Shopping Guide For Buying A Parker

[Chuck Loveless]

There is a gun show coming up in a month and I'll be on the lookout for a 20 gauge Parker, Vulcan barrels and possibly ejectors . Besides the normal issues of a used gun, are there specific questions I should ask and answers I should get relating to Parkers? I know there is a wealth of knowledge here and any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Mike of the Mountain]

20g will be pricey, throw in ejectors and the price goes up even more. Longer barrels will command a higher price too. Make sure the stock is solid. A repair needed will add to the price and a new stock will cost at least $2K. Make sure it locks up tight with and without the fore-end and that the bores are good. Caveat Emptor.

[Bill Murphy]

You are searching for high original condition and a seller that doesn't value condition as much as you do.

[Dean Romig]

We could write a book on the subject but unfortunately, experience is the best teacher.
Each and every used gun for sale is different in some little way from the others. Sometimes ‘experience’ can’t simply be imparted to others.
I have often been asked for my opinion about a particular gun and I am always more than happy to do so.

Luckily for me my two “misteke” guns were very early in my association with collecting Parkers… and they are both waaay back in the rear of my safe where nobody can see them.





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[terc]

I highly recommend that you have someone with you that is experienced. If you are new to this, you think you know a lot more than you do.
Years ago , when the Parker Collectors met in Pittsburg for there annual meeting, I thought I found the perfect 20g Trojan on a dealers table. I mentioned the gun to Ed Muderlak . He was kind enough to inspect it for me. It was a bad gun.
It really pays to ask those who know.

[Bill Murphy]

Dave, that couldn't possibly be the Trojan 20 that Ed sold for ten grand, could it?

[John Davis]

Chuck, don't know where you are located or what gun show you'll be attending but my bet is you are going to be hard pressed to find any decent Parkers (or any Parkers at all) at most any of your run of the mill gun shows. And if you do, you better know what you're looking at. If you can make it to the Southern or the Annual meeting, the prospects will be infinitely better and you'll have lots of folks who can help you.

[Michael D Hankinson]

If you join the Group here you will have access to the ads for Firearms accessories etc. You can watch the ads and or advertise your want list, post dimensions that might fit you, well worth your $40 investment.

[Brush Buster]

The most important issue for me is to make sure the barrels haven't been cut , If you have a serialization book ,it often times helps but if the serial# isn't in the book then you need to know what to look for ! Look at the rib matting and see if the matting " Squiggly Lines on the top rib "stops short of the end of the barrels just short or just past the front bead , with a distinct Horizontal line cut across the end of the top rib ,this is always a positive and what you want to see ,then check to see if the barrels actually touch each other at the end of the barrels ,after making positive proof the gun is unloaded ,also Parker guns have Barrel Keels installed at the end of the barrels ,tiny metal wedges ,if the triangular gap is totally filled with solder ,be very careful !

[Brush Buster]

Uncut Barrels !