1906 VH 16ga. 0 Frame

[Brian Spires]

Hello,

Please allow this post to be my introduction. I just picked up this little beauty and thought I'd share it with you all. It should make a wonderful little NewEngland Partrige gun.

Parker VH
16ga
0 Frame
Splinter forend
24" barrels
Chokes: IC/IC
SN: 134796
LOP: 14-1/4" over very vintage pad
Weight: 6lb. 2-1/2oz.
Weight Barrels: 2lbs. 6oz.
Weight barrels and splinter forend: 2lbs. 12-1/2oz.
Barrel weight as marked: 3-2
Other markings: EXX3; W.K.; Kf

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[Brian Spires]

It looks like auto correct slipped one by me, replacing "VH" with "VHS". If a moderator were to fix this, I'd be grateful.

Many Thanks!

[Brian Spires]

Does anyone know what the EXX3 marking means? I'd appreciate any additional observations that might contribute to this gun's story. Thank you in advance!

[Jeremy Pinsly]

It is a Remington repair code, indicating it was serviced in Oct 1951.

[Brian Spires]

Thanks, I just joined PGCA. My next step is to figure out how to order a research letter. Is this still done via snail mail?

[Jeremy Pinsly]

Brian,
Welcome to the madness. If you go to the PGCA home page, you can select 'Research Letter' from the left side of the page. Payment can be made via Paypal and the information about your gun submitted through email.
Enjoy your Parker, she's a beauty.

[Dave Noreen]

Looks like a great little woods gun. Congrats!!

In case you don't already know, the EXX3 is a Remington repair code -- E = October, XX = 1951. Maybe that is when it got the post-1910 bolt and bolt plate.

Interesting that the barrel flats have the oval with the W.K. which is Walter King's mark, and the Kf which is often attributed to his Father. My slightly older VH-Grade just has the Kf.

[Brian Spires]

Thanks, I was excited to find it on the rack of a local gun shop. It is in great shape, save a couple dings high on the left wrist. The 24" barrels were interesting. I'm wondering if they were cut. I just emailed a completed research letter request. So, we'll see what they find. I've always wanted a Parker and feel fortunate to have found this one. Let's hope it shoots as good as it feels. It was a consignment. I should probably try to get a note to the seller through the dealer, maybe they have a story to go with the gun. Thanks again to everyone for your warm welcomes.

[Marc Retallack]

FWIW Brian, the serialization book shows serial #134796 to have been made with 26" barrels.

[Brian Dudley]

The barrels are likely cut. There is a lot going on at the muzzle end of those barrels that does Not look quite right.

[Justin Julian]

The colors on the frame are trademark Delgrego....perhaps they have records of all the work they did on this gun.

[Brian Spires]

Thanks!

[Brian Spires]

The barrels are likely cut. There is a lot going on at the muzzle end of those barrels that does Not look quite right.

Not quite right as in wrong/shoddy/improper or not quite right as in not original?

[Dean Romig]

The keels are correct: tha barrel tubes touch. But the rib matting and the termination line are a bit suspicious.... but if the book shows 26" then what's to argue about?
As far as the cyannide colors... Remington could have done that in '51.





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[Brian Dudley]

Dont bother contacting delgrego about the gun, they claim to only keep records by customer name, so you wont get far not knowing that.

The matting looking like it was polished away some and the line is WAY to heavy to be original.

[todd allen]

Looks like it will be a lively little grouse killer.

[George Davis]

I nice find and not only great grouse gun but it would a excellent Mearns Quail gun in Arizona.
Brother has a 16 gauge L. C. Smith he uses on Mearns and loves it.

[Brian Spires]

A few more pics.


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[Brian Spires]

Thank you all for the warm welcome, compliments and education. I appreciate your patience and generosity with my many queries. Here's my latest.


Three questions about markings on the water table (barrel flats).

1.Can anyone shed light on why the barrel flats bear the marks of both Kings?

2. What possible explanation is there for the barrel flats missing a mark indicating the type of barrel steel.

3. What do the "+" markings nearer the chamber opening indicate?

[Alfred Greeson]

Not every Parker is original. I once had a DelGrego refurbished gun that was a joy to carry and a long range killer of ring necks. As every one on here will probably tell you, welcome to the club and the fever of it all, it is a great past time and the advice you get on this forum will be both candid and invaluable as you look for your next Parker and as they say, "One is never enough!" and an 0 frame 16 is a great gun to carry and enjoy. Congrats on your first!

[Jeff Christie]

Welcome!! Just have fun and enjoy the gun. Remember they were meant to be used, not reside in a safe. Use it.

[Brian Spires]

Does anyone know where I can get a nice fitted case for this w/o spending a fortune. I'm looking for something svelt and compact that will accommodate the short barrels. Most of the cases I'm seeing are made to fit much longer barrels. Used is fine too!

BTW: I just ordered two flats of 2-1/2" 16ga. shells!

[Erick Dorr]

Kingston to answer Q 2, Kf replaced markings for barrel steel during the time your gun was made. As to Q1 and 2 others may have theories.
Welcome,
Erick

[Jim DiSpagno]

For. A case, try Jeffs outfitters

[Dean Romig]

Gunner, I respectfully disagree with your explanation of the missing barrel steel stamp.
Thousands of guns produced both before and after 1906 have the barrel steel stamped on the forward end of the right barrel flat. And both Charles A. King's stamp along with the barrel steel stamp appear on most guns of the period, from what I've witnessed.





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[Brian Spires]

For. A case, try Jeffs outfitters

I looked at Jeff's, but was hoping for something for shorter barrels.

Thanks for the recommendation though.

[Brian Spires]

It works.

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[Russ Jackson]

For a case you may want to go to our " Members List " find Patrick Lien and send him a PM ,Pat seems to always have a nice assortment of cases for sale ! He's a nice Fellow to deal with ,if you like you could say I mentioned his name on our site for you to contact ! By the way ,A very nice first Parker !!!!!!!!!

[Phil Yearout]

Whenever I hear or read about a short barrelled gun I think of Gene Hill's The Woodcock Gun..."How I'd like to know the man that had it made! He must have been an independent Yankee cuss. I'll bet it was the only 24-inch side-by-side in all New England. There must have been some laughs and jokes around the cider mill when he first showed it off!"

[Alfred Greeson]

Like my Grandfather asked about a Model 12 with a poly choke on it. He asked the owner what he needed all that plumbing on the end for? Of course he shot everything from squirrels to bobcats with a four ten until he was up in his 70's and said it just didn't shoot right anymore. A donation of a 20 Browning provided a little wider pattern and his new bifocals helped a little too. He would have said a gun with 24 inch barrels should not have been cut like that, no one would have ordered such a thing!