Parker Shotgun Question

My perception is that collectors in general are looking for very good condition guns in the higher grades. There are relatively few Canadian collectors of fine double barreled shotguns, which leads to generally lower prices for them in Canada.
Beyond or below this market, you are looking a people who want guns to use for hunting or casual target shooting. Concerns for safety, chamber length, and suitable ammunition or reloading supplies diminish the number of people who want guns such as your Trojan and many older European shotguns.

Bob
 
The response by bluedcanoed is right on. Collectors want higher grade guns in as nice a condition as they can find. The market for typical used field grade guns is low. Maybe a bit higher in the US than Canada but still low. Without seeing it, unless it's quite nice my opinion is that it's around a $400.00-$450.00 gun in this country. Others may feel free to disagree.
 
gunsaholic said:
The response by bluedcanoed is right on. Collectors want higher grade guns in as nice a condition as they can find. The market for typical used field grade guns is low. Maybe a bit higher in the US than Canada but still low. Without seeing it, unless it's quite nice my opinion is that it's around a $400.00-$450.00 gun in this country. Others may feel free to disagree.
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Some people see Parker or L.C. Smith and think they automticly have a gun worth over $1,000 but the reality is , most of them are not.
There were a pile more field grade Elsies and Trojans made than the higher end jobs, and unless they are in very good shape they are worth about what gunsaholic suggested for the most part.
That being said, there are always people looking for "shooter condition" Parkers.....
Cat
 
Newby said:
I usually do 3 checks, the forums, the internet and book value. The prices you are stating are about 55% - 60% less then the US. I have have sold enough guns to know that the gun prices are not that much lower here. In this case (assuming your numbers are good), is it because there is less interest in collectors guns or less collector interest for certain guns (like this one) ? I am going with the latter as I never had a problem selling a Luger and they are prohibs... so you'd think they would be a hard sale.
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I don't think they will be hard to sell , just hard to sell at a high dollar.
Cat
 
The Parker Trojans that would acquire collector interest are those that are NIB with hanging tags and accompanying paperwork. These were lower-end Parkers and meant to be used so the ones in 100 per cent condition are rare.

The OP's gun sounds like a shooter and is probably worth in the $500 neighbourhood considering the missing butt plate and what sounds like some scrapes and marred screw slots. The most expensive Trojan I've seen for sale was in 98 per cent condition but without the paperwork. It sold for $800.
 
I sold a Parker VH model on here about 2 years ago which is a model above the Trojan. It was a shooter grade. I got $450.00 for it. I think I started at $550.00 and no one showed any interest in it at that price at that time.
 
Newby said:
I usually do 3 checks, the forums, the internet and book value. The prices you are stating are about 55% - 60% less then the US. I have have sold enough guns to know that the gun prices are not that much lower here. In this case (assuming your numbers are good), is it because there is less interest in collectors guns or less collector interest for certain guns (like this one) ? I am going with the latter as I never had a problem selling a Luger and they are prohibs... so you'd think they would be a hard sale.
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Fewer prospective buyers equals smaller market usually equals lower prices. The Trojan is a field grade Parker and doesn't command big bucks unless in mint condition as has been mentioned. Pics are required but value is probably in the $500 neighbourhood.
 
Newby said:
I usually do 3 checks, the forums, the internet and book value. The prices you are stating are about 55% - 60% less then the US. I have have sold enough guns to know that the gun prices are not that much lower here. In this case (assuming your numbers are good), is it because there is less interest in collectors guns or less collector interest for certain guns (like this one) ? I am going with the latter as I never had a problem selling a Luger and they are prohibs... so you'd think they would be a hard sale.
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I suspect that you may not have as much experience as you think in the old SxS market. Catnthehat and gunsaholic have a lot of experience, as do I and a few others. A careful examination of the market for these guns will show consistently a significant discrepancy between prices realized in the US and those realized in Canada, in the range suggested by cat and guns. It is a small market in Canada for 100 year old SxS shotguns. I just had a very nice 115 year old English SxS 12 gauge GIVEN to me by someone who just thought it was cluttering up the place. He considered it as equal or lesser in value to a broken Stevens 311.

I collect old SxS guns. I'm the kind of guy you think might be interested in your Parker. I have more SxS than most gun owners have guns. Based on your limited description, I wouldn't consider anything more than $250. IT'S MISSING A PIECE!!!! What collector buys guns that are missing pieces? As Claybuster said, show us an original field grade gun in 98% or better condition with original paperwork and a path will be beaten to your door. But another old farmer's gun from behind the back door? No thanks.
 
You hit the nail right on the head there cback ...hope can be eternal,but reality is that it will sit a long time ,$500.00 seem's the magic mark for sxs shotguns in Canada ...unless you have something small bore or graded ,and like you and no offense intended to the OP ,I agree it's a $250.00-$300.00 dollar gun .
 
Newby said:
Thanks for the information, it makes sense. My only argument is the "missing piece", tons of collector guns have had missing/broken pieces that were replaced. You probably have a bunch in your collection, how would you know if someone replaced a butt plate on a 100 year old shotgun if its the right piece? I used to collect German WWII handguns and I will guarantee certain minty models had the grips replaced, if they were the right code or type, then no one is the wiser.
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Youre comparing apples to oranges. I can tell you from my perspective as a purchaser I wouldn't be spending any kind of serious cash on a fair grade gun with broken parts or missing pieces.
 
For horn or Bakelite butt plates, it can often be very easy to tell if they were replaced because there was a lot of hand fitting to be done back then, unlike today when a Citori part will drop right in , but a Superposed part will require hand fitting.
it can be extremely difficult to match a butt plate, and copy the same patina ( almost impossible) if only half of the butt plate needs to be trimmed down.
Cat
 
Newby said:
I don't think I am, a high number of collectors build/repair guns. Why do you think collectors and dealers buy parts guns ? As long as the parts are right then no one will know the difference. Almost every collector on this planet has guns with replacement parts in them that they know nothing about. I get what you are saying mentally but realistically it does not hold water.
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Just an FYI, I meant comparing military surplus and handguns to shotguns first off, secondly what you are really saying to us is I think my base grade Trojan in fair condition with missing parts is rare(which it is not) and is worth alot of money(which it is not) and when those you have asked have told you it's value you are not happy with what you just heard so are using the U.S market as a measuring stick. Go look closely at the U.S market and you will see, the guns that fetch $$ are not the basic grades, they are the higher grades and are in pristine condition to boot. The other scenario is anyone can post an item for sale at any price, seeing that price online does not make that item worth the $$. Another thing to watch for is fraudulent grades of guns and in the U.S market lots of guns are for sale trying to be passed off as originals but are not. The sites with large memberships like shotgun world have no shortage of experts who can pick out proper collectors guns and I see a lot of posts about "fakes" for sale on gunbroker etc that guys put up warnings to for those so not in the know not to be fooled......in the case of your gun you also have a 12ga....not a smaller gauge.....HUGE difference in value!! Plus what you have described is IMO graded "poor" for value but I am giving you "fair" just to be FAIR!! "poor" condition in your book shows $600.......in the U.S market.....NOT CANADA!!
 
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