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

[Dean Romig]

Some of us have shot with Pete and a few of us wish our ‘boat anchors’ shot as well as his ‘boat anchors’ do.





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[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Some of us have shot with Pete and a few of us wish our ‘boat anchors’ shot as well as his ‘boat anchors’ do.





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It comes and it goes Dean, somedays the bug other days the windshield

[StubTwist]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Some of us have shot with Pete and a few of us wish our ‘boat anchors’ shot as well as his ‘boat anchors’ do.

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As long as you beat Pete and Billy, it was a good day! In all seriousness, shooting with the NH Boys is a lot of fun. Looking forward to when we all can shoot some sporting clays when this "social distancing" comes to a close so I can shoot my newly acquired "boat anchor" 30" twenty gauge Lefever with XF chokes....

[Dean Romig]

Dang! We could have done a small-bore shoot but I just sold my XXF 20 gauge Sterly.





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[charlie cleveland]

get one of the parker repos they are made to shoot steel shot in the 12 ga water fowl guns...i have a field grade lc smith long range gun that i found a secound set of barrels that are modified choke that i have shot steel shot in it with no problems so far...but as pete said best to leave steel shot for guns made for it...

[William Woods]

Ian,

I am a fairly recent member, compared to guys like Dean and Edgar, to mention two. I am not an affluent individual, and cannot afford most of the mid level Parkers. I remember John Allen having two 16 GA. Parkers at a gun show, and wish now I had bought both of them. At the time I might have been able to scrounge up enough cash for one. I am one that is not as young as I used to be. I have always liked the D grade Parkers as being attractive enough, but not so collectible that they cannot be hunted with. In my neck of the woods, I have seen three DH(E)'s come to auction. The first was a 12 with short barrels that I was the first loser on. The second I bought, not knowing all the ill's it suffered, and because I could afford the price (initially). The third was my preferred 16 GA, but it had tighter chokes than I wanted and longer barrels. It sold for close to 10K, then was listed on one of the gun sites for 10K more than the telephone bidder bought it for. Turned out it was one of seven made in that configuration. I really didn't want a 12 GA DHE, but it was what I could afford that came up for auction locally. I have spoken to a prominent member here about restoration of that Parker, and everyone tells me not to do it because the restoration cost is way more than the gun is worth. I have been told that a 12 GA #2 frame Parker with 30" barrels is a very common gun, but I have yet to see many parts I need advertised for this gun. It is MY DHE, the only one I have, and may be the only one I will ever have. I would prefer a 16 DHE, 26" barrels, or a two barrel set, with one set at IM and MOD. But I haven't found one period, much less one that I could afford. So my suggestion is to buy what you want and be happy with it.

[Joe from MO]

I buy guns that I happen to like, and are at price I think is fair. I am not into collecting guns I don't plan to shoot, so have not purchased any "graded" guns..... Yet. :-)

I have a small collection of field grade guns, that includes more than one "boat anchor". I am a big guy, 6'1" and 240 finely sculpted pounds.. hahaha Beer does a nice job of scuplting a mans body. So, I like 12ga double guns with 30"+ barrels. I enjoy shooting them, etc. I do own some fast and light guns, 20ga O/U w 26" barrels, AH Fox 16ga that weighs in less than 6lbs, and love shooting those too.

As Forrest Gump would say, life is like a box of chocolates, and so are shotguns. Having a nice variety to shoot is what makes them so fun.

As for the other stuff going on in this thread, I am very new to this forum, but have been a very long time member on some others.... This forum is not unlike any other one I have been on. You have guys who have got to know each other, probably via in person visits, etc... Then, new guys come along and feel they are not part of the "cligue", which is a term I hate.... But in reality, they have just not been around long enough, to build that bond... That's ok, that's how things work. I wouldn't expect to be taken in like a brother 2 weeeks after signing up, that takes time, and getting to know people. No sense in worrying about it.

In my short time here, I have already observed a wealth of information given freely by the members, some of it, I don't necessarily agree with, but recognize that not every one is ever going to agree. It seems the days of being able to recognize that you don't agree on something, but can still be friendly has past, and that's a shame.

Anyway, love my boat anchors, and maybe one day I'll add a nicely engraved with fine lumber boat anchor to my collection of plain jane boat anchors....

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Joseph Sheerin

As for the other stuff going on in this thread, I am very new to this forum, but have been a very long time member on some others.... This forum is not unlike any other one I have been on. You have guys who have got to know each other, probably via in person visits, etc... Then, new guys come along and feel they are not part of the "cligue", which is a term I hate.... But in reality, they have just not been around long enough, to build that bond... That's ok, that's how things work. I wouldn't expect to be taken in like a brother 2 weeeks after signing up, that takes time, and getting to know people. No sense in worrying about it.

Joseph, everybody is welcome here. Our goal is to keep everything as friendly as possible and always in a civil manner.

You pretty much nailed it - that a lot of us have met at shoots and auctions and PGCA Annual Meetings and the friendships just grow and grow from there. I was a newcomer once and even though I didn't know a lot about Parkers, or any guns for that matter, I was welcomed by the long-time members and it has been a wonderful learning experience.

Like I said, everybody is welcome here. We all share a common interest and that's what bonds us in friendship. You'll strike up a lot of friendships here if you stick around... and Please Do! You are welcome here!





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[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Joseph Sheerin

It seems the days of being able to recognize that you don't agree on something, but can still be friendly has past, and that's a shame.

Those days are still alive and well in some of us, but you won't see it on the news; it doesn't make good copy.

Joseph, don't think that higher grade guns don't get shot. There are many here that are "shooter-collectors."

[Joe from MO]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Those days are still alive and well in some of us, but you won't see it on the news; it doesn't make good copy.

Joseph, don't think that higher grade guns don't get shot. There are many here that are "shooter-collectors."

Oh, I know they get shot... It's just my excuse for not spending the money on one.

I'll be picking up a graded Fox or Parker at some point, maybe some of each... Just have not run across the right gun, for the right price yet. And, yes it will get hunted, and it will get shot a lot. :-)