Went looking for a Trojan came back with a VH

[Bill Holcombe]

Well for those of you who read, I was looking for a Trojan last week for my first Parker, well right about the time I was gonna go to the gun store to check it out, someone else bought it.

So I went by today just to make sure there weren't any other guns in the store that might fall into my price range. I found a Trojan but at $1599 it was out of my price range, along with a GH, a BHE (in my dreams), and several reproductions, however, when I asked the guy at the shotgun counter if they had any others he found a VH on the rack. A VH marked at $1150 at that.

Here are the particulars according to the gun store in question: "Fine Example manufactured in 1921. Has modified and full chokes. 32" barrel with excellent bright bores. Has black pistol grip and butt plate with Parker logos. Barrel also marked Vulcan steel. Case color on protected areas on receiver and tang under safety. Wood is original with factory checkering. Barrel, trigger guard and safety have 95% plus blue. Receiver is turning silver. This gun is solid and action is also in good working condition."

SN is: 199020..hey I am in 1000 guns of owning an invincible :rotf::rotf:

Here are the pics, tried to include lots of wood since it seems ya'll always ask for more, I believe the JG on the watertable is the barrel forman mark Jim Geary correct? :

[Bill Davis]

A 32inch VH gun on a 1 1/2 frame for $1150 is a good deal. It appears metal has been reblued but still very fair. I'd say buy it!

[Bill Murphy]

Can we see pictures of the $1599 Trojan? It must be some gun to be $449 more than the 32" VH. Maybe you should buy both of them.

[Frank Cronin]

Buy it!

[Bill Holcombe]

Its in the other thread talking about the $1000 parker.

[Rick Losey]

whats not to like

great buy

[scott kittredge]

looks good to me and with 32in. barrels!! You will love it on the trap field too :)

[Brian Dudley]

Good price for a 32" gun if that is what you want.
As others have suggested. The top lever has been blued, which is not correct. The trigger guard has also been re blued. And it looks like the barrels have been re blued as well.
Apart from that, nothing jumps out as concerns based on your photos.

[Todd Schrock]

The book says it should have 28" bbls. Did you measure the bbl length?

[Rick Losey]

The book says it should have 28" bbls. Did you measure the bbl length?

hmm- yes it does although occasionally the book is wrong

are the barrels numbered to the gun?

[Bill Holcombe]

Measured 32". Barrels are numbered to the gun. I think it will work great for me as a skeet/trap/dove gun. It doesn't so much bother me about the reblued barrel, whomever did it did a good job - it isn't shiny looking. Plus. I am sure it would cost an arm and a leg to get it back to original? The wood is really dark, can it be brightened a bit?

So if it is in the book I guess I need to letter it.

[Todd Schrock]

Awesome! I'm glade the book was wrong. It will be a fine dove gun.

[Rick Losey]

The wood is really dark, can it be brightened a bit?
.

my first go at dirty wood is Murphy's Oil Soap, looks like yours may have added finish but its a good first step


the lower side in this picture has not been cleaned the upper side got a little better after another go.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=548&pictureid=6188

[Mike Franzen]

That's a nice gun and should last you about 100 years

[greg conomos]

So what was the BHE???

[Bill Holcombe]

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/parker-brothers-bhe-12-gauge-s6013/

I didn't read description at store. Apparently Del Greco restored it. Not sure if that is good price or not for restored bhe.

[Jeff Christie]

You did fine. Enjoy the gun. It will serve you well.

[Alfred Greeson]

Nice gun, I like those barrels. The ducks and geese that one has brought down is probably a lot. Used and well cared for, great first Parker. It will always hold a valued place in your collection.

[greg conomos]

Thanks. That BHE has a few problems...especially the barrels!

[Jerry Harlow]

Very good gun for the money. 32s are very nice. Looks like a lot of oil in the checkering on the right side; can see it oozing out. The oil soap cleaning is a great idea, and heat from a hair dryer on the wood will get a lot of oil bubbling out of there. Forend too. If you find someone who is well versed in taking Parkers apart you may want to get the stock off and look at the head before shooting a lot. It may be full of oil which can/should be removed.

[Bill Holcombe]

Thanks. I have a superposed that I have dissassembled before, but from what I understand taking the stock off a parker is a little more involved.

[Jerry Harlow]

Not too complicated. A second set of hands helps and prevents chips and scratching of the wood but it can be done alone. Brian Dudley has placed excellent directions with photos on this site.

[Bill Holcombe]

Actually it wasn't that difficult. A lot simpler then most of the revolvers/semi auto pistols I have disassembled. I found a bottle of murphy's oil soap concentrate. I am guessing I need to delut it and then just wipe it on and off like I am applying orange oil? Or do I need to actually rub on the wood with the rag to get the grime off?

[Jerry Harlow]

Lots of oil will just bubble out when moderate heat is applied via a hair dryer. Try this before cleaning in my opinion.

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, heat the oil out of the stock and then worry about the surface. Taking the stock off the action is an accident waiting to happen for most Parker owners.

[Bill Holcombe]

Will try the hair dryer. Taking the stock off was pretty simple following the instructions on this site.

[Bill Holcombe]

Used the wife's hair dryer for a bit this morning. It was impressive how the oil was coming up. Not certain it made much difference to the look of the wood though.

I ran out of time as I only did it about 30 minutes before heading to work, but less oil seemed to be coming up when I finished. Will I need to actually refinish the stock to really make a difference on the dark wood, or does it just take a long time with the blow dryer to get it to all come up?

I am not at this point interested in redoing the stock completely as it is in fairly good shape, just want to get the oil out and try to bring back some of the color to the wood.

[Bill Holcombe]

well went to the skeet range at lunch today. She went boom perfectly, my aim not so much.

I think I hit 15, which isn't terrible for my first time with a sxs on the skeet range. 20 is a decent round for me and 23 is my best ever so for how rarely I shoot it now days, I can live with that for the first time. If I would just remember the auto safety it would go a lot quicker.

[todd allen]

My go-to gun for upland hunting is a 32" VHE. I like the way longer bbls move.
Good luck with yours!