How old was you when you bought your first Parkers ?

[Jim DiSpagno]

Look T GI #101497660

[J.B. Books]

I was 27 when I bought my first Parker, a 28" Trojan 12ga in 1984. I really didn't know much about them but a good friend had a Trojan that he used for upland bird hunting and it was a pride and joy that he spoke highly of. Whenever he made a good shot on a Grouse or Woodcock he would say he Parkerized it. I was in the USAF at the time and was getting ready to go on a remote assignment to a radar station in Iceland. I had rented my house and I was selling my Jeep because I could not have nor would I need a vehicle on that one year assignment, that gave me a little bit of extra money. I don't remember why I had gone to a local gunsmiths shop but he had two Trojan's for sale on consignment, a 12 and 20. The day I was to fly out of Boston was a Monday in December. I had a lot to do that day including the sale of my Jeep but I decided to go to a farm I hunted since I was teenager, it was a farm that bordered a brakish river and it had a cove where we hunted ducks. It was dead low tide at first light and saw some ducks in a channel that I could sneak up on by walking in the mud and staying below the banking. The channel had a turn and I knew when I came around the corner the ducks would be in range. It worked and as they flushed I pulled the front trigger and dropped a Black duck. I swung to the next target, a Greenhead and pulled the front trigger again, it was my first time shooting a gun with two triggers. I walked over and picked up the Black looking it over when I looked up and saw five mallards cupping in. They were 90 degrees to my position and about 45 yards away. I had a couple of seconds to react. I had not opened the gun and reloaded but the left barrel still had a 1 1/4 ounce of lead #4 in it. I was still holding the Black duck in my left hand and I rested the forearm of the gun on my forearm, picked out a Greenhead and dropped it. I was thrilled, two ducks with the first two shoots from my first Parker. I was convinced that my friend was right and there was something special about a Parker shotgun. I took Peter Johnson's book with me to Iceland and read it a couple of times, that was about the only information I had about Parker's. A lot has changed since then, I still have the gun and I shot a lot of ducks and geese with it over the years. Being a 12 it has taken a back seat to a battery of Short Ten's I use for water fowling for the last 11 years. It's sentimental value far exceeds it's monetary value so it will most likely be part of an estate sale some day as I don't see myself selling it.

[C.O.B.]

I heard about Parkers long before I ever had one from my mother. My Grandfather was a double gun guy and Parker's were his favorite especially for shooting trap. I have a trophy he won at the Detroit gun club for breaking 200 straight from 16 yards to win the class C championship in 1936.
. He shot both trap and skeet and I was lucky enough to find some old photos of him both hunting and target shooting with a PArker.

Mom said the Parkers were his favorite. The family story is that he bought an A1 special at Abercrombie & Fitch in Chicago while he was on his way to Mayo Clinic. He picked up the gun on his return. It would have been used as this was 1948 or so but Mom still remembers the argument over the $600 when there wasn't any discretionary funds.

My parents bought me a Trojan 12 when I graduated from college. Shortly after that I bought a Vh that I traded a grade 5 Browning Citori 20 ga for. I played with some other doubles but never got the hang of double triggers and collected A5's and M12's for a long time.

About 20-25 years ago a friend an I were headed west to shoot Prairie Dogs and stopped in Cabela's in Owatonna MN. I found a nice DHE 20 with a straight grip 26inch barrels and bought it on the spot. A lot of guns have come and gone over the years some I still regret letting go of. I never thought I'd have an English Best but have several now or a high grade Parker but the God's have smiled on me not to mention creative financing and I have a BHE 32 inch 20 and an AHE 20/28 factory two barrel set. I have way more than I need but not as many as I want and we won't even go into the rifles

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I heard about Parkers long before I ever had one from my mother. My Grandfather was a double gun guy and Parker's were his favorite especially for shooting trap. I have a trophy he won at the Detroit gun club for breaking 200 straight from 16 yards to win the class C championship in 1936.
. He shot both trap and skeet and I was lucky enough to find some old photos of him both hunting and target shooting with a PArker.

Mom said the Parkers were his favorite. The family story is that he bought an A1 special at Abercrombie & Fitch in Chicago while he was on his way to Mayo Clinic. He picked up the gun on his return. It would have been used as this was 1948 or so but Mom still remembers the argument over the $600 when there wasn't any discretionary funds.

My parents bought me a Trojan 12 when I graduated from college. Shortly after that I bought a Vh that I traded a grade 5 Browning Citori 20 ga for. I played with some other doubles but never got the hang of double triggers and collected A5's and M12's for a long time.

