How common?

[Andrew Frank]

Hello everyone,
I’m fairly new to the Parker world but have go in full force after falling for a VH 16 gauge. I joined up here and have ordered letters on all three of my Parkers and am wondering if some of the information is common or if I have some somewhat unique guns.

First is my 16 gauge VH, everything seems standard other than it says the order was placed by DuBray?

Second is my 20 gauge VHE, again everything seems normal but it was shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch.

Also the the VH 16 is 14 years older but cost $4.35 more (before the ejectors)

Probably like most people here I find it interesting seeing where my guns originally went/ordered to, I probably just think they are interesting because they are mine.

Thanks

[Dean Romig]

On your 20 gauge VHE - you should check the Griffin & Howe records of Parker shotguns that went through their house and Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as other houses. A PGCA Research Letter is absolutely your first step but the G&H records on these guns is almost always more complete. The problem there is that the G&H Historian who had all of the A&F records from which to create a research package, Bob Beach, has retired from that function and I don't know if the position has been filled.
It was a few years back that I published in Parker Pages all of the Parker serial numbers that G&H had records of. This list took a few pages of the magazine as I recall.

Parker Sales Rep A.W. duBray traveled the country going to trap and pigeon shoots promoting Parker guns. He would take orders from people he met at these shoots and forward them to Parker Bros. in Meriden. So yes, he ordered a great many guns for customers but only a scant few can be proven to have been his own guns for personal use.

Dean





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[Researcher]

What years are your guns? There was very steep inflation during the run up to WW-I. 1916 prices began going up topping out a year or two after the Great War. After the recession of 1921-2 prices came down a bit.