I'm more than a little partial to Parkers.


]

Love the photos!!

I only have 2 SXS old Stephen/Savage 311 in 12 and 20 ga. Choked m&f they have accounted for more squirrels than anything else. Not the elegance of a Parker but they work.

Thanks,

One more to keep it going....

Lot of nice SxS out there that were not thought of as top of the heap. Yet they worked, and probably on the whole brought home more game than the collectibles.


Take some pics-hell go out and shoot a couple Squirrels, and then take a pic-would like to see them.

One of my favorites for waterfowl Husqvarna 51





Upland a little Bernardelli Elios 5 lb. 15 oz. 12ga.

Beautiful guns!

Battue, what are the details on that SST Parker?

My only shotgun I found long ago on a trip to San Fransisco. An Abercrombie & Fitch 12 ga by Zoli Rizzini, circa 1957.

Kingston,

16Ga with 3in chambers of all things and I still have 3 paper 16's from the guy who owned it originally.

I know almost all of the history of that shotgun. Originally owned by a man named Bardwell, who I would have to guess loved his Pheasant hunting, in that every year went to SD back in the heyday of at least the 40's and 50's. Maybe longer. I wasn't around before then.

He used to take old reel videos of his time there and show them when he got back. Pheasants in locust numbers would rise up in clouds. Now, was he a good shot and killed many. I don't know. Did he kill many, just by the opportunities he must have had. I would think so.

When he gave it up, he sold it to my Father who used it a good bit on Pheasants. Eventually, it came to me.

But it started doubling. Being young and not knowing any better I gave it to a Smith who supposedly knew his stuff. Turns out he didn't and gave up. I looked around and discovered Larry DelGreco and sent it to him. Got a call and he said the previous Smith was a butcher and recommended a Miller trigger. Turns out it is one of the finest shotgun triggers ever made and you will find few rifles to match how crisp it breaks. Wasn't rare for Parker owners to make the conversion.

Been considering hard about having it completely restored and am considering who to do the work.



3in paper 16 next to a 2 3/4 plastic.

3" chambers! My 16 ga has 2.5" chambers. What frame size is it? You'll likely undermine the collector value having it restored, even if done by DelGrego or Turnbull. It's great that you know the guns story.

Not the O frame for sure. A little on the heavy side. I ran it by the Parker Collector Association, and they said that although 3in was rare, it didn't add all that much value to a heavily used VHE.

If I ever win the Lotto, first gun I'm going to buy is a REALLY Nice Winchester Model 21

1923-vintage L.C.Smith Long Range model, Ideal Grade. 32" barrels, 3" chambers. One of the very first of this model made by Hunter Arms. Only a couple lower serial numbers known to the LCSCA. Smith and Fox intro'ed 3" guns almost simultaneously when Olin announced 3" 12 gauge ammunition. It has the screwiest boring of any 12-bore I ever saw. Long forcing cones, bore diameter of .710 starting 10" ahead of chamber, chokes of .665 both barrels. To say it throws a tight pattern would be an understatement. These two geese were dropped simultaneously at 60+ yards. (Darned lucky shot!)

At 9+ pounds it is a bit weighty to carry all day. I feed it 2 3/4" handloads, 1 1/8oz. #2 Nice Shot or ITX at 1250 fps. (That was the load that dropped these two.) Bear in mind the 3" loads from when the gun was made were pale in comparison to our 3" loads of today, more like our 2 3/4" "high brass" factory loads. I choose to take it easy with the old girl, plus my loads kill just fine.

No pics, but the Fox Sterlingworth had/has to be one of the best guns for the money ever made. A bit on the heavy side, in 12 gauge anyway, but so well balanced that you don't notice the weight. I've never shot a 20 gauge Sterlingworth, but have handled some and they are wonderful. If we still had quail, I would own one.

I am partial to Fox shotguns, especially small bore graded ones.

(with envy).

Not only partial to, but also flush with.

Very nice.

That's an easy one since I've thinned my heard down to one shotgun.
My 20ga Merkel that my boss gave me when I retired.

battue, I am not much on sxs's any more. Have my grandfathers Fox 12.. Sterlingworth.. That 3" 16 ga. caught my attention.. Major Charles Askins wrote of having a 3" 16 ga. but probably by Ithaca.. I think his had twist barrels.. I love this stuff about old shotguns.. I bought a Parker 12 ga trap gun one time from Cabela's.. Laid it away really.. I was into doubles real heavy at the time.. I had to give it up as my wife needed an operation.. She was more important to me than a smoothbore.. Love seeing these fine doubles..

DAMN!!!!!!!!

What a beautiful gift!

Great photo.

Yes it was. I've only handled one Merkel SxS, which was a 20 and the balance was better than good. They are known for their solid lock-up and durability. They know how to make make a shotgun right. Shame we no longer make its equal here

Yea....they're hell for stout....that's for sure...and a dam site better than a dumb old watch...who cares what time it is when your retired....
I kinda wish it had double triggers but you know what they say about looking gift horses in the mouth....
It fits me as good as any gun I've ever shot so I decided it was time to let the others go...seems like the older I get the more of a minimalist I become....
Or maybe I'm just turning into a simpleton but I'm happy....

Oh my! That is a nice handful!