Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under

[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.