doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com First Parker - Sorta

Having owned a '74 Jag XJ12 and currently a '93 Range Rover I can fully appreciate the Lucas Electric comments. As to Jap automobiles & bikes I remember an old friend Herman House (no longer with us) who was a survivor of Pearl Harbour & a sign painter. As long as I knew him he had a sign on his truck which read: "When you get really hungry eat your Toyota"

Just My Thoughts.....George

In reference to "no soul" - I saw a 20 gauge Reproduction that had been hunted - a lot. The case was almost gone with some remaining in protected places. The stock had several dents and lots of minor scratches. Until I looked closely at it I thought it was an original. I believe that that gun had more than an adequate amount of "soul".

Best,

Mike

Actually Ted, I have several boxes of those Kent TM loads made for Brit doubles. Probably a lifetime supply for me, given that I don't hunt waterfowl, nor do I hunt pheasants very often where nontox is required--and the steel Nazis appear to be far more active (no surprise there!) up where you live, in the People's Republic of Minnesota, than they are down here in IA. And given the fact I'm now an official double dipper (military pension AND social security), I doubt I'm still going to be doing a lot of hunting by the time they get around to mandating nontox for upland birds.

If you had a Steel Shot Special, you could have bought steel shot instead of those Kent loads, and saved a ton, Larry. If you tell me you have a Boss pigeon gun from between the wars, that needs the Kent loads, I'll know we pay retired Lt Cols too much!
I hope you have lots of years popping off expensive rounds, in any event, Larry.
Best,
Ted

Are any Parkers soulful, or just hype?
Perhaps, they are the Elvis of the gun world - blue eyed soul for fatcats.

I think his needle is stuck...I think his needle is stuck...I think his needle is stuck...I think his needle is stuck...

Yawn....

This argument gets kicked around year after year but in the end there is the original, then there are imitators.

If anyone would like to trade me a reproduction Chippendale chair for an original I will be glad to do so. The Repro will be built to higher standards and even have some improvements in the strength department. After we're done with that trade I'll also trade you a Van Gogh Reproduction, which uses better paints and canvas, for your original. Let me promise you, a Van Gogh repro will have just as much soul as the real thing. If it doesn't, I'll drag it on on the floor and put some scratches on it until it has enough soul.

Yawn....

GregSY: If you happen to get an original Chippendale chair or a Van Gough original that you want to get rid of please let me know. I'll be happy to trade you repros of both & throw in a few Parkers to boot.

Junt My Thoughts.........George

Soul? A repro might attain soul in a hundred years or so but even then will never attain the heights of soul an original has. They were made by American craftsmen and women who took pride in their work - trades many of them learned in the old country at the knee of masters and brought them to this new country; a country with promise. The level of craftsmanship they engaged in on a daily basis we, today call art. Each time these old guns were shot, whether at clays, pigeons or wild game - each time they were cleaned and oiled and rubbed and admired by their owners they attained a higher level of soul. each time they were handed down from father to son or grandfather to grandson with the stories of how well they served their masters they attained a higher level of soul. Each time a new "custodian" took on the responsibility of their use and care, knowing or just guessing at their imagined history, evaluating each bump and bruise, nick and scratch, imagining how each blemish happened, they attain a higher level of soul. Each time a wife casts a jealous sidelong glance at them as they are carried out of the house to the field where they will be cherished like a mistress as they obey their master's bidding they attain a higher level of soul. Each time we hold them, admire them and wish for autumn so that we may again play with them they attain a higher level of soul. Nothing can replace or imitate this kind of soul.

English refer to this intangible value of ole' classic as having a 'Ghost'. These gems must come from country with craftsmen that went through the process of refining these guns and have history of their field use among sports people. Lets see, France, England, US,....come to mind.
What can I say, Jap guns are useless at Haloween time!