LL Bean's Parker

[Andy]

There is a parker under glass on the upper level at LL Bean in Freeport. I looked at it a few days ago, believe it was a DHE? Anyways, I was in a rush then was told by the man at the gun counter that was LL Bean's personal Parker. Anyone know more? Wish I had to time to get back up there and really look at it.

[6pt-Sika]

Seems to me I saw one there that I think had belonged to Babe Ruth . But bear in mind that was 25 or more years ago so there's a tiny chance I'm incorrect .

[Andy]

There was a gun to the left, which looked like a Browning rifle, the Parker to the right, each flanking the large fireplace heading to the fishing level. They were standing upright.

[Dean Romig]

The Parker is LL Bean’s own personal CHE 16 gauge with the “sinestral” stock because of the vision impairment of his right eye.

Several years ago I contacted the gun department manager - very nice accomodating guy - explaining that I was editor of the Journal of the Parker Gun Collectors Association, about my examining that gun on a padded table in the back of the department and take it down into its three major parts and to publish a piece in Parker Pages. We set a date and a time for my visit.

When I arrived at the prescribed time and date the manager was out…
The man in charge refused to open the case and said the manager wiuld have never had made such ridiculous arrangements and woukd not discuss it further.

That was the end of any dealings with the LL Bean CORPORATION as I had had previous inexcusable experiences when soliciting donations for our Silent Auction where they refused to donate to any organization associated with shooting or hunting. I contacted Bill Gorman, host of the TV hunting and fishing show and great grandson of LL Bean and explained my plight and that I couldn’t imagine that stance from a company that was founded on hunting and fishing.
Bill was shocked and very pissed off. He said “We’ll see about that!!!”

Three days later I received about $500 worth of items for the silent auction with a very “sincere” (spelled ‘tail between their legs’) letter of apology.

I have never sought ANYTHING from that comoany since that episode with LL’s Parker CHE.


I will add that I’m not certain it was a 16 gauge but I know it’s a CHE.
One of his Parkers auctioned at Julia’s about 10 years ago and it was a 16 so maybe the one in the glass case in Freeport is a 12… or maybe it’s a 16, I’m just not certain.


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[Mills]

Sounds like something you'd expect from Dick's Sporting Goods. Too bad

[Andy]

Dean somehow I knew you'd know about that gun. Shame about that story. I asked to see a gun and the dude (I could say another four letter word here starting with D if I was brazen) asked, "Why?" I looked at him and said, "Seriously?" He said, "Yeah, why do you need to see it, are you buying or looking?" So I marched over to the checkout and asked them to get me a functioning human without a piss poor attitude. After some shock and awe, a great gentleman came over and was more than accommodating and apologetic. I have not had an issue with Bean in the past, that was the first, but there are too many granola heads in there shopping for my comfort level.

[Drew Hause]

Sports Illustrated reported that L.L. had a 20g. Different gun?
https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/12/0...g-the-old-bean

I found this low resolution image of L.L. but can't tell what gun he is holding

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/5169...ompany-history



He's holding a rifle here
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/516919?page=leadership

[Dean Romig]

Ithaca...??





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[Rick Riddell]

It’s a shame what has happened to that company, most of us here feel the same way and avoid that place. I think it says more on where we are heading, customer service and common courtesies appear to be lacking.

[edgarspencer]

I always enjoyed looking through the catalog, when it arrived, back then, maybe twice a year. I inquired with the Freeport store, if the gun that was in the case in the stairwell was the gun used for so many years in the catalogs, and was told it most definitely was.
After clearing all the crap off my almost useless HP multi-function gizmo, I was disappointed that the scan wasn't all that clear, but, trust me, it is as I saw in the store, a DH(E?). As to the gauge, I can't say, but going from memory, it appeared to be a 1 frame, and 16ga.