Beavertail forearms on Parkers

[Jim Beltz]

I have a Parker VH 20 gauge on an O frame, manufacture date around 1925. I bought it from my girlfriend's brother in law who inherited from his dad who bought it new. I saw on one of the gun auction sites a guy has almost the same shotgun for sale. In his descripition he states that the beavertail forearm is very rare and further mentions that only 163 Parkers were ever made with this forearm in all gauges and less than 1/5 or about 33were on the 20 gauge. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this? Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thank You!

[Rich Anderson]

I don't know where your girlfriends brother in law got his info but he's he's way off base. I have probably half a dozen guns with the BTF and have sold or traded that many more. The big question is your forearm original to the gun? There should be a rod running the length of the forearm, and the recoil lug is different. Post some pictures of the front end of the forearm and the lug where it attaches to the barrels.

[Bill Holcombe]

Rich, its the guy selling the gun online claiming they were rare not his gf's BIL.

[Rich Anderson]

Either way it's a bunch of BS. Jim if your gun has the BTF post the pictures I spoke of and we can tell you if it's original or not.

[Randy G Roberts]

TPS states there were 163 VH grades with the beaver tail, not all Parkers or all grades combined so that appears to be where that figure came from.

[Rich Anderson]

Randy even that sounds low to me as the majority of the skeet guns were VHE's, all had the BTF and I would think they made way more than 163 skeet guns in 20ga

[Randy G Roberts]

I agree Rich but that's what TPS says.

[Mills Morrison]

Beaver tails are less common, but I won't wade further into exact numbers. Post some pictures and maybe some experts on here can tell if it is legitimate factory or not.

A 20 gauge Parker is a sweet thing any way you look at it

[Patrick Lien]

A VH 20 from 1925 with a factory BT forend would be uncommon. Please post pictures.

PML

[Jim Beltz]

Trying to load some pictures.

[Jim Beltz]

picture of lug

[Jim Beltz]

lug

[Jim Beltz]

more

[Mark Ray]

nice gun! triggers look bent for a left hand shooter? would be interesting to know how it is choked!

[Reggie Bishop]

Need to see a pic of the front of the fore end and a pic of the lug that the fore end attaches to on the bottom side of the barrels.

[Bruce Day]

Do you fellows really think you need more photos?

[Bill Davis]

I don’t. That’s an aftermarket BT forend!

[Scott Janowski]

That is not a factory Beavertail, it was replaced by someone other than the factory.

[Brian Dudley]

Not an original btfe. The gun was not fitted with a btfe originally either.

There are likely way more guns with illegitimate btfes than were made with actual ones.

[Victor Wasylyna]

Edify us. Why is it not original?

—Victor

[Brian Dudley]

Edify us. Why is it not original?

—Victor

Forend iron is wrong

Length of forend is wrong

Shape of forend is wrong

Checkering is wrong

Forend lug on barrels is not pictured, but I can guarantee that is wrong too.

Overall quality is not up to snuff.


Is that enough?


The gun was originally fitted with a splinter forend and at some time someone made a beavertail for it in their own signature style.

[Greg Baehman]

The non-mullered checkering borders and the wood to metal fit were the biggest tell for me.

[Scott Gentry]

My 1920 20ga VH forend, it is factory. Never thought much of BTF till I got this one, love it.

[Rich Anderson]

A VH 20 from 1925 with a factory BT forend would be uncommon. Please post pictures.

PML

Patrick is it uncommon because of the year or the grade? Just curious as I have a DHE 20 from 1926 IIRC (ser # 222223) with a BTF.

[Bruce Day]

Scott’s forend is factory at first glance. The other isn’t. The more you look the more it isn’t. The fat forend was the style in the 50’s and 60’s and bunches were redone with beavertail forends and stocks with highly curved grips and rubber recoil pads. Fajen sold the inletted stocks for $20 , forends for $10. Gunsmiths did the final fitting and checkering. The practice continues,supplier costs a little higher but not much.

[Patrick Lien]

Patrick is it uncommon because of the year or the grade? Just curious as I have a DHE 20 from 1926 IIRC (ser # 222223) with a BTF.


Rich,
I said it was uncommon because of the year, then the gauge, then lastly the grade. I THINK Parker started offering BT forends in either 1923 or 1925. These were Trap forends in the beginning and I would say mostly 12ga in this time frame. There are numerous examples of earlier guns with BT forends where some of the factory letters describe "Trap forend" on the order. If someone was ordering a 20ga skeet in 1925 I would have expected ejectors, single trigger, etc. That was the thinking behind my comment.

PML

[Patrick Lien]

Scott,
Do you have a letter on your gun? If so, what does it say in regards to the FE? It looks like a nice gun. Can we see the rest of it please?

PML

[Rich Anderson]

Thanks Patrick I appreciate the response.

[Randy G Roberts]

In regard to Scotts absolutely gorgeous forend how uncommon is the lack of a border around the forend iron on Parkers ?

[Patrick Lien]

Randy,
On the BT guns I have owned and observed the V grades were checkered up to the metal and the graded guns had a border.

PML

[Scott Gentry]

It is number 192678, not sure if there are records but I think someone looked and it did not mention anything special. It is 30” IM/IM.

[Alfred Greeson]

That is one beautiful 20! Is that considered an extra length fore end and my understanding would be that those appear to be original case colors? Correct? Great gun!

[Jim Beltz]

Thanks guys. I'm getting a real education here! Real or replaced forearm this little Parker is my favorite.

[Scott Gentry]

That is one beautiful 20! Is that considered an extra length fore end and my understanding would be that those appear to be original case colors? Correct? Great gun!

Only BT I own so not sure if extra long, yes on colors. I do feel honored to be caretaker for a while, great gun for whatever you want to shoot.