New buttstock - VH 12 gauge
 

Most of my friends know that I'm trying to corner the market on nice 32-inch straight grip guns. :) I found a 2-frame VH last year with two barrels, one 32-inch 12 gauge choked IM and Full. And a 32-inch 20 gauge/3-inch barrel choked F & F. Original stock had 2-1/2" drop and fit me well but someone had pried the stock off, and the top and bottom tang inlets were pretty rough. Then last October I had the gun slip off my shoulder (in a padded gun case) and hit the concrete deck in the predawn darkness at at hotel on the St Lawrence river in NY. I thought it escaped damage but later in the goose blind I discovered a cracked wrist.

I had a gun restock in queue at Susquehanna Stockworks here in PA and Craig Libhart let me switch out the VH for that one. I asked Craig to replace the buttstock only, and he did that to my somewhat higher and longer dimensions so I could use it for hunting and clays. Of course I went with figured American black walnut from his inventory. Gun is now stocked 1-1/2 by 2-1/4 by 14-1/4" LOP. Original stock shield, tang bolt ferrule and buttplate screws were reused. Ready for this upcoming season. Here you go guys and gals. It looks like I'm limited here so more pics to follow. Frank

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Frank,

Craig did a real nice job on your VH. I'll have to ask him if he stained the stock and if he did, what color was it. He likes to use Behlan's. It's nice to have a good stocker local to our area.

Did I read correctly that the VH 2 frame 2 barrel set had one set in 12ga and the other set in 20ga? If so, it makes me want to find a set of 20ga barrels for the 1/2 frame I picked up in your neck of the woods 2 weeks ago.

Chuck, thanks for your feedback. As you know Craig is a superb ACGG stockmaker. I'll post some additional pics here to show what the inletting looks like; no exoxy or acraglass etc was used. Yes the gun came with two barrels and two forends, both 32"..... one 12 gauge/2-3/4 inch and the other 20 gauge/3-inch. The 20 gauge barrel and forend were numbered to another 2-frame VH and Dewey Vicknair fitted them to this frame. Good to go for ducking starting next week. I'll never find a 20 gauge Super-Fox at a reasonable price so I call this one my Super 20 Parker. Hey your 1/2 frame gun sounds neat! Frank

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Very nice work Frank!

Frank, We talked about Craig this weekend and I am impressed with his work. Is this gun a Remington era gun? I ask because of the fluting and shape of the nose of the comb. Great pictures ......Thanks

Great gun Frank. What a neat combination of barrels. Craig does wonderful work. But... you can stop now as I don't need the competition for 32" guns. Now, if only I could find a set of 32" 28ga., 00, ejector barrels to compliment my 20 and 16ga. 32" straight grip guns I'd be content for a while.:)
Dave,
Safety button looks like a pre 1917 or so style.

Yes Craig does excellent work, eye for detail!

Thanks again everyone. The gun is numbered 1724xx and Dave you looked it up for me one time and said it's an original straight grip. Craig profiled the new buttstock to be exactly the same as the original one, except for the new drop at heel and LOP. The nose of the comb is shaped the same as the old one. The 20 gauge/3-inch barrels and their forend were numbered 1499xx and another helpful gent looked them up for me and as I recall he said that VH was sent to a firm in Maine. The back end of that VH is MIA.

Here's a pic of my Super 20 Parker on that trip last October right after the stock got cracked. I used factory Bismuth Cartridge Company 20 gauge 3-inch shells loaded with 1-1/16 ounce of 4's.

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