Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Day
The Dunkle AAHE was pictured in DGJ maybe 10 years ago. It is the only known Parker with finger grooves. I had the pleasure of shooting it in Nebraska about 7 or 8 years ago, but not the pleasure of carrying it, while pheasant hunting and BD ( Before Dunkel) . At over 8lbs it was not designed to be a game gun.
I believe I am correct in remembering that it is the first Parker Pigeon grade gun. This was John's grandfather's gun and those of us who were present when John first saw the gun again after many years apart will never forget the moment and our joy for John.
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Ummm... A couple of "nits" before we mess up the provanance of this Parker....
If the gun was "BD" - it means you shot that AAHE before 1956? I remember shooting my great-grandfather's AAHE when I was old enough to "heft it" - probably in the late sixties?? I was his only great-grandson to ever shoot it while he was alive. After his passing, it went to my Grandfather - then on to me... Sometime ago - I posted a bunch of pictures that I remember while sitting on my Great-grandfather's lap looking at "GrandPa's guns" in his "gun room" - along with shelves and shelves of trophies..
He also had the AAHE made as his double Trap Gun (as he sometimes shot doubles) - but, he didn't shoot Pigeons - he shot trap - and was Massachusetts State Champion (with 100 straight) from the meet held July 13th 1918. His score was 100 straight at that meet (he wasn't shooting his Parker for that - sorry).... He shot competitively from about 1905 through the early 20s and was a member of the Paleface Shooting Association (and consistently one of their "top guns" from about 1912 - 1920) ... As for the AAHE - it was - and is - the first vent rib double known, and as Bruce said - is the only grooved grip known...
As for how & why it left me for a few years, that's a private story, sorry.... - But for the reunion??? Bruce has that exactly right...

Bruce and to all!!
And oh - Jim?? Grandpa would have been proud to have his gun used to help out a new Parker owner... Don't you think twice about it....
John