RARITY OF PARKER LIVE PIGEON GRADES

[Don Kaas]

When hunting birds (i.e. bobwhite quail) on horseback, one commonly keeps the gun (classicly a 20 or 16 gauge double) in a scabbard unloaded. When the setters and/or pointers locate a bird or covey, one walks the horse up to the covey and dismounts. You then remove your gun and walk towards the dogs. When in position you take 2 shells from you pocket and slip them in the gun. The dog handler says "Ready" and the gun(s) say "Yes" and he proceeds to flush the birds. A safety is as superfluous in this scenario as it is on score in the pigeon ring.

Were I ordering a purpose built Parker for bird hunting, I would order an 0 frame straight grip CHE 28" Bernard, 2 1/2" chambered 20 gauge, double trigger without a safety weighing < 6 lbs choked right .005 and left.015. For the pigeon ring, a 1 1/2 frame 32" Whitworth, 2 3/4" chambered AAHE straight grip, single selective trigger without a safety, weighing 7 1/2 lbs choked left .020 and right .035...

[Larry the Gun Guy]

I found one of those no safety guns last summer; 20 ga AHE with 30" Acme steel barrels on a #1 frame....and yes someone who didn't know what they were doing restocked it. The project is beginning with the search for correctly figured wood.

[John Truitt]

That is an interesting gun. What kind of trigger is that. Also it has the reinforced forearm lug. Very cool.
Thanks for sharing.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

I don't know what kind of trigger it is, but I hope someone does. I think it will probably go in the restoration.

[Bill Murphy]

I don't know that I would be losing the trigger in the restoration, especially if it works. It looks like a fine piece of work. What is the provenance of your gun? I assume you requested a PGCA letter.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Yes, the trigger works fine. So maybe I'll reconsider that statement.

The gun was ordered in 1919 by a guy that owned Fresno Brewing Co and coincidentally sold it that year. Looks like he bought himself a fine shotgun with the proceeds from the sale. I bought it from the grandson of the person that befriended the former brewery owner. It seems they shared company at a duck club in the central valley grasslands where they were both members. The gun was a straight grip and it will be once again after the work is done.

[Chris T.]

Nice gun Larry!

Ray,
I have always been intrigued by the safetyless guns too, are you collecting info for a Parker Pages article? I would love to hear about what you find out. They aren't too uncommon, but the few I have handled seem to be made with alot of attention to detail. Just picked up a neat DHE live bird or trap gun. I would love to hear it's story.

Thanks,
Chris

[Ed Blake]

I've heard of those long-barreled 20 gauge California duck guns. I'm in agreement with Bill Murphy, leave the trigger as is.

[Autumn Daze]

Larry, What frame size is that great gun?

[Ed Blake]

I'll bet it has 3" chambers too.