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Wyoming Arms
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WYOMING ARMS 10MM FIREARMS |
| Model |
Description |
Status |
Rating |
| Parker 3-3/8" Compact |
3-3/8" barrel with slide mounted safety and adjustable
rear sight. Very rare. |
Discontinued |
 |
| Parker 5" Standard |
5" barrel with slide mounted safety and either fixed or
adjustable rear sight. |
Discontinued |
|
| Parker 7" Longslide |
7" barrel with slide mounted safety and adjustable rear
sight. Very rare. |
Discontinued |
 |
|
Additional Notes: The Wyoming Arms Parkers do not have
a very good reputation for reliability or accuracy. They do have some desirability from a collector's standpoint, but if
you're looking for a shooter there are better guns available. |
OVERVIEW
The Wyoming Arms Parker is a single action gun somewhat similar to a 1911 Government Model. Two major differences, however,
are the elimination of the grip safety and the use of a slide mounted rather than frame mounted manual safety. The Parker
can still be carried with the hammer cocked and the safety engaged, but the slide can still be operated so it can't truly
be considered "cocked-and-locked" when in this mode.
The gun was made in 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto and .45 ACP. Available barrel lengths included a 3-3/8" compact (very rare),
a standard 5", and a 7" longslide (also very rare). The gun is made of all stainless steel and comes standard with black
plastic grips.
I do not know the date for when the Wyoming Arms company started up, when the closed shop, or how many guns were produced.
As I understand though, after Wyoming Arms closed down it was resurrected as Laseraim. These guns use the same basic designed,
but appear much more refined. Laseraim, like its predecessor Wyoming Arms, only managed to survive a few years before going
under.
DETAILS / OBSERVATIONS / SHOOTING CHARACTERISTICS
Details
The Wyoming Arms Parker has a solid heft to it, but does not have the refined feel of a Colt 1911 or even a S&W auto. In
many ways the Wyoming Arms Parker is similar in appearance to the Automag pistols produced by AMT/iAi. Like the AMT/iAi guns,
the stainless Parker is bead blasted with the exception of the flats on the slide which are brushed. Magazines appear to
be of standard 1911 design, but I cannot guarantee compatability.
3-3/8" Compact - The Wyoming Arms compact 10mm is quite rare and I have only seen a few for
sale. The frame appears to be identical between all three models, but the slide is significantly shorter. Strangely enough,
every compact I have seen has worn the rather high profile Millet adjustable rear sight.
I have not even held one of these guns, let alone shot one, but considering the Parker's rather dubious reputation I wouldn't
put a lot of faith in this particular model. When you shorten the slide on a 10mm you are decreasing its weight thereby increasing
slide velocity, and you are also shortening the recoil stroke. Neither of these are conducive to reliability with hot 10mm
ammo.
5" Standard - The most commonly encountered Parker is the standard 5" version. This model
can be found with both fixed or adjustable sights. I have also seen 5" caliber conversion kits for sale, but these are relatively
rare.
7" Longslide - The 7" longslide model is equipped with a Millet adjustable rear sight and
a tall Millet front sight with a plastic neon-red insert in the ramp. Slide to frame fit on my personal gun is rather loose
which doesn't bode well for accuracy. The trigger is rather mushy and it's difficult to tell when it's going to break. Additionally,
the slide-mounted safety seems to work fine, but doesn't not have the crisp "click" I like to hear.
Observations
None of the Wyoming Arms Parkers I have handled ever struck me as "top quality" firearms. In the area of fit and finish,
they seem to be a bit below the AMT/iAi guns. The grip frame shape and grip panels do not contribute to an overly comfortable
hold. Even though the Parkers function somewhat like a 1911, their triggers are rather pathetic. Add to this a loose slide-to-frame
fit and accuracy must be questionable at best!
Shooting Characteristics
I personally have never fired any of the Wyoming Arms Parkers. Due to the rarity of the 7" model I plan to keep mine in new,
unfired condition. I hope to someday pick up one of the 5" models, but until then I'll just have to rely on what I've heard.
Reports on the Parker are varied. Most reports are not what I could consider complimentary. These descriptions range from
"unreliable" to "expensive paperweight." Then there are those few stories you hear where someone has had one for years and
put thousands of rounds through it with nary a bobble. I tend to lean towards the more critical opinion, but will withold
final judgement until I have the opportunity to test fire one personally.
LITERATURE
The Wyoming Arms Parker was never a very popular gun (which is of course why the company went under). Because of this there
just isn't a lot of information on the gun. I was able to find one magazine that included a review on the Parker.
August 1991 Gun World
In this issue of Gun World is an article titled, "The Parker Pistols" written by Tom Ferguson. The cover only mentions the
.40 S&W, but the article includes both .40 S&W and 10mm guns. It's an interesting read, and the author seems to be impressed
with the guns. Of course you rarely read an actual bad review in any gun magazine so you always need to read these articles
with a "grain of salt."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wyoming Arms Parker Owner's Manual
The Wyoming Arms Parker wasn't around too long. Although it is similar to the common 1911 in many ways it is by no means
identical. Finding a Parker isn't too difficult, but as with any used gun they don't often come with the original manual.
Because of this I've scanned the manual and posted the images for those who may need the information.
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