New Member, Greetings all [Archive] - Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums

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Bruce Biggs

06-06-2013, 03:05 PM

Greetings all, just joined the forums and will join the PGCA. I'm 55 years old and just inherited my Great Grandfather's Parker VH 12gauge. I believe I was the last person to shoot it when my Uncle took Me and my Brother out to the farm to shoot clays 40+ years ago. I was pleasantly surprised how good of condition it's still in when my Uncle (now 84), shipped it to me. This was a field gun and well used, but the barrels still have a mirror finish inside, and everything still seems tight and works smoothly. All matching parts with SN# 88843 puts it at 1898.

I plan on sending it out to a recommended "Parker" gun smith to have professionally cleaned and checked over, since I don't know that it's ever been done.

This will be handed down to my Son, and will be the first shotgun he ever shoots.

I will peruse the forum to find out the best loads to use as not to damage this shotgun.

Bruce Biggs
Michigan

Dean Romig

06-06-2013, 03:22 PM

Hi Bruce and Welcome!

A 12 ga. VH should be able to digest most normal loads on the shelf today, with the exception of magnum loads and steel shot... stay away from those.
A good thing to do is to measure the chamber length (should be 2 5/8" for 2 3/4" shells) and check the frame size. A 2 frame 12 ga. Parker is a stout gun and a 1 1/2 frame is relatively stout as well. You will see the frame size stamped on the bottom of the rear barrel lug.
Some folks stay away from modern ammo because the wood is old and could crack under the stress of modern, high-velocity ammo - in which case we shoot low pressure ammo from RST (or others) to avoid overly stressing the gun... or load our own. There are plenty of low pressure 12 ga. ammo recipes out there.

Bruce Biggs

06-06-2013, 04:08 PM

Thanks Dean, there's a 2 stamped on the lug. Also, looks like the stock was replaced on at one time or another. There is no checkering on the grip and says "Bishop" on the butt plate. Would be great to find an original period stock for this.

I plan to call Brad Bachelder since he is in Grand Rapids, about an hour drive from here, and have him check it over.

Dave Suponski

06-06-2013, 04:37 PM

Brad would be a good choice Bruce and welcome to the PGCA.

Dennis V. Nix

06-07-2013, 10:04 AM

Bruce Biggs

06-07-2013, 10:42 AM

Welcome, Bruce. You won't find a more friendly and knowledgeable group of people than right here on the PGCA forum. I love these people and just signed on for a few more years. We would love to see photos of your gun.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis, reading the forums, it looks like a great group of folks.. I'm trying to gather as much info on the heritage of this gun before the elder's of my family move on. Not sure which Great Grandfather purchased this, but I believe it was my Grandmother's Father that gave it to my Grandfather.

Well used, but well taken care of except for the stock that was apparently broken and replaced with a non-parker stock. When, I don't know.

I have posted in the WTB section a stock for this. I plan to pass this to my Son. Would be fun to have the family names who owned it engraved on it somewhere. Even though it's a common VH, it will never be for sale as far as I'm alive, would like to think my Son would never sell it either and someday pass it to his Son. It's going on 4 generations now.

Cheers!

Eric Eis

06-07-2013, 02:15 PM

Bruce there is a side by side shoot in Grand Blanc tomorrow at the Huntsman Club, I think there will be 6 or 8 PGCA members coming and we could take a look at the gun, plus you could meet a few of the members. Eric

Bruce Biggs

06-07-2013, 04:50 PM

Eric Eis

06-07-2013, 10:12 PM

Sent you a pm back or give me a call tomorrow at 248-568-6916 be great to meet you and introduce you to the Michigan PGCA members. Eric