Jeff,
There was an Oliver W. Gaines, who was the son of long time Parker employee Leroy J. Gaines... Research indicates early on Oliver spent some time as a bookkeeper in the service of the Charles Parker Co, and he may have studied a few years at Yale University (1893-94)... Both Oliver and his father Leroy also participated in shooting events at the Meriden Parker Gun Club during the late 1890's... Later on in life Oliver went into the insurance business and he resided in the Worcester area... A brief reference to Oliver's father Leroy (who started as a clerk in the Parker Gun Department) can be found on page #554 of TPS... Hope this helps with some history on your VH 20...

Best, CSL
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O.W. Gaines was a Parker Brothers employee in marketing until 1906 when there is evidence that he resigned. His name shows up as a PB representative at least back into the mid 1890s. He was an active promoter of the Pigeon Gun when it was being introduced. This information mostly came from a search for "gaines" in Sporting Life magazine on the la84foundation.org website.

Bill and Chris,
Thanks for the info about Mr. Gaines. I guess I need to improve my search skills.
Jeff

Was there a propensity of longer-barreled guns to be ordered with no safety? What about a 12 bore with 34" barrels and no safety, DHE, built in the 1908 time frame. What would such a gun have been intended for? Trap? Live birds?

I have examined a CHE Damascus 30" 20 ga. that was ordered by someone in Canada.

It went back to Meriden at a later date to "add safety".



.

Josh,

I've got one about like that, and yes it was.


Destry

Here's another 34" safetyless DHE, currently for sale.
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Par...n_id=100219983

Evidence of original safety.

Hi Bill,

Are you saying that the 34" DHE on Guns International may have had a safety?

Other than the lack of drop points on the stock, what is your opinion of this gun?

Respectfully,
Mark

The gun is fine, but I would like to see a PGCA letter on the gun before passing judgement on the safety and its provenance.