Why the high price on .410 and 28 gauge Parker shotguns?

[MrBojangles]

Well, obviously, it’s supply and demand. But why such strong demand? At least now?

If they were in such high demand when most were manufactured around the time Remington came into the picture, more would have been manufactured then and more available now.

But now, they are in high demand? Why is that so? Many who fire a .410 side by side claim they hit much less effectively than with larger gauges. Plus, a 12 or a 16 gauge is going to have more shot, a wider pattern.

I want one rather badly (untouched, all original) just to have a light shotgun, it’s the rarity and being unusual that appeals to me. But, so far, even though bidding competitively on some in the past, others have wanted them more.

Why the strong appeal for the 28 gauge and .410? And will this persevere?

[Andy]

I'll be the first to chime in. And I'll get flamed. Some of it is a fad. Some of it is the pure joy of carrying a lighter gun that handles like a magic wand. A .410 is a fun gun but they surely don't pattern well and I think if you want a sound Parker in that gauge you might need an oxygen tank when seeing prices, at least I do. 28's are just plain desirable as hell. I love them, but costs are still going to be crazy. I think even if Parker made 40,000 more 28's than they did, the prices would still be strong. There are more people who want them than good existing examples. I'm a 16 lover but the lines between a 12, 16 and 20 are close and for me the 16 is just a nice middle ground at reasonable prices. Look across all the vintage guns and small bores just command more money. I might be called a heretic but this is the time be buying 12g great example Parkers. I hope you find what you're looking for, the hunt is half of it.

[6pt-Sika]

Never had a Parker 410 had a Parker 0 frame 28 26” and thought I was going to get a VHE 28 30” about 4 or 5 years ago for 16k but the deal never finalized . I suppose it boils down to what an individual holds in high regard and what they’re willing to pay .

[Double Lab]

I absolutely love the 28. I've never felt handicapped using it. They are certainly not for everyone but I'ver never had one person who shot one of my 28's not come back with a big grin on their face and want to buy it from me.

[Tennessee Dave]

When I was just getting into small game hunting back in the mid 70's, I traded my 28ga. for a 16ga. because I couldn't hit as many squirrels that were in the tops of some of the 90+ foot tall hickory trees. I'm glad both guns were just single shot Stevens instead of Parkers. I would love to own a small ga. Parker, but doubt that I will ever spend the kind of $$'s needed to get one. I do own a couple of .410's and a 28 ga.but none are Parkers.

[Pa SxS]

Shoot a 28ga. and you'll find out the attraction. They are killing machines.

[William Machauer]

The guys in my club were always giving me the business because I killed twice the birds they did, shooting either my Red Label 28 or my Rizzini 28. So I bought a CZ 410 and still killed more birds. Maybe the tens of thousands of clay birds that I've shot over the years helped? I've shot the Red Label on the bunker and have broken mid teens with it. The 410 I think I broke an 8- not bad for IC/Mod chokes.
I have shot heads off pheasants with my Parker 20ga, quite a few mostly headless pheasant with the 410 but only one with my 28s.
The small boxes are by far my favorites and they do require more time behind the gun to get really proficient.
Don't be scared of the small gauges, embrace them!
Now if I could afford to buy a Parker in 410 & 28 I'd be a really happy camper!

[Bill Murphy]

My first Parker was a 28 gauge. I still own it, have for 66 years now. I have also owned a couple of .410s. They are the cutest little things. My .410 skeet will probably be the last Parker I will ever sell. Ron Kirby called me one night to tell me that a person who lived near my office had a Parker that he needed information on. Ron gave me his phone number and the Parker turned out to be an original finish .410 skeet. I gave the person an honest appraisal, several pages of them. He had gotten appraisals from Abercrombie and Fitch and several other honest dealers. I was close and also honest, so we reached an agreement. I could have walked from my office to this gentleman's home in 45 minutes. It helps to have religion. My first 28 gauge was purchased from a person who lived even closer.

[Mills]

Supply and demand is the simple answer. I don’t own a Parker 410 but Parker 28s are my favorite Parker configuration next to 0 frame 16s. Fortunately there is more supply of 0 frame 16s

[6pt-Sika]

While not a Parker but the first 100 straight I ever shot in NSSA registered skeet was with a 28 gauge . And FWIW my highest average by gauge was always the 28 gauge just a skoosh above my year end 12 and 20 gauge averages .