has used .410 S X S guns hunting since 1959 I will disagree with the above statement. The .410 patterns just as "well" as any other gauge/bore shotgun. What they do not have, regarding patterns, is as high a pattern density.

I have successfully hunted with .410s for most of my life, but in my later years truly came to understand that they can be made to be highly effective at game bird hunting by the use of heavier payloads and tighter chokes. Pattern density is what kills birds with a .410. Tighter choke is what delivers density.

Sure, the smaller the pattern the better wing shot one has to be to put that pattern on target. But, that has nothing to do with "not patterning well", and everything to do with shooting ability.

Range must be limited with a .410 as well to be successful. Again, that has nothing to do with "not patterning well" , but everything to do with pattern density. When you are dealing with 3/4 oz. or less payloads you just cannot maintain sufficient pattern density at longer ranges.

Armchair experts will be quick to point out that long-for-bore payloads won't pattern well, and that short-for-bore payloads will pattern better. That is a belief that I have totally shot down, to pardon the pun, by developing a .410, 3/4 oz. load of nickel plated 8s that pattern beautifully. The only way you would know it wasn't a bigger bore pattern is by counting the total number of pellet strikes. The evenness of the distribution is fully equal to any 12 bore pattern I've ever seen. And, it kills way better than any other .410 load I have ever used.

Before I developed that handload I used WW 3/4 oz. factory loads very successfully. But, I'm just a tinkerer who's always trying to think of a way to improve something.

[Bill Murphy]

I have had excellent results on clay targets and birds with the .410. Now that I have started to load 3" .410s, I expect to have even more fun, especially on difficult 5 stand and sporting targets. Thanks to Stan for providing me with 3" hulls for me to load.

[Alfred Houde]

The 28 gauge is an absolute joy to shoot and hunt with. I'm happy with my Grulla 216 and Browning Citori. While it would be wonderful to own a Parker Gun in 28 gauge, I cannot justify the cost for one. Just me.

I have owned a few .410 shotguns over the years. I like them, but they are not for me as a bird gun. I know folks use them for grouse and such, but my personal experience was too many wounded birds rather than clean kills. I use them for introducing pups to shotgun fire after a few blank rounds.

[Reggie B]

Originally Posted by Ian Civco

Good. I sure can’t wait until the fad ends!

There were no bids on this one this morning, I was going to place a lower bid on it, which couldn’t have been less than $17,500 as that was the opening bid. Maybe $20,000…

Sometimes objects do sell at the opening bid or one or two bids after that.

The bidding war already started.

https://bid.guyetteanddeeter.com/lot...-skeet-shotgun

I am a professional with an advanced degree and a good job…but this is still a stretch for me.��

You are safe to throw a few bids in the ring. The current bid isn't anywhere near what that gun will sell for.