doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parker Repro's - Reagent, Winchester ?

Well, I finally broke down and bought a Parker Repro after yrs of oggling them. I found it at Jaqua's. A 28g, 28" straight stock SST gun. I think it's still listed and some pics are with the listing.
It's listed as a "Winchester Parker"

I don't know what I'm going to do with a big bore like a 28g. My goal is to fit a set of CSM 410 bbls to it. I placed my order for the barrels yesterday just before I bought the gun. It should be fun.

I'm wondering about the production history of the repro's. My understanding is that Reagent Chemical initiated the production? Who did the design work (tolerances and drawings, etc.)? How did Winchester get involved? When? Any other owners of the Parker Repro rights and production?

Thanks
Chuck

Chuck,

Most everything you'd want to know about Parker Reproductions can be gotten here:
http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=99

Did CSMC give you any anticipated delivery date for the .410 barrel sets?

bamboozler

Bam,
Just got a call from CSM about a half hour ago. They wanted to make sure I knew that the production of the barrels was scheduled to begin with other gauges, 410 being the last of the production run plans. They said it could be as long as a year from now. But that it could be sooner. They wanted to know if I wanted to cancel for a full refund of my deposit. I said I was ok with the delivery schedule.

thanks for the link to the PGC.

They are starting with 16 ga. barrels. As was said above the 410's are the most difficult to produce and are def. last in line to be produced. 2012 maybe!!??

About 15 years ago I acquired my first; later a second Repo. Both now gone.I called around and got to talk to a Skeuse son. The father was deceased by that time. The son is a nice man.Long conversation.I really dislike typing and rather use a more modern,but somewhat out-moded method of exchange,the telephone.Want to talk? 434-978-7769

The short story is that Winchester was making 101's and 23's as a joint venture in Japan, called Olin Kodensha. Therefore, that was a likely place for the Skeuses to turn when they decided to have Parker Repros made. Repro production ceased when the plant closed, I believe in 1989. Likely would have continued had the plant stayed open, because they sold 12,000+. Pretty good for a sxs in that price range back then.

If I'm not mistaken, the Kodensha plant was razed to make room for a 3 tier golf driving range

Happy for you, Chuck. Post pictures when you get it.
jl

The short message,from memory,Mr Skeuse was a Parker man and used his technical ability to make computer drawings of same.He wanted to make a few himself. They had Winchester contacts,also as I remember, Olins and he were Cornell men(Chemistry ,I believe ,which was some common ground during our talk as I was teaching a bit also.) So,off to Japan and 12,500 guns which sold like hot cakes sorta.Wore off halfway. Ended up selling to 3 wholesalers.Then, Parker owners raided for some parts and flood water got the rest.At the time of the talk,they still owned the computer stuff and tooling,but thought costs would be too high to continue.So did Remington at that time. It was a lesson in gun economics 101 at least for SxS at that price.Cool guns, somewhat limited market.

Hi Bill,
Would have called but work, and then chasing down my dealer to transfer this gun, got in the way.

I read part of the history in the link above. Fascinating stuff. Those guys really put it out there in the wind. Lotsa mulla.

On a different note, I see I drove right by your place last Thanksgiving, driving from my brother's place in Hampton over to Gunter Pfrommer's in the Roanoake area.