When is a Parker not a Parker

[Mills]

Such guns can be good for shooters, but the price should reflect reality.

[RickR]

If I can add a couple of corollary comments. What Mr. Dudley writes about pricing high and gradually lowering the price until someone bites creates another problem. A person with less experience sees on line offerings and doesn't realize that a high percentage of listings going unsold week after week or even months is NOT a realistic way to know what a condition X gun's true market value really is. This lends to even more over priced listings from inexperienced sellers. Unsold doesn't help a seller and hurts us buyers.

Next, I lean toward Edgar's points that lack of collector grade authenticity isn't anywhere close to making a Parker not a Parker. My sense is a restoration done by a name brand entity can come darn close to what the same gun's true value if in original shape. And a beat up specimen brought back to shootability with an ooh-aah look may not be collector pure, but it sure does increase a gun's desirability vs. a lower condition gun. For example, I'm eyeing a 16 with a 1 frame VH offered for a great price. Nicely refinished, the ooh-aah is present and to me it is very worth the low price knowing full well 3/4" was trimmed from the original 28" barrels since it delivers skt/IC chokes that I want the gun to have anyway. Not going to pass under the theory it ain't mint original.

A third comment is over a VH the local shop just took in. The shop owner showed me the gun claiming it is mint original. I told him he was wrong, the gun was too good to be true. An old Parker dating to 1900 that perfect unfired looking would have had to be wrapped up and stored in a dark and humidity controlled enclosure for 120 years. I tried to be nice while explaining that otherwise the case colors would show at least SOME fading, and on this gun case colors didn't look typical Parker anyway...just a smidge too brightly colored with a LOT of smaller multi-color swirls and dramatic color changes rather than a more blended subtle color change transition. Been awhile since seeing a fresh del-grego, but said even if it is such a re-do could be worth the $3000 asking price regardless. Don't think the shop owner likes me as much now (grin)

Rick

[B. Dudley]

I would ask that you re-read what I wrote regarding pricing as what you stated is NOT what I wrote.

I said that some dealers put their pricing very high. And must come down (through negotiation) to a more realistic price if they hope to sell their guns. Or if they happen to sell at that high price, then good for them.

I was NOT talking about a reverse auction scenario where asking prices are gradually reduced over time.

[Craig Budgeon]

Unless you are trying to purchase an original Invincible or BHE 410 there are probably other examples of the gun you are desiring to purchase either available or will be. With that in mind, offer him what you believe is a fair price. If he lowers his price negotiation can begin, if not leave your name and phone number and limit the time of your interest. Then walk away. Attaining 95% of the Parkers ever built only requires time and money, sometime lots of both.