Good News on my CHE

[Daniel B Sweet]

Recently purchased my first Parker which was a CHE 12 Gauge, didn't know too much about it and got some good input from Members. I am fortunate in that I live just two hours from the shop of Larry DelGrego so I took a ride today to his shop. I wanted some adjustments to my new purchase so the gun went for a ride with me. I showed the gun to Larry with high hopes of good news and that is what I received. I was told that my gun which sports 30" barrels on a 1 1/2 frame with SST; Beavertail Forend; Vent Rib and Skeletonized Buttplate is as it came from the factory. DelGrego did restoration work on the gun sometime in the past. Besides the small work he is doing on the gun he is also doing an appraisal letter on it. Looking forward to getting it back and perhaps posting that letter.:bowdown:

[Randy G Roberts]

That is good news, congrats. If I remember correctly you had ordered or were going to order a research letter on this one, did you ever get it ? Just curious as to what it said. Thanksgiving came a little early for you, or is it Christmas.

[Brian Dudley]

Take the appraisal letter with a grain of salt.

[Gerald McPherson]

I'll second that grain of salt.

[Dean Romig]

It is essential that you get a PGCA Research Letter on your Parker. A research letter is the last word on how your gun left the factory... unless of course, DelGrego has the original factory ledger containing your Parker’s serial number and he referred to that data in evaluating your gun.






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[John Dunkle]

Congrats Dan!

I remember purchasing my first CHE as well - and as Dean suggested, I'd also opt for a PGCA Letter as well... Anyway - sounds like a great Parker and you certainly did have an early Christmas!!

John

[Daniel B Sweet]

Well after returning home from my trip today to DelGrego's shop I found my research letter in the mail. My gun was manufactured in 1926 on a 1 1/2 frame, single trigger, trap modified forend, Acme steel barrels 30" in length, the stock configuration was a capped pistol grip and an oil finish, the CHE grade with a single trigger was $234.75 plus $20.25 for a trap modified forend plus $42.00 for a ventilated rib. This information affirms what Mr. DelGrego told me today, yahoo! Life is good....:bowdown:

[Dean Romig]

I am delighted that your letter and Mr. DelGrego agree on your Parker's original configuration.





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[Randy G Roberts]

I am delighted that your letter and Mr. DelGrego agree on your Parker's original configuration..

I'll second that and quite honestly I would wager that most of us did not see that one coming. Good for you Sir. Hope it fits you well.

[Daniel B Sweet]

Thank you all for sharing in my good news, those "Rascaly" Pheasants are in trouble now.

[Paul Ehlers]

Well after returning home from my trip today to DelGrego's shop I found my research letter in the mail. My gun was manufactured in 1926 on a 1 1/2 frame, single trigger, trap modified forend, Acme steel barrels 30" in length, the stock configuration was a capped pistol grip and an oil finish, the CHE grade with a single trigger was $234.75 plus $20.25 for a trap modified forend plus $42.00 for a ventilated rib. This information affirms what Mr. DelGrego told me today, yahoo! Life is good....:bowdown:

Dan,

Congrat's on acquiring such a nice gun.

Would you be able to post a picture of the modified trap forearm. I have a Remington era VHE with a factory modified trap forearm and would like to compare it to yours.

[allen newell]

I was told directly by Babe Del Grego when i visited their shop for restoration work on my grandfathers VH that, "The pgca doesn't have all the Parker Records, we have many..." unquote. Just fyi

[Dean Romig]

There are 30 missing stock books of an estimated total of 82 from 1874 to 1935.

Order books are a different story.....

The DelGrego shop does not have all of the missing books by a long shot.





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[Brian Dudley]

And, the books they have are Remingtons property. Not theirs.

[Daniel B Sweet]

I am enjoying the replies and opinions generated by my original post, seems to be a lot of interest. I am curious as to how many CHE's were fitted with a vent rib, SST and "Modified Trap Forend" Beavertail to us common folk, LOL.

[Dean Romig]

I had one - 230760 12/30 F/F - the book was missing on this s/n range too.





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[Daniel B Sweet]

Sorry I didn't see your question on my last post, currently my gun is at DelGrego's but when I get it back I'd be happy to post a few pictures of the forearm.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the PGCA members.:clap:

[Bill Jolliff]

I am enjoying the replies and opinions generated by my original post, seems to be a lot of interest. I am curious as to how many CHE's were fitted with a vent rib, SST and "Modified Trap Forend" Beavertail to us common folk, LOL.

I had one too: CHE 12 gauge, SN 239669 with 30" vent rib barrels, Parker single selective trigger, straight stock, beavertail fore end and a No-Shoc pad. About a 90% all original sweetheart.

Sold it 46 years ago. Craig B. might remember it.

https://i.imgur.com/6Xp2lvT.jpg?1

[Russ Jackson]

Dan , I drove up to Larrys a Number of years back ,my Wife and I ! I took a CHE 20 Gauge up that has some very unusual Checkering and wanted to have him place the Tools that they used for stamping the wood into the serial# to attempt to prove the stock on the gun is truly original ! The Stamps fit perfectly and we had a Wonderful Afternoon visiting with Larry ! Although it was a 7 1/2 hour drive each way for us ,I was glad we made the trip and we were never treated nicer at any place of business ! Congrats. !!!!!! on a Beautiful Gun !

[Michael Moffa]

241,xxx CHE SST, Trap Forend, Vent Rib, 32" Acme, English stock. So there is another.

[Daniel B Sweet]

Nice to know you're not alone in the world, it would be interesting to know just how many were configured in a like manner. I have collected and traded off or sold a number of good Pre 64 Model 70's, "The Rifleman's Rifle" by Roger Rule was such a help and so informative but only possible because of factory records being available.

[Garth Gustafson]

Dan , I drove up to Larrys a Number of years back ,my Wife and I ! I took a CHE 20 Gauge up that has some very unusual Checkering and wanted to have him place the Tools that they used for stamping the wood into the serial# to attempt to prove the stock on the gun is truly original ! The Stamps fit perfectly and we had a Wonderful Afternoon visiting with Larry ! Although it was a 7 1/2 hour drive each way for us ,I was glad we made the trip and we were never treated nicer at any place of business ! Congrats. !!!!!! on a Beautiful Gun !

Great story Russ. Kevin McCormack wrote a series of excellent articles about the DelGrego shop authenticating and restoring Parkers back in the Winter 1996/ Spring 1997 issues of DGJ.