Description:
American Parker Brothers CHE Grade, 1 1/2 frame, 12 gauge, double triggers, double barreled shotgun with 30" tubes choked modified and full. Of the nearly quarter million Parker guns manufactured during the reign of the finest American shotgun made, less than one-half of one percent were produced as a "C Grade." With damage and loss of only ten percent of those that leaves about 1000 of these CHE Grade guns available for many more than 1000 collectors and avid double shooters, any one of whom would like to own one.
This particular Parker is not in the pristine condition that most of us would love to find, but if it was, few of us could afford it. So, we will have to take this one for what it is, a fine, used hunting tool that was in one family and used by one man since presented to him as "To Roy From Tom, 1928." As attested by his consigning son and by the silver oval inscribed as such in the lower of the stock.
There is little difference in outward appearance between the popular and much more produced "D" grade than the "C" grade pictured here. If you look at the engraving along the frame edges you can see the subtle difference in styles. The main difference for the extra $50.00 Parker charged for the higher grade was the barrel marking. The "D" has "Titanic Barrels" and the "C" has an "Acme Barrel", which the Company Salesman was to sell to the more discerning shooter ... at a higher price. Many less were sold and made of the higher priced CHE Parkers.
View the thumbnails so you can see the markings and double load proofs that Parker became famous for and instilled confidence in their customers that they were buying the highest quality gun available, and at a moderate price. That is unless you wanted the CHE, or "B" or ... Hallelujah ... the "A" Grade, a Parker Salesman dream! For now, we'll have to ponder this offering of our "C" grade, with ejectors, so CHE Parker.
Our gun has acquired some scrapes and scratches over the hunting years and at one time there was a ding or bruise mid-way in the right barrel. A repair had been attempted but remnants are still visible in the tube and in the original bluing. About which 95% appears remaining with but thinning at the muzzle and with a few light scratches. The mid-rib ivory bead is fine but the front one has been damaged. The bores are excellent and the lock-up is very tight, nearly new feeling. The main detriment is the amount of case coloring left on the receiver, only about 10%, viewable near the triggers. It seems this gun may have been overly cleaned and perhaps not actually used that much. In any event the fancy American walnut butt stock had a white-line spacer pad but we recently upgraded this to a classic leather covered pad that was in use of the period, the length of pull from the front trigger to the outer end of the pad is now 14 1/4". There is also a small ding in the left lower checked area of the stock that is not very noticeable but definitely worth a mention. So, there you have it. A rarely offered CHE Parker that you can pick apart for any number of reasons but is so very hard to find in any form or condition, period. If you would care to own this fine American piece of our historic past, please send a check or call with credit card, the owner is anxious to move this as is reflected in the price. Additional photos are available.
Condition:
Used - See Item Description
Caliber:
12 Gauge
Item #:
943244674
Stock No.:
C006
Location:
NY
Trades Accepted: Regardless of our name we rarely accept trades.
Shipping Notes: $30. min plus insurance generally shipped by UPS.
Brick & mortar gun store at 38 North Main St, Mechanicville, NY for over 35 years and in business for over 40 years. My wife Cathy also holds FFL and together we have promoted gun shows for over 40 years in the northeast, most notably in Saratoga Springs, NY which we refer to as Arms Fairs. Been doing business on the web since it was a baby with our own site and have never had a return of a firearm except the one guy who thought he was buying a different gun that was listed. Published the ARMS COLLECTORS JOURNAL for over 7 years in print and recently on the web. We display at various shows and will probably see you out there on the circuit. I do collect American swords and Nazi blades along with many other of our interests. We have a four story brick building simply bulging with old sporting collectables, guns, militaria and US surplus goods which we used to buy at auction. If in town stop by and see what you've been missing.
