Parker DHE 20

[L.V. Purvis]

I just became the new owner of a DHE 20 serial # 172202. I've collected double guns for over 2 decades but other than a trojan and a VH this is the only graded one I've owned. I will be taking some good(?) pics this afternoon and will post accordingly.

It has 26" titanic barrels choked f/m. Double triggers, capped pistol grip, skeleton buttplate, splinter f/e, dogs on each side and ducks on the bottom.

I'll let the pics post and members can assess condition. It's all original (IMO) with c/c present, maybe 70% original barrel blue, 1 small ding in left barrel and wood that has been hunted with but not abused. Checkering is a little buggered up in the middle of the skeleton BP. Previous owner probably had to relieve himself while out hunting timberdoodles and placed it on the ground too often.

It doesn't seem that there are alot of these around in 20 gauge. Any guess on number still around? Thank you all in advance for your comments and pics will follow soon. (I need my teenage daughter's help). :rolleyes:

[Linn Matthews]

Sounds like a winner--congratulations! We look forward to the pictures. A Parker "letter" on the gun might be something for you to consider.

[Bill Murphy]

Congratulations. This is the big bucks. A DHE 20 is what everyone wants, unless they already have one. The Parker Story will give you an idea of how many they made in specific barrel lengths and steel types. I'm sure you came upon yours in a friendly deal. Care to tell us about it?

[Dave Suponski]

Mr Purvis, Your gun 172202 is in the "Serialization Book" as a DHE 20gauge with 26" barrels,ejectors and a capped pistol grip stock.And is one of 469 guns made in that grade and configuration.

[L.V. Purvis]

Bill,

Graded guns are usually out of my league. I'm a field grade kinda guy and not very knowledgable about the market on these types but I was able to buy this gun out of a local gunshop in S.E. Ohio. A small bit of drama ensued because I went home and wrote about it on another web-site before I had purchased the gun. In hindsight, this was VERY dumb on my part, but it all worked out in the end. I had taken pics with my cell phone and when viewed, you could tell it was at a gunshop and not an individual. Several internet savvy guys went back through my old posts and found where I had mentioned this gunshop a couple of years before and called the owner of the shop to up the offer (considerably more than I ended up purchasing the gun for). I was extremely fortunate to have been dealing with very honest people that honored our handshake deal in the end. I know others that have not been so fortunate.

My understanding is that I got one heckuva deal (allthough a considerable ammount of money to a common working man with a whole herd of kids like me) I feel blessed to be the new caretaker of a small bore Parker.

I joined the PGCA today and will be ordering a letter to go with the gun tomorrow. The Parker book says it is correct, but I always wait like a schoolkid for those letters in hopes that there is some "special" info in the records. Kind of like a second treasure hunt after you find the pirates chest.

Best regards,

[Bruce Day]

When you are working on a deal, keep quiet about it and only consult with a couple trusted friends. There are people lurking here who will cut your throat in an instant to make a deal or a buck. We've had it happen before, sometimes even by PGCA members.

[L.V. Purvis]

Lesson learned. And it didn't cost me as much as it could have.

Were I aware of the rarity (469 in that configuration) I don't think I would have said a word to anyone. Would have just cashed in the "gun fund" rolled my vacation change for the rest and ran back to the store.

[L.V. Purvis]

Here goes my first try at posting photo's. They aren't very good, but I got tired of waiting for my Daughter to help me.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Nov14_0014_1_.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Nov14_0010.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Nov14_0008.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Nov14_0006.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Nov14_0005.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Nov14_0001.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Nov14_0012.jpg

I apologize in advance, but bad pictures are better than no-pictures.

[Jim Williams]

Most of the people here frequent the "other" site, and probably know the story and the price. It was definitely a screaming deal, and one nice gun. I'm glad you came to your senses before it got sniped. And thanks for posting the story on this site, too - where it belongs.

Jim

[Bill Murphy]

L.V., you didn't make a lamp out of the new 20 gauge did you? "Lamp Parkers" are D Grades if our readers didn't know.

[Bruce Day]

Photo 1. Standard D grade stock with characteristic cheek drop points and standard Parker D checkering.

Photo 2. Where the stock is serial numbered.

Photo 3. G grade with stock cheeks without drop points and showing G grip checkering pattern.

Photo 4. V grade with stock cheeks without drop points and showing V grip checkering pattern.

The D is 1910, the G is 1910 and the V is 1925. All have the comb noses characteristic of those years.

[L.V. Purvis]

I think that lamp might be designed after a Parker gun. See the hinge pin? I found that lamp in a thrift store about 10 years ago and have never seen another since.

Bruce, Looks like a restock from the pictures you posted. I think they did a nice job but not original. For the price I paid I'm probably still O.K. with the purchase. Maybe I won't feel so bad taking it out after woodcock now.

[Bruce Day]

I'm not saying either way, I haven't been asked.

For many years until about 10 years ago, Fajen gunstocks of Warsaw MO made repalcement gunstocks for Parkers that had kinda OK checkering, no drop points and the deep slanted thumb grooves, and sold them for about $125 not finished. The remainder of the old stock was just sold off a couple years ago. A lot of Parkers got these stocks. Usually, padded rubber butts were put on.

[George Lander]

L.V. & Bruce: Reinhart Fajen made some wonderful gunstocks at very reasonable prices. I have several SxSs that he restocked and regret that he is out of business.

Best Regards, George

[Bruce Day]

George, there was a difference between the Fajen fully finished stocks and the inletted and partially finished ones. Like about $800 or more.

[George Lander]

Bruce: I was speaking about his fully finished stocks and fore arms. I think that I paid him about $1,000 for the last one that he did for me, a Fox I believe, and I felt that it was a real bargain at the time. I still have the gun with a hard rubber buttplate marked Fajen.

Best Regards, George