Parker Sample Gun

[edgarspencer]

This is sounding very similar to a gun at RHO, where the same supposition was made. I was told about it well before Christmas, but haven't been there since Thanksgiving week.
Seems to me the logical thing to do would be to order a letter. If the gun was made for someone associated with Parker Bros, such as DuBray, it would certainly be in the books.
Personally it just sounds like a mistake gun. If I were a salesman trying to drum up some business, I'd feel better showing them a grade 5 gun, not a grade 2 gun.
I'd also be hard pressed to come up with a premium value. If it's priced as a grade 2, plus some little bit of 'Aunt Mary' money, and you want it, just buy it.

[Andy]

List it and what is paid is what it's worth. I wouldn't pay much for it, but others might empty a wallet.

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by Brett Trimble

Ron,

There’s an “advanced search” feature on Gunbroker that will allow you to search on “sold” items. It can be eye opening!

Best,
Brett

I can't find it. There is a "completed items" tab, but that shows auctions that have ended

[Brett Trimble]

Ron,

Keep scrolling through them. Some ended and others sold.

Best,
Brett

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by Brett Trimble

Ron,

Keep scrolling through them. Some ended and others sold.

Best,
Brett

Got it -- didn't realize you need to click on the item. Nice GHs selling for $2000. Interesting! Thanks

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Ronald Scott

Got it -- didn't realize you need to click on the item. Nice GHs selling for $2000. Interesting! Thanks

Ron, “nice” can be a relative term. The more you see, handle and learn from, the more weight the term carries. (BTW, good to see Fred Bear quoted. He’s a long time hero of mine.)

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

List it and what is paid is what it's worth.

As a general rule, where there are numerous bidders, I agree. But, that can't be said as a blanket statement, IMO. We all know of instances where something slipped under the wire at auction and was bought for a song. I've been fortunate enough to do so on more than one occasion.

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Ron, “nice” can be a relative term. The more you see, handle and learn from, the more weight the term carries. (BTW, good to see Fred Bear quoted. He’s a long time hero of mine.)

Thanks -- just fyi, I have been actively around guns for 50 years. I know a nice gun when I see and handle it. Good quality workmanship is unmistakable. Nicely figured walnut is far superior to straight grain crap. So when I say "nice" I mean it's a gun I would be happy to own today (which a lot nicer than the guns I owned growing up). I have a matched pair of Dickson Round Actions for example -- I wouldn't part with them. I also know what they are worth. I'm just surprised at the vague answers you get from people about gun values. Stuff like: "It's worth what you are willing to pay for it." duhh

Not many smart people -- especially smart people with money will just pay ridiculous prices for guns. No one wants to be taken advantage of. We want to pay a fair price. Guns will come and go -- there will always be another gun to buy.

What's a "nice" (good condition, shiney bores, etc -- you know what I mean) standard 12 gauge Parker GH worth in today's market? That should be a fairly easy question for a collector to answer. $2000? $5000? $7500?

Now add on the unique factor (the mistake of making a set of barrels with two different styles of damascus, and then actually finish the gun and sell it) -- now what's it worth? It's not $20,000 ... is it $10,000? $5000 -- someone on this forum should be able to answer that question -- at least be able to give a range: "It's probably worth between $5 - 6,000." Whatever... I know if I had been collecting Parkers for 20 years I'd be able to give a better answer than: It's worth whatever you want to pay for it.

I did get a few very helpful answers and I appreciate them and I do not mean to offend anyone. Sorry if I did. Happy New Year and Cheers!

[mobirdhunter]

Ron, thanks for the background. It helps in understanding what your “nice” might mean. There are so few mismatched barrel Parkers, I doubt anyone could place a value with any authority of knowledge. I don’t know of any collector intense interest, at least among those i know (which is pretty limited). Frankly, I’d view the gun as a collectible aberration, but I would think you could get it for what the going rate was for a “nice” gun in that configuration.

I know what you mean about the Dickson RA, as I, too, have (alas, only) one. They are in a class unto themselves. One our members has a RA 20 bore that I hope to handle some day.

So buy that Parker! Join our Association, meet us at the Southern in April and bring it along for folks to take a gander at.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Ronald Scott

Dean thinks it's a mistake that they used two different damascus patterns (maybe 3, because I think the rib is different too) but that doesn't totally make sense to me. I know they don't finish the damascus barrels until late in the manufacturing process but ... why would they let the gun go out the factory doors with such an obvious mistake?

They had already invested hours into producing the gun so why would they scrap those barrels and start all over again? Parker Bros. was a very cost conscious company so they cut their losses and sold it at a discount. As you say, it is a perfectly functioning gun…

Buyers weren’t collectors back then, they just wanted a decent Parker that they could shoot.





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