The Americans
- A.H. Fox Gun Company: Founded by Ansley Herman Fox in 1906, this company built doubles until it was bought by Savage Arms in 1929. Savage continued to build guns under the A.H. Fox name into the 1940s. A.H. Fox guns came in 12-gauge, 16-gauge, and 20-gauge. Their total production was around 180,000 guns.
- Ithaca Gun Company: One of America’s most successful gun makers. Ithaca opened in 1883 and built a number of different boxlock-style side-by-sides, including the Crass, Lewis, Flues, and NID. The company stopped making side-by-sides in 1948. They built over 300,000 of them in all—more than any other US maker.
- L.C. Smith: This is the maker of America’s only mass-produced sidelock shotgun. L.C. Smith started in 1881. Side-by-side shotguns were built under the L.C. Smith name until 1950. There were probably over 150,000 L.C. Smiths made.
- Lefever Arms Co: Introduced in 1883, these side-by-sides are part boxlock, part sidelock, and the first commercially successful hammerless shotguns made in the United States. Shotguns bearing the Lefever Arms Co. name were made until 1919. In all, around 73,000 were built.
- Parker Brothers: Parker Brothers is America’s most famous side-by-side maker. Founded in 1868 in Meriden, Connecticut, Parker Brothers was sold to Remington Arms in 1934. From 1868 to 1947, just over 242,000 Parker shotguns were made.
The British
- Westley Richards: Founded in 1812 and still in business today, Westley patented two of the most famous shotgun designs of all time: the Anson & Deeley boxlock shotgun and the “detachable lock” action. So far, they’ve made over 25,000 doubles.
- W.W. Greener: Famous for their side safeties and crossbolt action, Greener used to have one of the largest gunmaking factories in the United Kingdom. The company has been around since 1829. Today, they’re making some of the finest guns in the world. In total, Greener has built over 30,000 guns.
- Holland & Holland: Holland & Holland is the builder of the famous “Royal” shotgun, and one of the most famous gunmakers in the world. Holland & Holland has been selling guns since 1835, and they’ve made doubles for kings, heads of state, and wealthy people around the world. They’re still in business, and so far they’ve built over 45,000 shotguns and rifles.
Other European Makers
- Belgian: Defourny, Francotte, and Lebeau-Courally
- French: Guyot, Manufrance, and Verney-Carron
- German: Charles Daly, Heym, and Merkel
- Italian: Beretta, Franchi, and Piotti
- Spanish: AYA, Arrieta, and Ugartechea
The Parker Reproductions were exact clones of the various grades of original Parker shotguns, with all of the original’s good and bad points, but made with modern steels and stocked to modern dimensions. No other improvements were incorporated. Parts were interchangeable with original Parkers. Far fewer Parker Reproductions were manufactured than original Parkers and they are suitable for use with modern shells, so their collector’s value is assured.
All Parker Reproduction guns were high grades, the lowest of which was D. Grades offered included DHE, BHE, and A1 Special.
The Parker Reproduction was a very nice shotgun, and it was commercially successful. In fact, the line was being expanded when the blow fell: the Japanese manufacturer had landed a big auto parts contract and was terminating their gun making operation. They were retooling and would build no more Parker Reproduction shotguns. Overnight the dream ended. All that was left to do was sell off the remaining stock of guns, mostly DHE’s and a few A1 Specials, and provide warrantee/repair service for the existing guns.
Among the DHE’s best features were its comfortable feel in the hand, nice wood, well executed engraving, good balance, and overall fine workmanship. A DHE is a handsome gun, whether made in Japan or the U.S.A.
Make no mistake, the Parker action is a complicated one. It is difficult to clean, adjust, or repair and only journeyman gunsmiths intimately familiar with the Parker action should be entrusted with one. Owners absolutely should not attempt to disassemble their guns themselves. I am certain that the legend of “Old Reliable” is based more on the Parker hammerless double’s workmanship than on its design.
I shot my DHE quite a bit, and it often drew envious comments from other shooters. Indeed, my biggest regret is that I did not buy an A1 Special at closeout prices when I had the chance!
Note: A complete review of a Parker Reproduction DHE grade shotgun can be found on the Product Review Page.
