repros

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

It is a very interesting philosophical debate.
I think its very unfortunate that the Skeuse Parkers that we all love were called Parker Reproductions. They were licensed by Remington who own the Parker rights. They were not really built by Winchester but by a plant in Japan that built Winchester.
My peeny little brain tells me that someone else also made LC Smiths, as did someone else make AH Foxes. They are not considered "reproductions' but are an evolution of the original with all the legal rights to be made by the owner of those rights.
All of these evolutions of original guns were no doubt made with more modern materials WHEN they were made. We know that the Ilion guns produced by Remington and labeled Parker were made a bit differently, for example barrel steel. I would never call my Ilion guns "reproductions".
To me a Skeuse Parker is in the same category as a Utica Fox. In fact I am going to start calling them Skeuse Parkers. It is unfortunate they have all the Winchester and Japan nomenclature on them.
But enough of my yapping....

[Pay Dirt]

Licensed, engineered, interchangeable parts...
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Skeuse Parkers has a very nice ring to it.

[Dean Romig]

Don't forget Greg Baehman.





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[Dean Romig]

Oh, BTW.... Your Mileage May Vary...(for George's benefit )





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[Ken Hill]

This is an interesting discussion.

Are the CSMC Foxes and Parkers given serial numbers associated with the original numbering scheme and sequence?

Did the Skeuse's have to use "Reproduction" on their guns?

Ken

[Bindlestiff]

Originally Posted by Ken Hill

This is an interesting discussion.

Did the Skeuse's have to use "Reproduction" on their guns?

Ken

There is a summary about the Parker Reproduction that addresses this information in the "Grades" page.... follow the "grades" link off the main parkerguns.org page and scroll down the that section.

[Bindlestiff]

Here is the text from the "Grades" page for you:

In 1984, under the direction and encouragement of Jack Skeuse, the President of the Reagent Chemical & Research Inc, teamed up with the Winchester Arms Company and revived the Parker shotgun. But, because the Remington Arms Company holds the rights to the Parker Brothers brand, they labeled it "The Parker Reproduction by Winchester". Originally introduced in the DHE grade, it was later expanded to limited production of BHE and A1 Special grades. Production continued until the owners of the manufacturing company in Japan closed their doors in 1989. Sales continued while supplies remained but that ended sometime around 1997. On September 17th, 1999, a flood destroyed all remaining inventory, including parts and most of the factory records. Today, parts for these guns are difficult to find because the insurance company destroyed what was recovered in the flood to avoid possible future liabilities.

The first batch of 28 ga guns that were ordered from Japan had an F on the lug where normally the frame size is found. They came that way from the manufacturer probably because they misread an accounting code that was used as a computer codes.

The Steel Shot Special model was produced to address the water foul hunters concern shooting the required steel shot shells and the damage they may do to the barrels and their chokes. The chokes are slightly longer than standard chokes on the other Parker Reproductions models. It was observed that longer chokes patterned steel shot more evenly; all tests were done with 3" 1 5/8oz steel #2 shot. The barrels were chrome throughout, unlike the standard Parker Reproduction which didn't have chrome in the choke area. The choke area chrome was added because no one knew at that time the long term effect steel shot would have on the choke area.

The Sporting Clays Classic model were the only Parker Reproduction's offered with factory screw-in chokes. You cannot tell by looking at the choke tubes themselves to determine if they were original factory or not. But, you can positively identify a Parker Reproduction Sporting Clays Classic model with factory screw-in chokes by looking at the barrel flats; it will be marked with an "ISC" stamping (Internal Screw Choke).

Some Parker Repro serial numbers on the barrels have an extra "0" that the serial number on the frame does not have. Example: serial number on frame 20-XXXX, serial number on barrel 20-0XXXX. There was an anticipation to manufacture and sell many more Parker Reproductions than were actually produced. The extra digit to the action number was made in anticipation of future needs.

