DHE 12 Gauge Vent Rib:

[Bruce P Bruner]

Lightning struck again! I secured another vent rib DHE today. A Cabela's new listing that I pounced on without hesitation. However, there was an element of huge disappointment when I was told that they would call me back after I had them pull the gun and put my name on it and they didn't call. I called again and the operator told me that I was 3rd in line. I replied "Thank you". Well you can imagine how I felt. Out of the blue they called to finalize the sale. Come to find out I was 3rd in line to be processed, not 3rd in line for the gun. Whew!
This one is recorded in the Serialization Book as Special Order Code 11, ejectors, Titanic Steel, 30" barrels and large forearm. However the book misses the ventilated rib and the single trigger. The stock is also Monte Carlo configuration. It's a 1930 gun so the rib has all the printed information including "Titanic Steel", unlike my recent Remington era 16 gauge vent rib gun that is unmarked. I know that a trigger could be changed out but a ventilated rib addition isn't common or perhaps even possible. I believe the omission of the rib in the records was an error.
This one wasn't quite the bargain as my recent 16 DHE but non the less a very desirable Parker Bros. for $4K after they discounted it by $3K. I'll have 1st right of refusal when the gun gets to my local Cabela's, though I can't imagine turning it down. Who wouldn't want a "Hawkins" pad? I kid.

[John Davis]

Very nice! Do you know what it's choked?

[Bruce P Bruner]

The listing didn't give many details, no choke nor length of pull. I did have them break it down and verify the serial numbers. I inquired about what was on the the barrel lug to determine the frame size and he just said "12". So I don't even know what the frame size is. I was pretty excited and proclaimed "No more questions", I just wanted to wrap up the deal and get it sent out.

[Bruce P Bruner]

I'm just speculating this gun is configured as a trap gun or perhaps a "live pigeon" gun, it has the same characteristics as the modern ones. From all of the Parker's I've seen this is a fairly scarce stock with the Monte Carlo feature. Not a new design by any means, but I'm sure the Parker folks strived to deliver what the public wanted and to keep up with the competition and as such, someone ordered this one for their own specific purposes.

[Mike Franzen]

When you get it please post more pics and I would be interested in the stock dimensions. Looks like one of my dream guns.

[Bruce P Bruner]

Researching a bit further I located this guns serial number in the Parker "Work Order Tag" pdf. I'm sure it would be interesting, I'll have decide how much it's worth to satisfy my curiosity. I should just consider it a donation to the Association's Research Committee. You think it was sent back for the "Hawkins" pad? Ha!

[John Davis]

It would be my dream gun, if it only had double triggers. I would acquire every piece of information I could about that gun. Letter, work order tag, etc. And if that stock configuration checks out, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it originally came with a Hawkins pad.

[Daryl Corona]

Nice find Bruce. I have a VHE double trap and it has a leather covered pad and double triggers. No m/c stock but the gun was ordered with a "full" comb, 32" and M/F.

[Larry Stauch]

So what you're telling me is not to expect any positive answer about my email to Cabela's telling them I will buy this gun?????
Damn, too late again.:crying:

[J. Scott Hanes]

Cabela's discounted that gun by $3k??? Must need the cash!! Glad you scooped that one up!

[Rich Anderson]

I had a DHE 30 inch vent rib trap gun with the Monte Carlo stock as well as a BHE live bird gun.
A nice find congratulations. I'm glad I don't visit the Cabella's web site:rotf:

[Alfred Greeson]

Great find, I saw it but am not a trap guy but couldn't help but notice a great looking gun with a super piece of wood. Congratulations! Some of these big box stores as they say may not have the most knowledgeable gun folks in place, I picked up a 2nd year Detective Special recently for a cheap price. So, us blind squirrels just keep on watching for nuts and getting lucky from time to time.

[Bruce P Bruner]

I just returned from inspecting the DHE 12, the head is loose and there is a visible crack on the left wrist. It is a 1-1/2 frame, Full X Full choke. The trigger is single but not a Parker SST, there is no manual selector. However there is a conspicuous "R" above the "S" above the safety. I am clueless as to what that means. The printing on the rib somehow looks amateurish almost fake, though it's just my impression.
They gave me a week to decide whether I would take the shotgun or get a full refund. Please view the photographs taken today and any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you, Bruce

[Bruce P Bruner]

I am disappointed but they lowered the price for a reason, I just wasn't made aware of the reason.

[J. Scott Hanes]

Do you have a photo of the rib markings? Sorry, Photos took a long time to load....

[J. Scott Hanes]

Agree that the rib markings are suspect. The forend iron "4" in the serial # is also of concern. I suppose it could have been a replacement and someone messed up the number, but that could have happened originally.

Are there any markings on the under side of the rib you could see with a mirror?

Still, for its age, it is a nice one, but I do see why they were willing to discount it.

[Bruce P Bruner]

I know just enough about Parker shotguns to be dangerous...to myself. The existing work order could shed some light on the subject. And yes that "4" is a very heavy stamp. And I agree with your assessment about the rib stamping. No mirror to look. I'm a value guy, I rarely invest in something that needs expensive work to make it right. Yup, I liked the gun a lot, until I didn't.

[JAMES HALL]

Need pictures of folks head and forend latch.

[JAMES HALL]

Dolls head

[Bruce P Bruner]

Need pictures of folks head and forend latch.
Don't have the dolls head photo, you can see the cut-out in the receiver photo. Viewing assembled from above the fit is as it should be.

