32" 28 bore VH & DH

[Reggie Bishop]

TPS says that 15 were made in VH configuration and that 14 DHs were made. Does anyone have any personal knowledge of a 32" VH or DH? Were they 0 framed or 00 framed? Earlier production or later? Pistol grip or straight? Any input would be appreciated!

[John Davis]

That's living in rarefied air.

[Dean Romig]

Right John... not much oxygen at all up there.





.

[Randy G Roberts]

I was recently accused of "shopping in thin air". Not that you're shopping Reggie. If you are I like your taste.

[CraigThompson]

Strangely I like the long barrels 30-34 inches but my real forte are bird barrels IE 26”ish . So it goes without saying I likes dem all :cool:

[Dave Noreen]

Back in April 1911, Edwin L. Hedderly, Editor of Western Field, ordered a 32-inch DHE-Grade --

79312

If memory serves me, this gun made an appearance at a long ago, early PGCA get together at The Great Southern Weapons Fair at Richmond, Virginia. He ordered a similar 20-gauge in February 1911.

[Reggie Bishop]

So questions about rare Parkers shouldn’t be asked? I am fortunate to own a couple of 30” 28 gauge guns, was looking at the data on them and thought surely some of the highly esteemed members here might have at some time ran across one of the 32” guns. Josh listed a 32” B grade I do believe on this site. Steve Barnett has a 32” A1S, so surely my question isn’t that shocking!

[ED J, MORGAN]

I have DH 66038 12ga. # 2 frame 32" Dam. : DHE 180254 12 ga. 32" #2 frame Titanic

VH 133124 12ga. #2 frame 32" Vulcan steel ,.. and 2 GH's in 32 inch.

[John Davis]

Questions about rare Parkers should always be asked.

[Dean Romig]

...and answered whenever possible.





.

[Stan Hillis]

So questions about rare Parkers shouldn’t be asked? I am fortunate to own a couple of 30” 28 gauge guns, was looking at the data on them and thought surely some of the highly esteemed members here might have at some time ran across one of the 32” guns. Josh listed a 32” B grade I do believe on this site. Steve Barnett has a 32” A1S, so surely my question isn’t that shocking!

I'm glad you asked, not that I have ever seen one, but because of my interest in "long legged" smallbores. Being a dove shooter I can put them to good use, particularly in the late seasons, when the birds are mature and high flying. I find 32" doubleguns mesmerizing, and relish the thought of seeing a 32" in 28 ga., regardless the grade ........... indeed, even just learning more about them.

Best, SRH

[Dean Romig]

What ever happened with the two high grade .410 Parkers with 32” or 34” barrels that were ordered by two brothers on the West Coast? They must surely have passed away by now... does anyone know the whereabouts of these two very special Parkers?





.

[Randy G Roberts]

So questions about rare Parkers shouldn’t be asked? I am fortunate to own a couple of 30” 28 gauge guns, was looking at the data on them and thought surely some of the highly esteemed members here might have at some time ran across one of the 32” guns. Josh listed a 32” B grade I do believe on this site. Steve Barnett has a 32” A1S, so surely my question isn’t that shocking!

Not at all IMO Reggie. Glad you brought it up. Very interesting for myself as I like those long barrels. Thanks!

[Bill Murphy]

I believe Shelly Gitman owned one of the long legged .410s, not sure.

[Rich Anderson]

I have seen and handled a BHE 410 with 32 inch barrels. It's a truly wonderful gun and in the collection of a fine southern gentleman.

[Kevin McCormack]

TPS says that 15 were made in VH configuration and that 14 DHs were made. Does anyone have any personal knowledge of a 32" VH or DH? Were they 0 framed or 00 framed? Earlier production or later? Pistol grip or straight? Any input would be appreciated!

DHE #156717, alluded to in 'Researcher's" post, was in fact a 32" barrel gun with pistol grip, SFE and original factory Silvers pad. A nice extra touch was that the cheeks of the stock were checkered. I examined this gun closely several times and after the event that Dave records it sighting, and came close to buying it when it was later offered for sale.

You would have to obtain a list of 28 ga. serial numbers and correlate them with the data recorded in TPS and SN Book to determine if they were straight, pistol, or half-pistol grip. Compounding this dilemma are missing books in these SN ranges.

Most of these guns (e.g., long-barreled smallbores) were built in the 1910-1915 window of the "California Duck Club Craze", a direct result of Hedderly's campaign to introduce smallbore doubles, especially Parkers, to his well-heeled duck shooting buddies as a viable alternative to the then-current "ho-hum" 12 gauges in use.

