Rare BHE .410 4/0-frame sighting
 

Saw a very rare, odd and unusual unfired BHE .410 Repro on the tiny 0000-frame at Winter Vegas being offered for sale by its original owner. The gun has 28" bbls., 3" chambers, choked M/F, single trigger, straight grip and beavertail forend.

This gun was unusual in two different ways:

1. There were very few 0000-frame Repros made in all grades and obviously even fewer made in the BHE grade. They are only very occasionally seen as their owners have them squirreled away.
2. This gun is ultra-unusual and extra-odd in that it is BHE grade throughout except it had typical DHE Repro engraving and was sans the single bead fences. It had B-grade wood, checkering, engraved barrel wedges and all the metal components-- watertable, forend and barrels were stamped BHE.

. . . rare, odd and unusual. I walked away shaking my head.

Another rare Repro seen was being offered by Larry Baer. An A-1 Special in-the-white 3 bbl. set in its factory O & L case. 28/28/.410 on a 00-frame. Reportedly the only one ever produced.

Interesting. What prices were being asked for these guns.

$25K for the BHE and the A-1 Special was tagged at $35K.

I couldn't justify 25K for a BHE that is engraved like a DHE.

Greg,

Thanks, I didn't think they would be in that price range.

Ken

I've been contemplating this little 4/0- frame BHE, not for purchase, but for what the DHE engraving does to its value. Does it affect the value in a positive way similar to an already rare coin that has been mis-struck? Or does it affect the value in a negative way by diminishing its desirability? What do you think?

Has anyone here seen one of the other 8 or so BHE 410 repro's that can say that this one is unique, or were they all made like this? Just asking.

My understanding is that only two 0000 frame guns were made...both prototypes. This could explain the engraving issue as it was only a experimental gun. I would think being this rare, it would be worth the asking price. That gun should only weigh 5lbs if on a 0000 frame. Very rare indeed! I wish I could see one in person.....SXS ohio

I have seen some 0000 frame BHEs. They are not prototypes. Their production numbers are well known. End of production of all Repros ended production of the 0000 frame BHE .410s. It was to be a catalogued production item, not a prototype. Kevin McCormack and I had a couple of 0000 .410s in our ".410 Parker" display at the Baltimore Show several years ago. One was a factory BHE and one was a factory Gournet engraved A-1 Special. Geoffroy Gournet has engraved several 0000 frame .410s since production ended. A friend and I ordered two 0000 frame BHEs when we were shown the first prototype, but the order was never filled. The actual production of DHE and BHE 0000 frame .410 has been posted recently. I assume the D engraved, B marked gun at Beinfeld's show is one of the rare DHEs mentioned in the production chart. By the way, many 00 frame .410 barrels are stamped 0000, but the 0000 frame is very different from the 00 frame. I assume that the 33 DHE .410s in the production figures are 00 frame guns. The Vegas gun may be the only D engraved 0000 frame gun out there. Before I sprung for that gun, I would be very sure it was a 0000 frame. Who offered that gun?

I would think the DHE style engraveing would detract from the value. A BHe is a higher grade gun and should therefor look like it.