1929 Parker VHE Restored by Brad Bachelder
 

Last April I shipped to Brad Bachelder a 1929 vintage Parker VHE w/28 inch barrels choked mod and improved for re-stocking and case coloring. I had previously purchased this Parker from the estate of a close friend of mine. The gun was originally purchased by Henry F. Tenney a noted Illinois lawyer and close friend of Adlai Stevenson. Tenney had bought it for his wife and had the stock cut back significantly. Even with a pad installed it did not fit me correctly so I decided to have it re-stocked and re-cased. Before shipping the gun to Brad, I went up to Covey and Nye and had Lars measure me. I have to say Brad's work is exceptional and he and his family are a pleasure to do business with. His colors in my opinion come as close as I have seen to Parker original colors as I compare them to other original Parkers in my small collection, But let's let the attached pictures tell the real story, I've asked Dean to post my pictures as I'm having difficulty with my PC right now in posting/uploading pics.

Here you go Allen...



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Thanks Dean,

Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

What a beautiful gun. Good choice. Another testimony for the quality work of the Bachelder family.

Thanks for sharing.

I should have enclosed a picture of the other side of the stock, The grain flows through to both sides. Cecil Fredi sent me pictures of six blanks. After careful review of each blank Cecil sent ( it was difficult to distinguish the best from the six pictures he sent of six blanks) I selected one that I thought was the best. I then sent Cecil's pics to three close friends that I regularly shoot with (we all shoot doubles) and asked each to pock out what they thought was the best one. To my pleasant surprise, all three friends selected the same blank and had the same reaction as I had - that the differences among the six were so slight that it was very difficult to separate out the best one. I wanted straight grain through the wrist area and lots of burl/flame throughout the butt end.

All set for another 100 years. Turned out super nice for sure.

Another example of the fine workmanship coming out of Bachelders shop. Super nice stick of wood you picked out from Fredi.

You rightfully should be proud to own this one. Thanks for sharing!!

nice stock...charlie

I remember seeing the gun on line ( because of who owned it ) and it was nice with the cut stock.. now it is out of this world. Enjoy.