His revolution faltered and died within a few years, chiefly due to the abysmal lack of handloading components and supplies available for anything other than 12 gauge, and the considerable cost and very limited selection of anything in smaller gauges for waterfowl or any other type of hunting at that time.

Without my research data at hand, I would venture to say that the vast majority of these guns were probably built on the 0 frame, chiefly due to the added extra weight of the long 32" barrels in advantage of handling qualities as opposed to the extreme degree of barrel striking, tapering, and reduced barrel wall thickness that would be required of a 00-frame set of barrels scaled in dimensions compatible with the smaller size frame of the gun. Again, the only way to know would be to survey SN records and correlate with TPS and the SN book.

[Reggie Bishop]

Kevin that is exactly the kind of reply i was hoping for! Thanks so much for the input!

[Gary Laudermilch]

It seems I saw Morris Baker with an extremely long barrel 28 a few years ago.

[Dean Romig]

He had a 34” twenty gauge at Hausmann’s three years ago....





.

[Randy G Roberts]

He had a 34” twenty gauge at Hausmann’s three years ago....
.

Out of curiosity do you recall what grade it was Dean ?

[Gary Laudermilch]

So much for my memory. I know it had wickedly long barrels.

[todd allen]

I looked at a 32" DHE 28 gauge at a pigeon shoot about 15-20 years ago. It came out of a So. Cal. estate, was a little bit beat up, but all there. Offered to me for 3k. I'll ask my buddy that was with me what he remembers of the gun. He has a steel trap memory.
Wasn't looking for a small ga. project at the time, but I know I should have bought it, and just stuck it in the safe.
Hindsight is 20/20!

[Kevin McCormack]

Morris also owns one of the extremely rare A.H. Fox Sterlingworth 20 gauges with 32" barrels. See "Researcher" Dave Noreen's post of a few weeks (months?) ago tabulating the rarity of 20 gauge 32" barreled guns documented across all grades of Parker compared to A.H. Fox guns built in this configuration.

[Randy G Roberts]

See "Researcher" Dave Noreen's post of a few weeks (months?) ago tabulating the rarity of 20 gauge 32" barreled guns documented across all grades of Parker compared to A.H. Fox guns built in this configuration.

Tried a quick search but was unable to find Dave's info as referred to by Kevin. If you know of it's whereabouts and can post a link that would be most appreciated as I would like to see this info..... Thanks !

[Dean Romig]

Out of curiosity do you recall what grade it was Dean ?

It was a VH... maybe a VHE (so much for my memory).

I had mentioned to Morris that I was looking for a 32" or 34" VH or VHE to buy. He said he had one and that he would bring it by the next day. He brought it and I hefted and swung it and fondled it a bit, and then I asked him what he wanted for it... of course "Oh, it's not for sale." was the answer I got. Has Morris ever sold a Parker?... or any gun for that matter?





.

[Randy G Roberts]

To my knowledge I have only ever handled one 34" 20 gauge and it was the one in the link below. Unfortunately it was not a Parker. As much as I liked the gun I was unable to force myself to buy it with the barrels configured in a vertical fashion, the high price probably had a little to do with it as well. It's been on the market for right at a year now.


https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/shotguns-german-austrian-double/miller-val-greiss-20-gauge-o-u-trap-gun-with-34-bohler-special-steel-barrels-merkel-krieghoff.cfm?gun_id=101172056

[Alfred Greeson]

Wow, you guys are great! I may never own one of the rare ones but it keeps the blood pressure pumping on these cold winter days. Always appreciate the knowledge. Being an old military guy, hearing of the 410 and other Parkers owned by Gen. Patton and others is always interesting, what a privilege to own any Parker.

[todd allen]

I looked at a 32" DHE 28 gauge at a pigeon shoot about 15-20 years ago. It came out of a So. Cal. estate, was a little bit beat up, but all there. Offered to me for 3k. I'll ask my buddy that was with me what he remembers of the gun. He has a steel trap memory.
Wasn't looking for a small ga. project at the time, but I know I should have bought it, and just stuck it in the safe.
Hindsight is 20/20!

I just got off the phone with my friend, and was hoping he remembered the serial number range. We both thought it was an early gun, but can't confirm that. It did come out of an old California estate, so very well could have been one of the duck club guns. It was well used, but was totally useable.
So here's what it was;
32" BBLs, Splinter fore end, double triggers, and skeleton steel butt plate.
Handling this gun, and not buying it at 3k will haunt me always. My friend feels equally bad about letting it slip through our fingers.
Oh well. I passed on a 68 Hemi Road Runner for 3k, back in around 1980

[charlie cleveland]

i looked at the 34 inch barrel 20 ga it is a over and under gun... that hemi moment will be hard to forget...charlie