How many DHE 31 inch barrels made?

[allen newell]

I have a lettered 12 ga Parker DHE that apparently and according to the letter on the gun was originally made with Damascus barrels but was returned to Parker and re-barreled with 31 inch Titanic Steel barrels. All serial numbers match and Walter Krug's stamp is on the replacement barrels.

My question is do we know how many DHE's were produced with 31 inch barrels?

How rare would this configuration be?

[Dave Suponski]

Allan, Check The Parker Story.

[allen newell]

Dave, according to The Parker Story, Vol 1, page 291, for DH grade hammerless guns with Titanic Steel Barrels, Parker produced a total of 6,330 12 ga guns of which only 7 were made with 31 inch barrels.

I assume these numbers do not include DH grade guns that were re-barreled after initial purchase. Still, quite rare I would say.

[Rick Losey]

I assume these numbers do not include DH grade guns that were re-barreled after initial purchase.

that is a safe assumption

but I would bet rebarrels at that length would be equally unusual

[allen newell]

Thanks Rick, so I guess I have a rare DHE. Learn something new every day. I've been using it on five stand and sporting clays.

[Rick Losey]

Sounds like a good use for it

[allen newell]

I would like to take it out to South Dakota and use on pheasants

[Rick Losey]

I would like to take it out to South Dakota and use on pheasants

Well heck

I'D LIKE To take it to South Dakota and shoot pheasants
:rotf:

[charlie cleveland]

me too....that is a unusal barrel lentgh...nice find...charlie

[Mills Morrison]

I have one that is 30 1/2, although it did not start off that way. It is a fun clays gun

[allen newell]

Mills, was it cut down at some point?

[Mills Morrison]

The barrels were originally 32". It is not the prettiest gun in the world, but it is a good shooter

[allen newell]

Why would someone take a half inch off the barrels? Were they messed up? What am I missing?

[Mills Morrison]

I do not know. My guess is there was some damage to the end of the barrels

[edgarspencer]

Allen, How long were the original damascus barrels ? TPS says there were only seven 31" damascus barrelled guns (12ga.) and seven 31" Titanic guns. Quite the coincidence.

[allen newell]

Edgar, I wish I knew that answer. The letter on it only says that the gun was originally fitted with Damascus barrels and the gun was returned to Parker to be fitted with titanic steel barrels 31 inches. I'm not home right now, headed into Boston, tomorrow I'll check the book
, don't think it was listed, but I'll recheck

[Bill Murphy]

Odd length barrels are a collector's dream, but not an easy collector category to fill your gun safe with. These guns are hard to find and even harder to pay for if the seller realizes the rarity of the gun he is selling. I have been lucky in finding a few oddities, but some weren't the prettiest guns, but, oddly, some were wonderful. Most have been displayed and shot at PGCA meetings and Side by Side events, so most of mine have been seen by our members. The one gun I would most like to finish and shoot is my "One of One Made" 30" eight gauge DH Grade which weighs less than ten pounds. This may turn out to be my favorite heavy bird gun.

[Bill Murphy]

Odd length barrels are a collector's dream, but not an easy collector category to fill your gun safe with. These guns are hard to find and even harder to pay for if the seller realizes the rarity of the gun he is selling. I have been lucky in finding a few oddities, but some weren't the prettiest guns, but, oddly, some were wonderful. Most have been displayed and shot at PGCA meetings and Side by Side events, so most have been seen by our members. The one gun I would most like to finish and shoot is my "One of One" 30" eight gauge DH Grade which weighs less than ten pounds. This may turn out to be my favorite heavy bird gun.

[allen newell]

I'll try to up load a few pics of this DHE from my cell phone

[allen newell]

When I get home I'll do more research and post a few more pics.

[charlie cleveland]

i have a 20 ga v grade gun with 27 inch barrels that have the thing at the end of the barrels that tell you the barrels have not been cut...the records on it have been lost..i tried for a letter but no go...it is a good squirl gun...charlie

[allen newell]

Edgar et al, the ser # for this DHE w/31 inch barrels is 136234 and shows in the serialization book as a D3 grade (Damascus) with 30 inch barrels. The Letter that I have on it states that it was returned to Parker and re-barreled with 31 inch Titanic Steel barrels. All serial numbers throughout match including the serial number on the steel barrels which also have Walter King's stamp on the barrel flats. So it was clearly a Parker re-barreling. Gun was made in 1905. Barrel weight is 4 lbs 6 oz. #2 frame. Other stamps on the barrel flats include (T) for Titanic and 44 which eludes me. Anyone know what 44 means? Bottom line is: Originally a Damascus barreled DHE and subsequently re-fitted with Titanic barrels 31 inches in length. So I guess you could add one more 31 inch 12 ga DHE to the total produced by Parker. Still somewhat unusual configuration. A dream to shoot sporting clays with too!