Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under

[Bill Jolliff]

Currently, no Parker's. I've got a bunch of Fox's now, as seen below. Couple more in a rack not seen.

I've had some dandy Parker's, some nice Lefever's, Smith's and Ithaca's. I do have another double under the bed, an H&H 12 gauge hammer gun.

And I still have my first shotgun, a J. C. Higgin's bolt action 16 gauge that I got when I was a sophomore in high school 67 years ago.

[Reggie B]

I have learned a couple of things; I don't own nearly enough shotguns and you don't get kicked out of the club for being a cheater! Thanks for all the responses!

[stumpstalker]

Originally Posted by Reggie Bishop

I have learned a couple of things; I don't own nearly enough shotguns and you don't get kicked out of the club for being a cheater! Thanks for all the responses!

Reggie:

Same sentiments here.

Also, this and other recent posts have shown me that we can have folks on here that have alluded previously to having but modest collections, been self-effacing about their stature as collectors, but by my standards have an enviable number of fine guns.

I only have six shotguns now. For reasons of "downsizing" I have decided to limit my “inventory” to what can be contained where the guns are locked up. This, combined with my late-in-life predilection for using vintage side-by-sides for both clays and game, accounts for my having sold all the repeaters I have ever owned (not really many), and retaining the doubles, while opening up some space to accommodate a new gun or two.

This leaves me at present with four legacy Parkers and two more that I have acquired on my own. They are:

Trojan 12-gauge; 2-frame; 30-inch – my father’s favorite (for Ducks and Pheasants) that he bought from a patient of his

12-gauge VH; 2-frame; 30-inch -- bought from his friend and colleague -- a transitory aberration for that confirmed Model 12 man

12-gauge DHE; 1 ½-frame; 28-inch --bought from a hunting and fishing buddy who owned a sporting goods store

16-gauge VH; 1-frame; 28-inch -- bought from another buddy who had a nose for good deals in guns

12-gauge GH; 1 ½-frame; 28-inch -- bought by me so I can carry it and fall down in the woods and not feel like I had marred one of “Dad’s guns” (he died 27 years ago; but still….)

16-gauge VH; 0-frame; 26-inch -- bought by me, again for my use on terrain where the footing is bad

I have bid on doubles of other makes, both American and British, but have not had the requisite confidence nor resolve with those. Why so?

Well, I see it as missing some advantages when I cast about beyond my Parkerdom frame-of-reference. Either it’s lacking the same level of available guns (nearly ¼ million Parkers manufactured); or the bibliography (four hard-cover published works) or it's due to the manifold, on-going and readily-accessed resources of the PGCA, in comparison with the otherwise-worthy alternatives.

[Harry Collins]

It wasn't until I was in the Navy that I realized God made shotguns other than Parker and Winchester. I reach for the Parker's 98% of the time. I do enjoy my 2 1/2" chambered 20 gauge Model 12 from 1917, a Model 12 two barrel set 12 gauge, and a Model 97. I have a Mossberg 500 for dragging through the mud and canoe rides. Papa's Browning 425 12 and 28 are mostly for the grandchildren to borrow. There is a Beretta O/U double trigger 12 that sees daylight on occasions. If it's your Harum you are putting your boots under your bed arn't you?

[Bill Jolliff]

Originally Posted by Harry Collins

It wasn't until I was in the Navy that I realized God made shotguns other than Parker and Winchester.

Harry,

Speaking of the Navy, pictured below is the sometimes Sunday afternoon activity on the fantail of the ship I was on at the time. We shot a variety of guns and targets. Colt M1911's, M1 Garand's and side by side shot guns. Ithaca's I'm thinking. Targets were anything that would float long enough to shoot at.

Of course, we only did this while we were underway.

And by the way, the ship was a troop and dependent transport so if any of you lads and lassies happen to have a boat ride to or from Germany or England from NYC in the mid 1950's, we may have been your conveyance. The USS Gen. H. W. Butner T-AP 113.

Jolly

[Bill Murphy]

Jolliff, that is a great looking gun cabinet. Now, where are the rest of them? Bill Murphy

[Opening Day]

I still love Parkers and have my V grade collection (12-410) and a few more small bores, a couple of Fox A grade 16 and20, and then a few English guns, pair of 28's, a 16 and a 20, a hammer 28 Damascus with a set of modern 410 barrels, a hammer 20 ga and Scottish 16 and a few other assorted shotguns

[Bill Jolliff]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Jolliff, that is a great looking gun cabinet. Now, where are the rest of them? Bill Murphy

I forgot these two . . . .

[Quigley97]

All Parkers for me. I have handled and shot others, but there is just something about a Parker.

[C.O.B.]

Parkers make up the majority but there are a couple of Purdey's a Holland & Holland, Stephan Grant, a couple of Fox's, Winchester M42. J Venebles ans Son.
Of all the makers the small bores rule!