Production numbers:

DHE 28 Gauge 4,203
DHE 20 Gauge 5,800
DHE 12 Gauge 2,137
DHE 12 Gauge Steel Shot 350
DHE 12 Gauge Sporting Clays 125
DHE 410 Gauge 33
BHE 28 Gauge 7
BHE 20 Gauge 100
BHE 12 Gauge 100
BHE 410 Gauge 9
A-1 Factory Engraved, All Gauges 150
A-1 Custom Engraved, All Gauges 300
A-1 28/.410 Combo 16
Plus 500 16 Ga barrel sets that fit on the 0 frame 20ga DHE

[Richard Skeuse]

Originally Posted by Robin Lewis

Here is the text from the "Grades" page for you:

In 1984, under the direction and encouragement of Jack Skeuse, the President of the Reagent Chemical & Research Inc, teamed up with the Winchester Arms Company and revived the Parker shotgun. But, because the Remington Arms Company holds the rights to the Parker Brothers brand, they labeled it "The Parker Reproduction by Winchester". Originally introduced in the DHE grade, it was later expanded to limited production of BHE and A1 Special grades. Production continued until the owners of the manufacturing company in Japan closed their doors in 1989. Sales continued while supplies remained but that ended sometime around 1997. On September 17th, 1999, a flood destroyed all remaining inventory, including parts and most of the factory records. Today, parts for these guns are difficult to find because the insurance company destroyed what was recovered in the flood to avoid possible future liabilities.

The first batch of 28 ga guns that were ordered from Japan had an F on the lug where normally the frame size is found. They came that way from the manufacturer probably because they misread an accounting code that was used as a computer codes.

The Steel Shot Special model was produced to address the water foul hunters concern shooting the required steel shot shells and the damage they may do to the barrels and their chokes. The chokes are slightly longer than standard chokes on the other Parker Reproductions models. It was observed that longer chokes patterned steel shot more evenly; all tests were done with 3" 1 5/8oz steel #2 shot. The barrels were chrome throughout, unlike the standard Parker Reproduction which didn't have chrome in the choke area. The choke area chrome was added because no one knew at that time the long term effect steel shot would have on the choke area.

The Sporting Clays Classic model were the only Parker Reproduction's offered with factory screw-in chokes. You cannot tell by looking at the choke tubes themselves to determine if they were original factory or not. But, you can positively identify a Parker Reproduction Sporting Clays Classic model with factory screw-in chokes by looking at the barrel flats; it will be marked with an "ISC" stamping (Internal Screw Choke).

Some Parker Repro serial numbers on the barrels have an extra "0" that the serial number on the frame does not have. Example: serial number on frame 20-XXXX, serial number on barrel 20-0XXXX. There was an anticipation to manufacture and sell many more Parker Reproductions than were actually produced. The extra digit to the action number was made in anticipation of future needs.

Production numbers:

DHE 28 Gauge 4,203
DHE 20 Gauge 5,800
DHE 12 Gauge 2,137
DHE 12 Gauge Steel Shot 350
DHE 12 Gauge Sporting Clays 125
DHE 410 Gauge 33
BHE 28 Gauge 7
BHE 20 Gauge 100
BHE 12 Gauge 100
BHE 410 Gauge 9
A-1 Factory Engraved, All Gauges 150
A-1 Custom Engraved, All Gauges 300
A-1 28/.410 Combo 16
Plus 500 16 Ga barrel sets that fit on the 0 frame 20ga DHE

The original person who got the parker Reproduction was my father Thomas Skeuse Sr. not my brother Jack. Just to clarify. Thanks gentelmen.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Originally Posted by Richard Skeuse

The original person who got the parker Reproduction was my father Thomas Skeuse Sr. not my brother Jack. Just to clarify. Thanks gentelmen.

Thanks Richard.
I am enjoying my Skeuse Parkers.

[Richard Skeuse]

I'm sure Dad is having a laugh at the Skeuse Parkers name. I know I am, in a proud way