Questions about Parker 1/2 frame guns

[robert orris]

I see from Craig Reynolds article, and archives there is around 70 known half frame guns within the Parker community. A search through the most well known on line gun sights came up with no half frame guns! How rare are they? do they command a premium over say a #1 frame, or a #1 1/2 frame? If so how much of a premium? 10%, 20%, 40%, or more? Your thoughts please.

[Jeff K.]

If you do a search for 1/2 frame guns, you will find a lot of info on them.

[Pa SxS]

I too would like to know if you would pay more if the gun were a 1/2 frame versus say the 1 1/2 frame that was popular in that time frame assuming the same condition. On the plus side, Remington did use nicer wood on their guns than Parker did. I would consider them scarce but not rare but it depends on your interpretation of those words. Can anyone find asking or actual selling prices for these 1/2 frames?

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

I would say they command a premium for a few reasons:
1) They are rarer because they were made in what I call the Bitter End of Parker.
2) As Chuckie Boy says they invariably have better wood.
3) They seem to be generally in better condition: remember that they were made in the late 30s and hammerless Parkers were made for a lot of decades before that and thus those earlier guns had a lot of more field time than the 1/2 frames.
4) They were built and bought in tough economic times and thus the purchasers were usually better off and took better care of their guns.

Now that's a lot of stuff I just wrote but the 1/2 frame expert is Craig Reynolds.
I'm just an old fart.

[B. Dudley]

You can search this site for posts on the 1/2 frame guns and find a good amount of information on them.

In Craig Reynolds' writing on them, I think he estimates that maybe around 200 were built. If I recall correctly. But there is no way of knowing for sure. It was not many.

[Dean Romig]

Personally I put no premium of 1/2 frame guns.





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[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Personally I put no premium of 1/2 frame guns.

Some would disagree. I for one would for the reasons stated.

[winplumber]

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[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by George M. Purtill

Some would disagree. I for one would for the reasons stated.

But your reasons No. 2, 3, and 4 apply to all Parkers of that era and only No. 1 applies to the 1/2 frames.

And I do understand that some hold the 1/2 frame to a higher value and that's the nature of collecting.





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[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Chuck Bishop

I too would like to know if you would pay more if the gun were a 1/2 frame versus say the 1 1/2 frame that was popular in that time frame assuming the same condition. On the plus side, Remington did use nicer wood on their guns than Parker did. I would consider them scarce but not rare but it depends on your interpretation of those words. Can anyone find asking or actual selling prices for these 1/2 frames?

Yes for me. I would pay more for a 1/2 frame as compared to a 1 or 1 1/2 frame from the same era. My reasoning, rarity. Personally I look at rarity two ways. First how many of them are there, secondly how many ever come to market. The how many ever come to market thinking probably should not have an impact on the price but admittedly it does for me. If it's the only one I have seen for 5 years then I am inclined to pay more. I can only remember one 1/2 frame gun (Champlin) that has come to market for some time, that was back this past fall I believe. Have there been many over say the past 3 years or so ?

Chuck I would be interested to know if you see much activity in the research department in terms of requests for letters on 1/2 frames ? I would think that would be an indicator as to how often these guns surface.

BTW rare and scarce mean about the same to me. Also the Champlin gun was a DHE 12 bore as I recall, a nice one that had an asking price of something like $7,500 I think. Someone will remember the exact figure.