LL Bean's Parker

[Dean Romig]

Interesting that Brett Neville has information that the PGCA doesn't have, specifically that "only about 280 were made with Parker Single Triggers."





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[Garth Gustafson]

LL’s grandson, Leon A Gorman is the person most responsible for guiding the company into the modern age. He became President after LL’s death in 1967 and then Chairman of the Board, and later, Chairman Emeritus until his death in 2015.
Leon was highly respected and beloved. When he died, they closed the flagship store that day, the first time that had happened since 1967.

Although the business is approaching $2B in sales and will probably hit it by 2025, LLBean is still a private company and family held. Shawn Gorman, Leon’s nephew was named Chairman in 2013.

[Marty K.]

I wondered if anyone else had one older?

[Reggie B]

There is a Parker CHE 16 gauge in upcoming auction that was supposedly once owned by L.L. Bean. Probably the one discussed here.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Reggie Bishop

There is a Parker CHE 16 gauge in upcoming auction that was supposedly once owned by L.L. Bean. Probably the one discussed here.

Yes in fact, ol' LL did indeed own a 16 gauge Parker... a CH as I recall that I believe sold at a James D. Julia auction years ago.





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[LtCol Henderson Marriott]

My father and grandfather ordered and wore the LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoe since the 1920s. The Maine Hunting Shoe goes back to 1912.
I currently own 3 pairs in 16 inch, 14 in, and a rare set of 6 inch MHS boots.

And now an interesting true story that tends to foster old fashioned customer loyalty
to a sporting goods timeless store like LL Bean. My father died in 2000, and about almost a year later my mother called and asked about a 25-yr collection of my Dad's
LL Bean leather moccasins. There must have been 8 pairs in a large box. Some were badly worn, or worn out. I asked her to hold them. A few months later I had a "Down East " idea that must have come from Mr. L.L. himself. Boxed all of them together and shipped them back to Freeport, Attn; Customer Service. Received a phone call from a lady there at LL Bean, and I asked her if I could partial trade the "used footwear".
I ended up with a set of 16-inch Maine Hunting Shoes.
Then a gal friend had a daughter's Maine Hunters that the daughter never wore-so the mom directly exchanged for a set that fit her. Granted this is almost an abuse of merchant-customer good will, but I have never forgotten the response from that LL Bean employee:
"Mr. Marriott, I see that your family have been our steady customers for many years and it looks like a couple of generations. We value your satisfaction as a returning family customer. And we will make every effort to keep your family happy with our service and
our boots."

So-yes I am an LL Bean loyalist and have always found the Maine Hunting Shoe to
stand hunting conditions from Alaska to Wyoming, hunting elk and moose to bear.
They are as tough as a Rolex watch.

[BRDHNTR]

I have 3 pairs of Bean's boots but find they do not give me the kind of ankle support that I need at this stage in my life. I tend to wear my Muck boots which tend to give me more support.

[LtCol Henderson Marriott]

Boots are like shotguns, rifles, and wives...
one tends to keep that which is the most functionally comfortable and gives the least amount of trouble over time.

[Andy]

Thanks for posting that Sara!

[Dean Romig]

Sorry, that Parker with the sinestral stock must have been the one that sold in a JD Julia auction about 8-10 years ago that I was remembering Pete.





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