About 20-25 years ago a friend an I were headed west to shoot Prairie Dogs and stopped in Cabela's in Owatonna MN. I found a nice DHE 20 with a straight grip 26inch barrels and bought it on the spot. A lot of guns have come and gone over the years some I still regret letting go of. I never thought I'd have an English Best but have several now or a high grade Parker but the God's have smiled on me not to mention creative financing and I have a BHE 32 inch 20 and an AHE 20/28 factory two barrel set. I have way more than I need but not as many as I want and we won't even go into the rifles

Speaking of rifles there are some from vintage/classics one I would like to get some day . Lots of nice reproductions though that make them easier to obtain . I really want to pick up a Uberti 1876 in 50-95 eventually . I almost ordered a C Sharps 1874 last year , but they dont offer a pistol grip unless you get the presentation grade . So I would have to buy the action from them then find someone who builds Sharps to finish it .

There is a gunsmith I talk to a bit who builds the best looking single action revolvers in my opinion , I wouldnt mind getting one of his works . Lots of guns I would like to get if the funds allow it haha .

[Garth Gustafson]

[QUOTE=Rich Anderson;299481]I heard about Parkers long before I ever had one from my mother. My Grandfather was a double gun guy and Parker's were his favorite especially for shooting trap. I have a trophy he won at the Detroit gun club for breaking 200 straight from 16 yards to win the class C championship in 1936.
He shot both trap and skeet and I was lucky enough to find some old photos of him both hunting and target shooting with a PArker.

Mom said the Parkers were his favorite. The family story is that he bought an A1 special at Abercrombie & Fitch in Chicago while he was on his way to Mayo Clinic. He picked up the gun on his return. It would have been used as this was 1948 or so but Mom still remembers the argument over the $600 when there wasn't any discretionary funds.

Rich, the Chicago A&F store your Grandfather visited must have really been something special. At that time they were still doing business as Von Lengerke & Antoine at 9 N Wabash St in downtown Chicago. In fact, VL&A didn’t rebrand until 1959, more than 30 years after the A&F purchase. Such was the strength of the VL&A brand in the Midwest. What a sad day when A&F filed for bankruptcy in 1976. The Chicago store ran their going out of business sale in November 1977. Truly the end of an era. I wish I could have visited that store back in its heyday. Ed Muderlak wrote that he went in there as a kid and was in absolute awe of the place. Today, the old A&F storefront is a jewelry store.

[Milton C Starr]

[QUOTE=Garth Gustafson;299688]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I heard about Parkers long before I ever had one from my mother. My Grandfather was a double gun guy and Parker's were his favorite especially for shooting trap. I have a trophy he won at the Detroit gun club for breaking 200 straight from 16 yards to win the class C championship in 1936.
He shot both trap and skeet and I was lucky enough to find some old photos of him both hunting and target shooting with a PArker.

Mom said the Parkers were his favorite. The family story is that he bought an A1 special at Abercrombie & Fitch in Chicago while he was on his way to Mayo Clinic. He picked up the gun on his return. It would have been used as this was 1948 or so but Mom still remembers the argument over the $600 when there wasn't any discretionary funds.

Rich, the Chicago A&F store your Grandfather visited must have really been something special. At that time they were still doing business as Von Lengerke & Antoine at 9 N Wabash St in downtown Chicago. In fact, VL&A didn’t rebrand until 1959, more than 30 years after the A&F purchase. Such was the strength of the VL&A brand in the Midwest. What a sad day when A&F filed for bankruptcy in 1976. The Chicago store ran their going out of business sale in November 1977. Truly the end of an era. I wish I could have visited that store back in its heyday. Ed Muderlak wrote that he went in there as a kid and was in absolute awe of the place. Today, the old A&F storefront is a jewelry store.

One of the best looking doubles I ever got to hold when I worked on the plantation was a A&F , ive never seen another one like it .

[Woodcock survey]

This thread has had some great stories, hope I can add to it. The first Parker I'' had'' was found behind a stack of cues in a corner after a friend had shown me his good guns. Those were broom handle pistols and old Winchesters a Greener and others. I asked what is that in the corner and was told it was his sisters but she did not want it. When I dug it out it was a DHE 410 skeet and I started to research it.When I saw him again I told him it was worth more than all he had. He had given me his fathers safe and asked me to keep it for him and go ahead and use it. I had it for at least 15 years before he moved and got a safe. Bought my first the next year, 1975, at auction for 200.00 a vh which still shoot and hunt with and a few more since. Never had to sell one though.Had custody of a AAHE for a little while and it was the worst fitting gun I ever saw. I miss looking at it but not shooting it. When the owner was ready to take it back it was with mixed feelings I handed it over.

