Trojan or DH?

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

Steve, the Trojan is undoubtedly a reliable, sturdy and well made shot gun that will last for generations and will serve an owner well as a field gun.

The D grade was Parker's mid level gun and displayed most of the characteristics of high grade Parkers. Decent and interesting, though standard, engraving, figured usually European walnut, fine checkering, nicely finished barrels in either fluid steel or damascus, and that distinctive and finely inletted skeleton steel buttplate were the hallmarks of the D grade. The D was often special ordered with selected weights and configurations; the Trojan was mostly a standard stock item.

So in the field you'll find a Trojan 12 to be somewhat heavy at around 8lbs. The D's even when a 2 frame 30" 12 were around a half pound lighter. Maybe that is not important for a fowler, but would be for a game gun.

Then some people like to sit in the easy chair in the evening and admire their Parkers. Well, the D has a lot more features to admire and is certainly easier on the eye.

I'm not going to tell you one is better than the other because that is such a personal choice, but in a general sense, the more one article is more finely crafted than the other, the more care is used in materials and craftsmanship, then most would agree that one is better than the other. Your choice, the pricing when made and continuing through today reflects the greater value to purchasers of one over the other. So you have to decide whether you are a basic, no frills person, or whether you want and can afford a level of higher craftsmanship and materials.

You mentioned a Trojan Steel GH. There is no such thing.

May I suggest you spend some serious time looking and handling a variety of Parkers before you jump? The PGCA meetings, Tulsa gun show, Pheasant Fest shows, NRA shows, UP shoot, numerous others are good places to meet Parker people and talk over guns. I don't know about the gun shows in central Oregon and you may have go all the way to the Las Vegas show to see many Parkers. The old advice about buying the best gun you can stretch to afford will stand you well and most people are happier in the long run to have something they treasure.

living way out here in the far northwest I find few gunshows that have a lot of Parkers. However, Las Vegas is only about ten hours away...Maybe 12. The Reno show is usually pretty good too, only 8 hours away.

I am going to think about it. I do need to attend some good gun shows. I think you guys back east have more than we do way out here in the far west. Seems to me that most of you guys are in the east. I was raised back there. The woodcock shooting was wonderful.