English Best compared to a Parker

[Tom Flanigan]

I was going to send my bore back to H&R to do the single trigger conversion to double triggers. But the guy in their NY city store couldn't tell me how much it would cost and the timeframe, so I decided to defer it. But I will send it back at some point. A H&H side by side looks all wrong with a single trigger. Damn Americans, many don't know how a London Best should be configured. A single trigger and beavertail on a London best????? The work of the devil himself!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

Damn Americans!

Excuse me?....Really?....in any context!






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[Tom Flanigan]

No offense to fellow Americans, but when I see a London best gun with a horrid beavertail and single trigger I know that few self respecting Englishmen would order a gun that way. I am half English on my mother's side so maybe that's why I find it so hard to take. I am a proud American, my family lived in your town of Andover from 1645 to 1826 when they moved to Wilmington, Vermont. Farnum road is named after my grandfather (8). So no offense, but geez, I like to see London best guns in their native attire.

[Bill Murphy]

I have a lovely Prussian Lindner hammer pigeon gun with Infallible trigger and beavertail forend. The owner, from Crumpton, Maryland on the Eastern Shore, shot this gun in pigeon and trap competition into the 1920s.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I am a proud American, my family lived in your town of Andover from 1645 to 1826 when they moved to Wilmington, Vermont.

Somehow they escaped the witch trials of 1692-93 where more people in Andover were accused, sent to Salem, tried and put to death than residents of Salem, else you might not be with us today.

I have a cute little 28 gauge DHE with an original beavertail that I find preferable in the uplands to a splinter when wearing gloves.





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[Tom Flanigan]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;255033]Somehow they escaped the witch trials of 1692-93 where more people in Andover were accused, sent to Salem, tried and put to death than residents of Salem, else you might not be with us today.

I have a cute little 28 gauge DHE with an original beavertail that I find preferable in the uplands to a splinter when wearing gloves.



My comments are a bit over the top and tongue in cheek. But I hate to see a beavertail and single trigger on a London Best gun. It looks unnatural. I never did like them on a field Parker, but to each his own.

As far as the witch trials, my grandfather, Ralph Farnum Jr, was a grand juryman for the beginning of the hearings in 1692, but died before rendering service. Ralph III and his brother John were summoned on July 30, 1692 to appear as witnesses against Martha Carrier of Andover who was tried for witchcraft and who was hanged August 19, 1692. I have a record of their testimony and the back story passed down through the family and the text of a period letter written by a cousin describing the impact on the family. It is fascinating and not what you would expect.

[Hammer Gun]

The DuBray gun certainly has the potential to fetch a handsome sum, Like Dean says I do not know of any other High grade Parker with the associated provenance as of this date. This gun will be watched by many, some bidders and others just wondering what it will go for. Morphys has done a good job marketing the piece as should be. Gary

[Dean Romig]

To be clear, Morphy’s had nothing to do with the Parker Pages article other than to very kindly provide pictures when asked.






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[Bill Murphy]

Hardly anyone would give the Dubray name the time of day except for the efforts of Ed M.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Hardly anyone would give the Dubray name the time of day except for the efforts of Ed M.

There are some who may argue that point Bill, but I'm not one of them. In fact, I alluded to your point in the PP article.






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