Repro A1: 3 barrel set by DeCamillis

[tom tutwiler]

IMO the wood is perfectly laid out California English, quartersawn and pretty much matching on both sides. It is a nice blank, but IMO this gun deserves a bit more. I think Circassian would be more appropriate because that's the type of wood that (I believe) came on original A-1 Parkers. For me California English looks super on a custom gun, but looks out of place on a high grade Parker. Also, for me California English means light colored wood with broad dark streaking with some fiddle and perhaps marbling thrown in.

Here are two pieces of California English that I think have a somewhat similar look to what is on the A-1





Here's a piece of Circassian that would look pretty good on it although it might be a tad too fancy:

[SXS OHIO]

Hope they upload....(-:

[tom tutwiler]

Originally Posted by Kenny Graft

Hope they upload....(-:

Now I gotta ask. How did those hot dog buns migrate into the area where the guns are stored?

PS. Many years ago I talked to Richard Skeuse (Hope I'm spelling the name correctly). I had a Parker 20 gauge Repro with 28" barrels, DT and choked full/mod. Claro walnut on the gun was amazing. I somehow managed to track Richard down and ask him about the different types and grades of walnut used. As I recall he said the grades of Walnut went from grade 1 (low) to grade 5 (high). My gun was indeed a grade 5 on the Claro scale. California English was also used and was also graded (don't know if it was 1-5 however). I believe all the wood was supplied by Calico Hardwoods and that wood was shipped to Japan. BTW, Calico hardwoods was also supplying the high grade claro walnut that was used on the Weatherby Athena and Orion O/U's being built by SKB at that same time.

Double PS. I actually sold the Parker one day because it was much heavier then what a 20 gauge needed to be. 6 lb 12 oz as I recall.