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View Full Version : 161275 DHE 16 ga, a 20 month chase


Brian Hornacek
05-15-2016, 08:45 PM
In September of 2014 a gentleman approached my table at a gun show where I always have a large sign "Wanted Parker Brothers Shotguns Dead or Alive!". He said that he had his life long hunting gun, a 16 ga DHE with significant damage to the buttstock....would I be interested in such a gun?" I said certainly and promptly gave him may card and said I looked forward to his call. Weeks went by and he never called, Cindy will attest I lost sleep over this encounter, I muttered over and over "you are an idiot....why didn't you get his number." I wrote the gun off after a time as it seemed hopeless that I would ever find this man again.

Out of the blue I received a call 2 weeks ago from a gentleman that got my name from a friend. He had a 16 gauge Parker that he was interested in selling with a broken stock, in the middle of his story I cut him off and asked if he was the man from the previous encounter....he promptly said "yes, I remember you!" Well needless to say I have been in a very good mood waiting for today at 5PM when we would meet. With great anticipation I arrived at his house and entered to see a black case on the table, this is what finding Parker's is all about. My senses were on high, he opened the case and there it was.......... a 16 gauge VHE with 28" barrels! Ahhhh.... the emotion dropped immediately but did not leave me entirely, it went from DHE level to VHE level.

What a great gun, a well hunted example with crisp screws and sharp engraving. The barrels are clean and the chip will glue back just fine! The 80 year old gentleman shared a few hunting stories and remarked how the gun served him well for 40 years and now it was my turn. We worked out a fair deal and after a firm handshake we parted ways. What a great day and another great Parker for my collection.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Phillip Carr
05-15-2016, 08:52 PM
Looks like a great 16 gauge project. Just like bird hunting half the fun and excitment is in the chase.

Brian Dudley
05-15-2016, 10:19 PM
Gotta love cross grain like that in the head of a stock. At least the break is clean.

Looks like a decent gun with a lot of honest use on it, but not abuse.

Garth Gustafson
05-15-2016, 10:43 PM
Great story Brian. Meeting the owner and hearing those stories must really makes this VHE special. I'll bet you'll think of them every time you pick it up.

todd allen
05-15-2016, 11:34 PM
Hopefully will be a fairly easy fix. Also, looks like pretty shootable dimensions.

scott kittredge
05-16-2016, 04:48 AM
Did he say how it was broke?
scott

Daniel G Rainey
05-16-2016, 07:50 AM
A neat story. I sometimes wonder when shooting my 12 or 16 what was the main purpose the gun was purchased for ? was it grouse, quail,or ducks ? You got find out from the man who used it 40 years.

greg conomos
05-16-2016, 09:22 AM
D, V - what's the difference...?

I like the #3 photo, it's a nice cutaway view.

Brian Hornacek
05-16-2016, 09:34 AM
In Alberta you hunt Hungarian partridge and pheasant mostly, which is what this guy was into. There are some grouse as well. This guy was a long time serious hunter of birds, his 13 year old black lab met me at the door when I arrived at his house. Next to the fireplace was a 20x30 picture of her with a duck in her mouth. He said the gun came from his close personal friend, an avid collector in Victoria BC and shame on me for not getting his name who passed on years ago. He mentioned the gentleman having many high end Parker's,one even having gold on it as he remembered.
By his answer to the question of how it broke I believe he fell and broke it while hunting, he blamed it on oil soaked wood and deterioration but there is not much oil there. He did not want to dwell on the break so I did not press him.

wayne goerres
05-16-2016, 08:06 PM
Wood has nice figure for a VHE.

Rich Anderson
05-16-2016, 08:39 PM
They are where you find them. I came across a nice GH 16 on an O frame by nocking on a door seeking permission to Grouse hunt. We recognized each other from a local SXS shoot and he ask me "You like Parkers don't you"? The rest is history.

Paul Ehlers
05-16-2016, 08:46 PM
Nice score!! Keep us up to date as the repair comes along.

Brian Hornacek
08-20-2016, 05:49 PM
Case color done!!

Bill Murphy
08-20-2016, 06:29 PM
I kind of like that case color. Who did that for you? I can't wait to see what you do with the wood.

Brian Hornacek
08-20-2016, 06:37 PM
Oskar Kob who is the best in Canada for hardening. He will tell you that he is not a Parker restoration specialist but Oskar took reference pictures on the internet trying to match Parker color/style and I think he did a great job. He also did Gary C's custom hammer gun.

The wood, metal prep and barrel re-black are all in Chris Dawe's hands.

David Fishley
08-27-2016, 10:38 PM
Brian,
Did you do the stripping and polishing prior to sending it to Oskar? From my chats with Oskar he will do it but prefers it comes to him already done.

I'll have to talk to Chris as I didn't know he does reblueing.

keavin nelson
08-28-2016, 08:23 AM
Ejectors too!!! Nice find.

Brian Hornacek
11-13-2016, 06:22 PM
Well here it is, a fantastic job on a great gun.......Thank you Chris Dawe.

It already has a few marks from the Newfoundland woods chasing after grouse!!!

charlie cleveland
11-14-2016, 11:17 AM
fine looking gun you have there and the men who worked on this gun are skilled craftsman in my book...you will have many good hunts with this gun....charlie

Brian Hornacek
11-15-2016, 10:56 AM
fine looking gun you have there and the men who worked on this gun are skilled craftsman in my book...you will have many good hunts with this gun....charlie

Thanks Charlie, glad to have you back posting.