GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
GRAND OLD PARKER "A-1 SPECIAL" SHOTGUN DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED IN "THE PARKER STORY" AND ON THE COVER OF THE JANUARY 1992 "CADA GUN JOURNAL" WITH CASE AND PGCA LETTER.PARKERA-1SPL23928012GAW/CASE & 1 ACCESS, 2 KEYSMODERN; C&R(1936) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers.1-1/2 Frame. 30" Bbls are marked "PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CT. U.S.A. PEERLESS STEEL" on concave matted rib. There are 3" pyramids of nicely cut varying sized scroll on breech ends, and geometric bands around muzzles. Bbl flats are stamped with Peerless Steel logos and Parker overload proofs with Remington date codes "EK3" "WE". (May '36, Aug '36). SN is on left side of lump and bottoms of lumps are damascened. Splinter is of reinforced type. Typical case hardened hammerless action features automatic safety (S inlaid in gold) and gold plated single selective trigger. Water table is engine turned and stamped with all correct markings. Action is nicely filed with four beads around fences; bottom beads running along rear of water table around transition of flat sides to round, and terminating in scrolls on bottom. Top lever has filed in chevron as transition to flutes running toward thumbpiece. Action is engraved with full coverage late "A-1 Special" style profuse small shaded scroll with floral bouquet highlights within geometric borders. "PARKER" is engraved on bottom of action, and ends of hinge pin are engraved. Blued trigger guard has matching scroll on bow and SN gold inlaid on tang. Very nicely marbled and lightly figured attractive flesh-toned European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 14" over skeleton steel buttplate. Composition grip cap has bottom inset large gold oval with border scroll engraving. Side panels have sunken checkering divided with thin scrolling ribbons and carved acanthus, and terminate in classic well carved fleur-di-lis. Checkering at grip is more flamboyant than that of usual "A-1 Specials", with acanthus flourishes behind drop point and at point of comb, and with long flourishes into butt. Splinter forend is checkered and carved to match, has usual steel tip and Deeley type release. Interior of iron is engine turned and stamped with SN but no patent dates. Bore diameter: left -.731, right - .729. Bore restrictions: left - .039 (extra full), right - .034 (full). Wall thickness: left - .022, right - .026. Drop at heel: 2-9/16", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Neutral cast. Weight: 7 lbs. 3 oz. LOP: 14". Gun is housed in high quality leather motor case with leather corners, lined in burgundy cloth, and has gold and black Parker label in lid. Case contains a square oil bottle and two keys. Gun matches all specifications as listed in the PARKER GUN IDENTIFICATION & SERIALIZATION ledger, except stock type is not specified. PROVENANCE: This gun is pictured and described on pp. 370 -371 of THE PARKER STORY. Parker Gun Collectors Assn letter indicating gun was shipped from warehouse to the factory in January 1937, also that this gun was sent out to Remington employees on two occasions; Sept '36 it was sent to shooting champion, Gus Peret; and in Jan '37, it was sent to J. G. Heath. Also included is January 1992 CADA GUN JOURNAL where this gun is illustrated on the cover, and cover information relates that "this gun was ordered in 1935 by Mr. William Simpson, then chairman of the board for Marshall Field," who "shot ducks and pheasants with it in northern Illinois until he sold it to a friend in 1967", along with information on Mr. Simpson. Prestigious and lifetime Parker and Winchester collection of Dr. Tom Bouwkamp. CONDITION: Very fine, as lightly maintained. Bbls retain 90 - 95% what appears to be orig blue, thinning on sides from normal hand wear, silvered on sharp edges of rib. Action retains 60 - 70% orig case hardening color, strong where protected, actual percentage difficult to ascertain because of extensive engraving. Screws show some use, especially action screw, with slot widened and slightly distorted. Trigger guard retains most of its blue. Trigger retains nearly all of its gold plate, silvered a bit on right side of blade. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig finish, maintained with added oil over numerous light marks. Checkering lightly worn on grip; cleaned up a bit on forend. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Mechanically fine. Case leather is excellent with some marks and rubs. Interior is excellent. A superb late top of the cataloged line of Parkers. "The Parker Story" estimates a total of 79 were made, 55 in 12 ga. and 35 with 30" bbls. 52170-1 MGM137 (75,000-125,000)