Good For Another Years

[Mike Franzen]

On my way to Maine back in May to Turkey hunt with the Tenth Legion and PGCA members Jim Wescott and Niles Oesterle, I made a detour to Ilion, NY. I paid a visit to the Larry Del Grego & Son Gun shop. Earlier I had spoken to Larry about doing some repairs on my VH 16 ga, O frame with 30” barrels. Weighing just 6 lbs, 4 oz it is a pleasure to carry and it fits me perfectly. He replaced the roll pin, repaired the automatic safety, replaced and blued the screws and cleaned and greased the action. He assured me she’s good for another hundred years and promised I would get it back in time for opening day of dove season. While at the shop I was given a tour which included the inner sanctum of the gun vault. What a sight! When I opened the box, he had placed this nice reproduction of a Parker brochure. Nice touch.

[Mills Morrison]

Very nice! I came close to getting a Parker just like that this year.

[Mike Franzen]

It’s a great bird gun. I have become a huge fan of the 16 gauge.

[Michael Meeks]

Nice VH16! Larry also gave me a few of those brochures and a tour of the vault when he worked on my VH20. Pretty cool stuff in that vault!

[Mike Franzen]

Mike, that’s a nice looking gun you have there. The figure in the stock is beautiful. Is that a Remington era gun?

[Michael Meeks]

Thank you! No, it is a Meriden gun; 1925. Sadly, not the original stock when I got the gun. Someone had made a poor attempt at re-stocking at some point in the gun's past. The guardbow didn't fit right at all, wrong PG cap, missing shield, wrong butt plate, and the proportions of the pistol grip to the tang were all wrong. Larry restocked it for me to my dimensions. The FE wood is still original.

[John Davis]

Mike Franzen, I'm thinking that gun is good for at least two limits of dove a day. Of course that wouldn't be legal, so you'll just have to walk off the field early.

[Brian Dudley]

You would think after all this time they would figure out how to put the proper comb flutes on the different eras of guns. I guess old habits die hard.

[Mike Franzen]

Mike Franzen, I'm thinking that gun is good for at least two limits of dove a day. Of course that wouldn't be legal, so you'll just have to walk off the field early.

No doubt the gun can handle two limits of dove a day with no problem. Now me on the other hand well, you’ve seen me shoot.

[Michael Meeks]

You would think after all this time they would figure out how to put the proper comb flutes on the different eras of guns. I guess old habits die hard.

Your point is well taken, but doesn't really add anything to this thread. That gun stopped being collector quality long before I owned it. While it may not be correct to the era, I'm happy with the appearance of the stock. I chose Del Grego because of their historical connection to Parker. The gun fits me fine, I shoot it well, and the grouse don't really care about proper comb flutes...

[allen newell]

Larry restocked my grandfathers 16 vh about 8 yrs ago. He did very nice work.

[Mike Franzen]

Allen, it is a little like going back in time when you go to the shop. The Del Grego’s have that direct connection with the factory and the guns. All the parts Larry used to make my gun mechanically new again were from the factory. I meant to title this thread “Good For Another Hundred Years” because that is what it is meant to do. Imagine, 2118 and our guns still in service. Wonder what they will be worth then?

[Michael Meeks]

it is a little like going back in time when you go to the shop. The Del Grego’s have that direct connection with the factory and the guns. All the parts Larry used to make my gun mechanically new again were from the factory.

That's exactly why I chose to have them work on my VH20. I wanted to experience that connection at least once with a Parker that I regularly hunt with. It was my way of keeping the Parker legacy alive.