I don't want to be an alarmist, but....

[Spin Drift]

Ok, I was at the vegas show. Tried to buy a project b grade hammer gun from a large dealer in the upper midwest. Gun was all there but needed to be unpolished and tightend and a good cleaning. I offered 11% less than asking and didn't even get a counter offer to where we would have ended up as a good deal. Nope it was take it or leave it. Now I've dealt with the young man's Dad and God rest his soul things would have been different. I was able to acquire a nice 16ga and a 12 ga CH project for more than the B grade. I left the show happy but slightly confused on the market.

As to girls joining the Parker afflicted, count my daughter as one. I plan to infect her boyfriend also. We control this aspect. Now that the political pendulum is swinging back talk up your affliction to your coworkers. Take them to the range if interested. If we each got two in our lifetime to become Parker fans then we double our numbers.

[Copper John]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

A lot of good points have been made but a future sxs enthusiast has to be just that enthusiastic about these guns. I didn't start out with Parkers and Pre64 M70's but the enthusiasm for them came from reading about them and with the Parkers my Grandfather shot s lot of SXS's but the Parker was his favorite according to my Mom who would tell me about him. He died before I was born but the lure of the Parker was fostered by my mother.

I believe the market for a lot of things (unless I'm buying them) is somewhat soft and that's due to several factors both economic and social. I have given much thought lately to thinning the guns. I don't really need the money but what do I need 40 M70's many in duplicate calibers or 15 or so 16's & 20's.for? Like Gary said there are guns in the safe that haven't seen the light of day in a decade. I have no family to leave them to so I might just as well sell them at least I have an idea of their value.

IMHO a person needs to have a desire to appreciate the craftsmanship of something that is no longer made be it a Parker, Winchester or a nice piece of solid oak furniture. My wife and I like antique furniture and there is a piece at a local shop that I would love to have but there is just no room for it.

At the end of the day I like my old guns and if there is something I want I'll buy it. I'll sell what I sell and die with the rest of them I guess.

Rich, can I apply to be your adopted son?

[Victor Wasylyna]

Consider this thirty-eight-year-old's opinion: Some shotguns are collected because they are "fine," while others are collected because they are "nostalgic." In my opinion, firearm nostalgia is dead. The next generation does not have memories of running home from school to grab the old gun and hit the woods. They did not grow up with guns. Sell your Model 12 while you still can. (I, personally, have no interest whatsoever in an old pump. My first duck gun was a cheap pump and I hated it!) Fine guns, however, will always be in demand, but the market for fine guns is small. Is your Parker "fine," or just "nostalgic"?

[Dean Romig]

Victor, would you kindly tell us your definition of "fine"?

Descriptive 'words' are subjective.





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[Frank Allegra]

As with Dean, I would also need to hear your definition of "fine".
In my opinion the Model 12 was one of the "finest" pump guns ever produced. Are you talking about condition or a certain type of firearm?

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Victor, would you kindly tell us your definition of "fine"?

Descriptive 'words' are subjective.





.

Dean:

Of course everyone is entitled to their subjective opinion as to what is a "fine" gun. However, there are (objective?) factors to be considered, such as brand (e.g., Parker), quality/condition, and perhaps rarity. A "wow" gun, not an everyday shooter. A high condition, high grade gun. A pristine VHE (like the one JLoew just sold me) versus a beat-up DHE.

-Victor

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by Frank Allegra

As with Dean, I would also need to hear your definition of "fine".
In my opinion the Model 12 was one of the "finest" pump guns ever produced. Are you talking about condition or a certain type of firearm?

Frank:

Why does a pump gun appeal to you? My guess is nostalgia. Perhaps the Model 12 was the greatest (finest?) pump gun ever made. (I have no opinion on that issue.) It's still a pump gun. It's missing a barrel. It requires the user to pump his support arm rather than simply move his trigger finger to the subjacent trigger (or just pull the same trigger a second time). Nothing wrong with being nostalgic, so please take no offense to my remarks. I was just offering up my speculation as to future demand.

-Victor

[Frank Allegra]

Victor,

To me a fine gun is one that has a high degree of design, hand built quality and craftsmanship. It has nothing to do with action type. Any Parker is nostalgic. Guns with provenance command a premium. I just needed your clarification.

[Eric Ross]

Hi, First post and first day on the form as a member. I want to put a few of you to ease by saying that I'm 28 years of age and an avid SxS collector with a special passion for Parkers. Im sure that I'm a small section of my age range to have this passion but fortunately my generation has become a large part of the firearm society and with the hope of less gun bans and regulations maybe it will give them a chance to appreciate the finer firearms.
Thanks for the years of good reading on this form!

[Mills]

Welcome Eric! Glad to have you on board