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Lindsay Blanton
06-15-2013, 02:30 PM
I inherited a Parker: VHE Grade, 12 gauge, 26 inch barrel, serial #240283. It was one owner, ordered by my uncle from The Parker Gun Works, Ilion, N.Y. in 1939. Some original literature is with the Parker. Can I get some comments from any experts on how valuable this Parker is? What I really have?

Dave Suponski
06-15-2013, 03:48 PM
Lindsay,We need good quality picture's to even begin to tell you about your Remington/Parker. Congratulations on your inheritance. Sounds like a great gun.

Daryl Corona
06-15-2013, 03:50 PM
Like Dave said some pictures and if you could scan the documents you have that would help identification. Sounds like a nice gun.

Chuck Bishop
06-15-2013, 03:54 PM
Lindsay, without quality pictures of the receiver, receiver water table, barrel and barrel flats, and stock, we can't really give you an estimate. VHE 12 gauges with 26" barrels are very commonly found. Condition will determine value. If it's on a 1/2 frame, the value goes up plus vent rib, single trigger, and beavertail forend also increase the value. The frame size is found stamped on the barrel lug.

Lindsay Blanton
06-15-2013, 03:57 PM
I will get pictures shortly, meanwhile I scanned in the documents, hopefully I will post them successfully -

David Holes
06-15-2013, 04:16 PM
A 26 inch cyl and mod barrel is pretty desireable. I think alot of people would like that gun including myself. Congrats on a nice parker.

Lindsay Blanton
06-15-2013, 05:04 PM
OK here are some "rookie" pictures that I just took of the Parker. I really appreciate you all helping me with this. I am a pistol and rifle shooter and collector, but I have only this one Shotgun - this Parker I inherited.

Lindsay Blanton
06-15-2013, 05:10 PM
Here are some more pictures of the Parker

Daryl Corona
06-15-2013, 07:34 PM
Lindsay;
Thanks for the photos and the neat documents. I wish I had an inherited Parker with that paperwork. Don't ever separate the two. Who worked at the Gilliam Motor Co., was it your uncle?

Lindsay Blanton
06-15-2013, 08:27 PM
Yes he was my uncle - Hubert Gilliam and he was a great quail hunter and owned Gilliam Motors in Cumberland, VA. I was too young to hunt with him before he died of cancer. He told my aunt to make sure I got the Parker. She did that! I have had it packed away for 23 years. 2 years ago I took with me to the Woodmont Rod & Gun Club in Maryland for a Company hunt and an expert out there told me not to use it. I figured I would one day have time to research it and I am happy to have found the Parker Collectors Association!

Daryl Corona
06-15-2013, 08:37 PM
Great story Lindsay. I too have hunted at Woodmont and it's a shame that it's no longer there. The "expert" you met really did'nt know anything about double guns, Parkers in particular. Your gun should be shot and enjoyed just as your uncle did. From the looks of the wear on the gun he used, but not abused, that nice Parker. If it had been unfired and in the box that would be a different story.

Chuck Bishop
06-15-2013, 09:30 PM
What's the frame size! Look at the bottom of the barrel lug.

Lindsay Blanton
06-16-2013, 11:53 AM
I finally looked at the bottom of the barrel lug - it shows 12 and the one half - pictures attached

Chuck Bishop
06-17-2013, 10:26 AM
As I suspected from the less than 7 pound weight, it's a 1/2 frame gun. Parker didn't start making 12ga 1/2 frame guns until after they were purchased by Remington in response to a demand for a lighter weight 12ga gun. 1/2 frame guns are scarce but not rare and do bring a higher value. There are collectors who collect 1/2 frame guns.

I'm not going to venture a guess as to value but I can tell you that I was talking to Steve Barnett recently about 1/2 frame guns and he told me he sold a VHE with a lot of case colors remaining for $7500. Your mileage may vary!

Lindsay Blanton
06-17-2013, 11:29 AM
Chuck, thanks for your reply! One question - since I am a rookie at this, what do the numbers actually mean for frame size? Is it an actual measurement of something on the frame?

George Lander
06-21-2013, 12:46 AM
Lindsey: Parker made frame sizes from 0000 all the way to eight. 0000 being found on a few of the very lightest .410s and eight on the very heaviest eight gauge guns. The number denotes the actual size of the gun's frame.

Best Regards, George

Chuck Bishop
06-21-2013, 08:37 AM
Lindsay, to answer your question on the size of the 1/2 12ga frame, the distance between the firing pins was 1 1/16", the same as the 1 frame. The distance across the breech was 1 5/8", the same as a 0 frame. The distance across the hinge was 1 1/2", the same for frame sizes 0/00/000. The size of a 1 frame was 1 5/8". The height of the standing breech was 1 5/32", the 0/00/000 was 1 3/32" and the 1 frame was 1 3/16".

As you can see, the receiver had dimensions of a mixture of 1 and 0 frames. This made the gun lighter than most 12ga guns. There is a link found on the PGCA home page under FAQ's that has some more info on frame sizes.

charlie cleveland
06-21-2013, 11:38 AM
george this is the first mention of a 8 frame gun ive come across...does anyone have a gun of this frame size they could tell and show us some pictures of... charlie