[Ed Norman]

Milton,
Thank you for starting this thread. I purchased my first side by side about a year and a half ago at 65 years old. I took about 40 years off from hunting because of my business responsibilities. I purchased a beautifully restored 12 gauge fox A grade from a guy that is a member here and in the fox forum. I have always wanted a 16 gauge, I was looking at a gun dealers ad last year and he had a 16 gauge and the ad said "it hits like a 12 and carries like a 20" for some reason that really stuck in my head. Now I own 3-16 gauge side by sides, I got a nice 16 gauge vh that was restored from a member in here. I really like that gun, I have 2 fox 16 gauge shotguns that are original, and I also understand the beauty of an unrestored gun now too. I cannot thank the members in here enough and in the fox forum for all of their help/advice. I have met some members in person, and they are really great guys. When I bought the parker, we met in Grayling, I was so excited I held that gun in my hands, shouldered it a few times I shook the sellers hand, went back and put the gun in my gun case and sat down in the car and it was one of the most satisfying feelings I have ever had. I looked down at my passenger seat to check to see if there was any calls or texts on my cell phone and there was my money still in the banks envelope still sitting there. I jumped out of the car, the seller was getting ready to pull out and I gave him his money. We both had a good laugh about that. I often feel like a "kid" again with these shotguns, and with our first bird dog my wife and I acquired a couple of years ago. Milton, I hope you continue your pursuits, its nice to see a younger man with your enthusiasm. Thanks, Ed Norman

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Ed Norman

Milton,
Thank you for starting this thread. I purchased my first side by side about a year and a half ago at 65 years old. I took about 40 years off from hunting because of my business responsibilities. I purchased a beautifully restored 12 gauge fox A grade from a guy that is a member here and in the fox forum. I have always wanted a 16 gauge, I was looking at a gun dealers ad last year and he had a 16 gauge and the ad said "it hits like a 12 and carries like a 20" for some reason that really stuck in my head. Now I own 3-16 gauge side by sides, I got a nice 16 gauge vh that was restored from a member in here. I really like that gun, I have 2 fox 16 gauge shotguns that are original, and I also understand the beauty of an unrestored gun now too. I cannot thank the members in here enough and in the fox forum for all of their help/advice. I have met some members in person, and they are really great guys. When I bought the parker, we met in Grayling, I was so excited I held that gun in my hands, shouldered it a few times I shook the sellers hand, went back and put the gun in my gun case and sat down in the car and it was one of the most satisfying feelings I have ever had. I looked down at my passenger seat to check to see if there was any calls or texts on my cell phone and there was my money still in the banks envelope still sitting there. I jumped out of the car, the seller was getting ready to pull out and I gave him his money. We both had a good laugh about that. I often feel like a "kid" again with these shotguns, and with our first bird dog my wife and I acquired a couple of years ago. Milton, I hope you continue your pursuits, its nice to see a younger man with your enthusiasm. Thanks, Ed Norman

The 16 gauge is pretty neat gauge to me and it has a following here in the South . You mention the 16 gauge to the old timers down here and their eyes light up . One thing I learned about the Ithaca 37 16 gauge , is 1 1/8 oz at 1300 fps+ gives a sharp jab in such a light gun . However I bet with the RST loads or similar loads a light 16 gauge would be pretty comfortable .


Correct me if I am wrong but from what ive read the the NH grade is the same as a PH ? I was thinking a PH 16 and 20 ga would go good with the NH 10 ga . The NH looks similar to them just alot beefier .

The 16 ga is why I never joined the shotgun team in highschool , everyone else were using Benellis and the coach kept asking me to join but I couldnt use my 16 ga .

[stumpstalker]

Milton:

Four of the six Parker guns I own were legacies from my father -- Trojan 12; VH 12; VH 16 and DHE 12. In recent years I have added a GH 12 and a VH 16.

A WW II veteran, he departed from the usual path of his contemporaries by acquiring in the 1950s-1960s the Parker side-by-sides, and not repeaters, as were his buddies’ choices. Together they shot skeet and hunted Pheasant and waterfowl.

His preference for them was not because he was an antique guy, but because he was a quality guy.

Regrettably, despite my having a plethora of family photos of him, power-boating; sailing; fishing and standing near the classic airplane he restored and won prizes for, I don’t have a single one of him hunting or with a gun.

I live in a house surrounded by objects that were his and evoke his memory: furniture; photos; implements for hobbies and tools of trade; fishing gear; documents and various personal miscellany. But it is the guns that transmit the most meaningful connection to him.

As physical objects go, guns have a way of conveying in concentration a sense of its owner -- his (or her) character, experiences, relationships, and achievements, and do so inter-generationally, as best as anything I know.

I envy your early start in this and your mindful grasp of detail. Just keep it all in proportion and your rewards will be manifold.