C Bernards

[Bruce Day]

Finally is SN 156,518, a 1911 CHE 16/28 1 frame. Near the end of Bernard production, this is one of the last, so viewers have seen a very early one and a very late one.

This also is peculiar, first for being a rare 16ga, then it lacks any bolt wear plate, so it is the pre 1905 locking bite. It also has the plain grip cap, when the lettered one came out in what 1900?

I am partial to 16ga's, and this one is really a sweet gun at 6/6. Tight and tighter, but I'll leave it as it was made. Because of the high condition of this piece, people sometime ask about refinishing. The consensus among high end collectors is that the stock has an old refinish and the trigger guard has been reblued. The barrels are original finish. The frame has high case colors and no one has been able to identify any refinishing marks and the colors are Parker period correct. The engraving is still crisp but not repointed and the little details are still there unworn and unbuffed.

So I hope viewers appreciate the thread, I hope it helps your own collecting and searching for whatever you are most drawn to.

Bruce Day, Parker beginner enthusiast and forum non expert