DHE Vent Rib not noted in Parker Serialization Book

[Richard Seccombe]

Hi,

I"m interested in purchasing a DHE that has a factory vent rib. All of the numbers match the gun and all the extras are verified in the Serialization Book with the exception of the rib.
Is this common or is a reg flag to stay away. The gun is gorgeous and exactly what I'm looking for but I want it to be original.
Thanks very much,
Richard

[Chuck Bishop]

The serial number and a picture of the vent rib would help. Take a picture of the side of the vent rib and at the top of the vent rib where it meets the receiver.

[Brian Dudley]

If it was a factory original vent rib gun, the top of the frame will be flat. If the top of the frame at the rib extension is concave, then the vent rib was added after the fact. Either by the factory on a return or by other means.

[Randy G Roberts]

You can also take a mirror and look under the rib usually between the 2nd and 3rd post where you may find the last 3 digits of the serial number. If you do not see them it is not the defining factor in the determination process but if they are there it's a good indication it's right. You will probably need a small light, my eyes do anyway.

[Richard Seccombe]

I may have answered my own question in that I didn't realize that there was a photo of the top of the rib with Parker's address on it (unless counterfeited)

Here are the requested photos

[Richard Seccombe]

Here is the serial number: 228109

[Kevin McCormack]

There are a very few guns made as prototype vent rib guns as early as 1915. I believe someone wrote an article for the Double Gun Journal years ago featuring a high grade gun that had a very unusual "rippled" trigger guard bent to match the contours of the hand and fingers, and also a vent rib. I don't remember the SN of the gun nor the issue of DGJ that it appeared in.

These few prototype guns are identifiable as factory original vent ribs by the length of the stem rib last segment ending in the doll's head (rib extension), and the lenth and depth of the groove milled into it to pick up the eye when mounting the gun. These very early VR guns have the radius of their barrels tuned over the top at the breech and meet the side of the rib at the rear, as opposed to the later more conventional "flat top" breech across the doll's head well

I owned one of these early prototype guns, BHE sn 183562, a 30-inch straight grip vent rib which was built with 2 forends, the conventional splinter as well as the large beavertail (trap) forend. Howard Miller, son of the inventor of the Miller Single Trigger, swore he saw the gun when his father took him to the Grand American Handicap in 1919. It was owned my J.S. McCarty, the founder of what would become the ATA. He said he remembered the gun for two distinct reasons: it was the first high-grade Parker gun he'd ever seen and the first vent rib he had ever seen on a Parker Gun. The VR became catalogued and available in the early 1920s, but Parker Bros. had a number of them out there for the big shots to use and promote.

[Dean Romig]

The vent rib pictured appears to be original.

Quote: Kevin McCormack - "There are a very few guns made as prototype vent rib guns as early as 1915. I believe someone wrote an article for the Double Gun Journal years ago featuring a high grade gun that had a very unusual "rippled" trigger guard bent to match the contours of the hand and fingers, and also a vent rib. I don't remember the SN of the gun nor the issue of DGJ that it appeared in."

The gun referenced is John Dunkle's Great(?) Grandfather's AAHE double trap and if I am not mistaken, is the first AAHE and quite possibly the first Parker with a vent rib and is certainly the ONLY Parker with that unique grip.



BTW, for those who don't know these gentlemen, The guy on the left in the white shirt is our good friend and PGCA web administrator, John Dunkle and the gentleman on the right is our very good friend Charles A. "Charlie" Herzog, Sr.




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[Ken Descovich]

If I am reading the XT code correctly, your XT 24 states that this gun has the following options: ejectors, single trigger, larger forearm and vent rib. I am getting this from page 61 of the Parker Gun Identification & Serialization book
Hope this helps
Ken

[Brian Dudley]

That rib is right, original and correct.

[Richard Seccombe]

Thank you very much everyone. Especially Ken for looking it up for me.
I grew up with my grandfather's VH and did enough reading to conclude that a DHE grade has most of the best of the higher end features without completely breaking the bank. Also in my humble view, the Parker vent rib is by far the best looking rib on the planet.
Thanks again,
Richard

[Richard Seccombe]

Thanks very much everyone. Especially Ken for looking it up for me.

I grew up with a VH and am now looking for my last and best (that I can buy) Parker. In my humble opinion, the Parker vent rib is the best looking rib on the planet.

One question, is the value of this gun reduced based on a Remington/1937 build date?

[Chuck Bishop]

No, the value would be the same.

[Bill Murphy]

The Serialization Book identifies your gun as a vent rib gun. My CHE, 21 numbers after yours, is also a code 24 gun with original vent rib.

[Rich Anderson]

The earliest vent rib gun I have is 222223 a DHE 30 inch 20 straight grip BTF and the early Miller SST.