Trojan or DH?

[Craig Parker]

Steve, it's been hard watching this one for it's been listed for some time.

Craig

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Steve McCarty

I handed my GH to a skeet shooting friend. He mounted the gun and it came directly to his eye. It is amazing, and in the day when they mounted the gun from their waist it was important that they came to your eye quickly. A Parker will do that.

Not all of them will do that, there are plenty of Parker guns with excessive drop by today's standards and shooting styles. With any gun that will taken to the field stock dimensions are a critical factor to be considered. A handsome gun that shoots poorly due to it's dimensions is not a gun I would enjoy.

[B. Dudley]

Well, if you have $4k to spend, then you can buy multiple very nice Trojans or VH's with that.
If that is the price range you are willing to spend, then a Highly optioned, steel barreled GH grade or a DH grade is your ticket.

There is a pretty distinct line between the GH and DH grades. The DH was the first grade that was considered "Quality". It is the first level where special features like Drop points, SSBP, Imported walnut, stock oval and fuller coverage engraving is standard. And many are available with Titanic Steel barrels.

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

The DH was the first grade that was considered "Quality". It is the first level where special features like Drop points, SSBP, Imported walnut, stock oval and fuller coverage engraving is standard. And many are available with Titanic Steel barrels.

I don't know what the source or justification for the statement that the D was the first grade that was considered "Quality". I've never heard that before.

If you look at a Parker catalog, you will find that the name of every single Parker from the A- 1 Special to the Trojan is identified as "Quality ---". I consider all Parkers to be quality guns, just different levels. The base grade guns are the Trojan, V , P and G, mid grade D and high grade C and above. They are just different and climb in detail and execution. I have consistantly found that owners of multiple high grade Parkers use a V or other lower grade afield.

And a person can have a nice beginning of a Parker collection with a decent G and a V.

Photo 1: 1910 GHE 12ga damascus.

Followed by a buddy and his 12ga VHE. I think he has a few upper grades back in the safe.

[Big D]

Take 3/4" drop out, and add 3/4" to the LOP. and I'd be buying that gun

[B. Dudley]

I do not mean to dis-credit the "quality" of any Parker. That is why I stated earlier that the purchase of a Trojan will get you the same Parker quality as any other grade since they are mechanically identical, just not as finely finished.

My statement about the parting line between the GH and DH grade is a paraphrase of one taken from "Parker Guns: The Old Reliable", I believe that was the book that it came from. It describes there being a significant difference between these two grades in the amount of hand embelishment and special features.

[Bruce Day]

Brian, there are certainly differences in features between the G and D grades , and I personally consider the D to have very desireable features, particularly the skeleton steel buttplate.

Nor are the Trojan and higher grades mechanically identical. Parker said that the locks and action are "of the same construction as our guns of higher grade" ( Parker catalogs). Absent in the Trojan are the mechanical features of the higher grade forend latch, dolls head top rib extension that had a wedging effect and ejector mechanisms. These are details that many collectors regard as significant features. As usual in Parkers, much of the appeal is in the fine details of design, construction, materials and craftsmanship.

My personal view, one that I know is shared by many other collectors, is that a reader needs to be careful to distinguish opinions that are frequently stated as fact in Parker Guns-Old Reliable. Certainly, any characterization of the D as the first "Quality" Parker is not found in any Parker catalog or other company materials nor is it in the factually based key reference book for Parker collectors, The Parker Story or the equally factually based Parker Gun Identification and Serialization book. Additionally, among long time Parker collectors who have nice collections, I have never heard that statement.

[J.B. Books]

FWIW the language on our website under "Parker Grades" seems to suggest we (PGCA) consider there to be dividing line between the D and G (and below).

The Grade 3 was introduced in 1875 and was very popular at a cost of $100 (a 100 Dollar grade). The DH is considered the lowest grade parker to be a custom grade shotgun.

The DH had Damascus barrels until Titanic Steel barrels were offered as a popular option. The stock was made of Circassian walnut. The stock commonly has a silver shield behind the tang, nickel or silver plated triggers and spear-pointed extensions to the stock side panels. The checkering on the stock is more elaborate than lower grades and is a deep, twenty lines to the inch. Stocks were fitted with a skeleton butt plate as standard but recoil pads were an option. Dogs were almost always a feature of the engraving on the sides along with some extensive scroll work. Before 1897, almost all grade 3 guns had Damascus barrels and Titanic Steels after that date, that is, until the Acme Steel barrels were introduced.

The Grade 3 hammer gun was the lowest grade to have sculptured barrel bolsters.

Ejectors were an option for DH Parkers with ejectors (DHE) are desirable to collectors which can add to their collector value.

Production Numbers*:

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

FWIW the language on our website under "Parker Grades" seems to suggest we (PGCA) consider there to be dividing line between the D and G (and below).

The Grade 3 was introduced in 1875 and was very popular at a cost of $100 (a 100 Dollar grade). The DH is considered the lowest grade parker to be a custom grade shotgun.
:

Thanks for highlighting that Pete, I would hate to have my wife question my justification for getting a DH

[J.B. Books]

Additional FWIW, I think the Baker style (snap on) forend latch is mechanically superior (but far less aesthetically appealing) compared to a Deely forend latch. Babe DelGrego commented to me that you won't find a loose Trojan with the forend in place.