Parker ID help needed

[Bill Murphy]

Daryl, I doubt that Willie Eckmeyer ever used as good an engraver as Franz Marktl. Are you sure this is the gun you are referring to? Yup, we're waiting for more pictures.

[Harry Collins]

I dont think the original stock will fit with the Miller single trigger. With the Miller ST the sears were bent up so now there will be wood that would have to be removed. I think the floor plate was altered for the single trigger so reverting back may be difficult. These were the best pictures I could find.

Harry

[ahfoxman]

Hi Bill,

Wow, Willie Eckmeyer and his big Caddy! He was one of the great characters of the old days. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[KCordell]

Thanks all, I promise more pictures when I find the missing forend. I think this is a Remington Parker with the late SN, no?

[Bill Murphy]

Yes, Remington. Daryl, the only other person I have met who knew Willie well, or at all, was my late PGCA friend and neighbor Terry Boose. We used to have a great time telling Willie stories to each other. Terry's Dad was a friend of Willie's. I guess Jerry Smith knew Willie too. Terry and I happened to be cruising a Maryland show a few years ago when we came upon the famous Eckmeyer A-1 Special 28 gauge (not Mr. Cordell's gun). I think the gun pictured on this forum a few days ago is that very gun, (not Mr. Cordell's gun). Terry and I tried to talk each other into buying the gun, but somehow did not do it. I have known Willie since I was a little kid, like Terry did. When I returned from military service in 1969, Willie offered me a job at the International Harvester distributorship. Boy, would I have some stories if I took that job. I think you know what I mean. I remember a visit to Willie's house in Howard County one weekend. This visit was unusual because another Parker person was with me, but I just can't remember who it was. I think Willie spent more time at National Capital Skeet Club than he did at his own club.

[KCordell]

Bill, it could have been this gun that you saw at the show but you would have had to have seen it more than a few years ago. We have had it since 1985.

[Bill Murphy]

The gun that Terry Boose and I saw at the MD show was the gun pictured on this site a few days ago. I don't think there is much of a chance that your gun is one of Mr. Eckmeyer's creations. I'm not sure that Willie ever met Franz Marktl. Franz came to this country about the time that Willie was slowing down his Parker butchering. He had another engraver, but I don't remember his name. Maybe Daryl will remember. Franz is quite a guy, engraved a belt buckle for me while recovering from an upper respiratory ailment in a local hospital. Charged me ten bucks for the job. I still have it.

[KCordell]

Bill, thanks for the data. I still have lots of digging to do for this little sxs. I will update the link as I get more pictures and find some currently misplaced items. Again, thanks for all of your responses. BTW, the trigger guard has a really nice engraving of a dog named "Rebel".

[Double Lab]

If my aging memory has'nt failed me yet I'm pretty sure that was Bill E.'s dogs name.

[Bill Murphy]

Well how about that. Take a look at the gun that Rich Anderson recently purchased. It is the 28 gauge A-1 Special Willie was famous for. I can't find the thread, though.