doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parkers are they truely...............?

Well said, Bill! My very first classic double was a pretty basic pre-WWII Sauer 16ga. When it developed a problem--the only issue it ever had in a couple decades' worth of pretty hard use, during which time it digested a few flats worth of high brass pheasant loads--I took it to my friend the local gunsmith to see if he could fix it (which he did). When he took it apart, he told me that it looked as if the makers expected someone to look inside and inspect their work.

Rick, Parker is the American version of Purdey at the time, as you thought.

Parker and Purdey are as far apart as chalk and cheese.
Not to say that Parker guns were not serviceable firearms.

if price is a function of quality, then parkers are the best production sxs gun ever made in this country...

This Parker and Purdey thing. To me it's a red herring. Both exist as two distinct things, although one of those things is related to the other.

Each is a company that made (or makes) shotguns.

But this conversation is really about the other thing both companies are and that is a brand name. Brand names are distinct from product and they have value.

But in the Purdey/Parker discussion here it's like we are trying to compare John Lobb to Bostonian. A comparison that makes no sense, except that they both make or made mens dress shoes.

It's Patek Phillipe to Omega.

There is no "American" Purdey. Nothing even close. It's not a bad thing there isn't (wasn't), it is just the way it is.

Price is never a function of quality. Price is a function of value.

This should be obvious to a man who earns income from selling things.

Again, Rick's question: "Would they (Parkers) be considered the AMERICAN VERSION of Purdey for the time period?"

I think its been answered. None should be comparing Parker to Purdey.

For the hell of it, I looked up my plain-as-pudding A&N 12ga in Diggory Hadoke's wonderful The British Boxlock Gun and Rifle (Safari).

Referring to Webley&Scott as a common supplier to A&N, he wrote: "In fact, these may well be some of the best value sporting guns available today as the quality is "best" but the brand value in today's market is very low."

"Very low." All they lack is embellishment, prestige and the means to buy one. Just a thought. I lost my letter but I think it sold for 22 or 32 shillings in 1913. It looks and handles so nicely I'd take it anywhere.

PS--Page 205, Dig notes under buy the gun, not the name, referring to photos in the book: "The photographic evidence clearly points out the superior quality of some Charles Osborne and Army&Navy boxlocks to those of Purdey or Holland and Holland."

"The most famous and probably the most highly regarded of American-made side-by-side double guns is the Parker."---JO'C The Shotgun Book

I always think of price as independent of value and Value=Quality/Price

King, I had for about 10 years a beautiful A & N boxlock with exquisite engraving. Stock was too short and it had black powder only proofs on fluid steel barrels. Dated to about 1890. But it was a beautiful handling gun. A little longer stock and it would have stayed in the safe.

Brent, I should have said price is a component of value. Your equation has it right.

Price on it's own is simply a price, indicative of nothing else.