What do you guys make of this 20g “DH”?

[Brian Dudley]

https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Firearms/18NM-1-PARKER-K-H-E-242323/lotInformation/45277606#topoflot


A friend of mine sent me this link asking me what I thought about it.
My first thought was an attempt at some sort of custom “upgrade”. But as I look closer and then at the serial number, I think otherwise. The serial is about 100 numbers away from what we know as the end of total production. The stock looks like it did start as a D grade stock, but was checkered like a B or A. The engraving is actually more sparse than a typical D grade, so that had me scratching my head.

I suspect it could have been an unfinished gun that was “completed” after the fact. Thoughts?

[Dean Romig]

I wonder if it was originally ordered by and shipped to Kerr's?

The checkering, although AH patterned on an original Remington/Parker DH stock, looks to be factory checkered. The engraving has me stymied though.... there's nothing about the engraving that resembles any known Parker Bros. or Remington's Runge style of engraving. It may have been ordered especially like that... but we'll never know - Remington didn't record that information.

We shouldn't be surprised at any unusual features on Parkers produced late in the Remington Arms tenure... Case in point - Russ Jackson's late Remington CHE 20.






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[Bruce Day]

Brian, the sn is not listed in the Semi-Complete Guns on Hand 12/9/42, although close numbers above and below are listed.

The stock does not look like a D and the thumb groove is not like a late Parker, it’s more the styles of 10 to 20 years ago, like Fajen did.

[Dean Romig]

I must humbly disagree Bruce. Those drop points are Remington drop points without question IMO. And the "thumb grooves" are commonly seen on guns with 'trap combs'. The crotch grain quality of the American black walnut is very commonly seen of Remington DH and CH Parkers and the ventilated White Line pad is period correct.

The border of the checkering is also typical late Remington Parkers as Remington's borders were not mullered and as seen on this example, there is a diamond or trapezoid at most every corner of the border.





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[Garry L Gordon]

You folks never cease to amaze me on what you can see in (often times poor) photos! I continue to sit in awe and learn.

[Steve Huffman]

I was wondering about the hing pin isnt it on the wrong side or did that change ?

[Brian Dudley]

Pin is flip flopped.

The engraving looks very germanic.

[Jeff Kuss]

I looked at that gun alot. I believe that it was something that came out of the factory in the late period. Probably custom ordered that way. The wood does look like late Remington wood.

[Kevin McCormack]

Most of the above comments hit on a combination of possibilities for this gun:

- Most likely a post-Remington Parker production 'special' done up for a Remington higher-up. Examples of these are commonly seen up into the early 1950s using original Remington Parker guns which started life as varying lower grades (V-thru G) and were suitably "enhanced" with upgraded wood, custom engraving patterns, stock dimensions, trigger and rib configurations, and butt treatments (pads, checkered, skeleton, dogs head, etc.). The drop points are poorly detailed (not sharp enough)

Brian nailed the stock enhancement (A/B checkering) and Bruce's comments on the stock geometry viz. shape of the nose comb flutes and dimension heights re: Fajen's work are valid. The overall configuration of the gun suggests an upland field gun vs. a trap or pigeon gun.

Dean's comments on the quality and figure of the stock blank are accepted realities of Remington using the leftover wood from the Parker Meriden purchase intended for higher grades - there are many G-grades sporting D-grade and in some cases C-grade wood out there as Remington used up existing stock blank inventories.

So far as the engraving goes, keep in mind that some of the most talented classic double gun engravers were still working in the post WW-II era outside of Remington influence in this era. The rendition and execution of the game birds and waterfowl on this gun are particularly Germanic in expression, and may as well have been done on special commission by engravers working "out source" at the time.

[Bruce Day]

CHE 241,601, an end of production and recorded gun

[Mark Riessen]

Difficult to figure it all out.......No markings on the frame that I can see weather they be Parker Bros. or just PARKER as you would have on a Remington era gun. Also the angle is poor and difficult to read but I believe that the grip cap says Meridan, Conn. Does not make much sense and leaves you scratching your head. Mark

[Dean Romig]

A great many Remington Parkers have Meriden grip caps. They were leftover inventory that came with everything else that Remington bought from Parker Bros.






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[Dean Romig]

I tried to enhance some of the pics to support my impressions of this gun.

If those aren't Remington drop points I'll eat my __________ (you fill in the blank).





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[edgarspencer]

The engraving looks very germanic.
That was my first thought also

[Kevin McCormack]

Looking closely again, the engraving is very reminiscent of early Lindner Dalys, Sauers, Greifelt and Franz Sodias in he rendition and execution of the birds and background flora. Very interesting gun!

[Craig Budgeon]

Brian, I think the gun is post war Remington custom shop product. I have seen 3 Parkers that deviated from the catalog with high serial nos. but had various grade characteristics. All 3 had white line pads and I believe black walnut stocks. I recall they were all 20's and at least 1 is picture in the DGJ. The first one I saw was at an Alexander, NY gunshow more than 40 years ago and owned by a car salesman from Medina, NY. I don't believe that one had a vent rib but did have a beaver tail. The work on that gun was high quality, but everyone agreed that it wasn't Parker. After seeing your example I think we were wrong.