[Dave Noreen]

It certainly appears that the gun was fitted with the earlier style Miller single selective trigger. The safety slide is now the selector. The Miller Brothers were not very neat with their whanging their R S L on some nicely engraved top tangs.

I recall reading that Parker Bros. engraved the rib legend on vent ribs for a period of time, as they had trouble with the rib standing up to the roll-stamping.

[David C Porter]

The Miller trigger is not original to the gun. Was sent to Miller for modification. R= right barrel L= left barrel & S= safe. This type of safety was not very good & were a little sloppy on holding their position. They has another selectable safety with a little rocker on the front of the trigger that was better. Besides the cracked stock, it appears the stock & barrels have been refinished.

[Rich Anderson]

I have a DHE 20 with the same Miller trigger and have owned the gun for close to 20 years and have never experienced any problems with the trigger. It's nice when shooting sporting clays if you want the left barrel first simply slide the safety back instead of forward.

[Randy G Roberts]

I just returned from inspecting the DHE 12, the head is loose and there is a visible crack on the left wrist. It is a 1-1/2 frame, Full X Full choke. The trigger is single but not a Parker SST, there is no manual selector. However there is a conspicuous "R" above the "S" above the safety. I am clueless as to what that means. The printing on the rib somehow looks amateurish almost fake, though it's just my impression.
They gave me a week to decide whether I would take the shotgun or get a full refund. Please view the photographs taken today and any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you, Bruce

Bruce the rib legend is correct from what I can see in the pics. Rib legends on VR guns were hand engraved as compared to roll stamping on solid rib guns. Get 2 of them side by side and you will see the difference. The receiver also appears to have a flat top further supporting the VR. The matting is without question PB to my eye. The last 3 digits of the serial # may or may not be on the underside of the rib, usually between the 2nd and 3rd post. You might need to go outside and or get a dental mirror to spot them. "FROM WHAT I CAN SEE" there is little doubt in my mind that this is a PB rib.

[Bruce P Bruner]

The safety was tight with no wiggle. The special order code 11 does not indicate a single trigger. Why would a selective trigger be refitted on a shotgun with identically choked tubes? Both tubes are full choke.
Of the 7 or 8 Parkers I've owned every one's inner for-end had near new remaining case color, that's not the case on this one. For that matter every other one had evidence of case color at least in the protected areas, here again this one is largely devoid of remaining case color, just subdued blotchy shadows. The butt stock finish exhibits a good amount of "crazing". The lock-up is very tight.
Given the expense to get the gun in shooting condition one has to rationalize whether it's worth it. I believe the head on the butt stock can be repaired and the rest of the gun could be left as is and it would still be a desirable gun. One could go with the "full house" restoration and end up with a very lovely shotgun. Consider that the barrels require no attention what so ever other than some oil on a rag, the expense of repairing the stock and perhaps a stock refinish would put the investment at (guessing) <$5K. In my opinion you could shop for a long long time to find another one at this price point.
One of our members has reached out and indicated that if I pass on the purchase he would like to purchase it. I have no problem with passing the details on to the Library Manager. This means there is at one person that thinks this example is worth the time and investment. As always I appreciate everyone's help here.

[David C Porter]

Why would a Miller single selective trigger be added?: Because it's what the owner wanted. The dead giveaway is the engraved "SAFE" from the factory is still there & the safe position lines up with the stamped "S". If it was special ordered with the Miller selective trigger there would be no engraved "SAFE" position. Only the R,L,S. I'd say that about 95% of the Miller triggers on Parkers were sent back to Miller by the owners. They were much simpler than the Parker single triggers & were pretty reliable. You can still have Miller trigger installed today, but they no longer do the selective trigger on the top tang. Only the little rocker selective on the front of the trigger. I've owned several of each & the selector of the front of the trigger was a more positive setup

[Dave Noreen]

Ithaca Gun Co. used the Miller single selective trigger on their NIDs from their introduction until the 1932-3 time frame when they went to their Harry Howland Patent knock-off of the Miller. Both using the safety slide selector. In my experience that is the only selector I could possibly make a decision with on a flush. Guess I might be able to make a decision with the safety/selector on a Remington Model 3200.

[Bruce P Bruner]

Ithaca Gun Co. used the Miller single selective trigger on their NIDs from their introduction until the 1932-3 time frame when they went to their Harry Howland Patent knock-off of the Miller. Both using the safety slide selector. In my experience that is the only selector I could possibly make a decision with on a flush. Guess I might be able to make a decision with the safety/selector on a Remington Model 3200.

Since both barrels measure exactly the same, full & full what possible purpose would a selective trigger make? Using the left barrel for a bird flying left? It seems redundant to have a choice when both barrels are choked identically. What am I missing here?

[Reggie Bishop]

The owner probably just preferred a single trigger gun, selective or not and probably just had that particular one installed?

[Bruce P Bruner]

The owner probably just preferred a single trigger gun, selective or not and probably just had that particular one installed?

Okay, makes perfect sense. I've shot double trigger shotguns for over 50 years and it's a perfectly natural instinct for me. I just hadn't thought about someone preferring a single trigger. On a side note, I recently learned I am intolerant to coffee. Going about my daily routines without coffee, I'm pretty sure it's having a negative effect on my aging brain function. :vconfused:

[Randy G Roberts]

I've shot double trigger shotguns for over 50 years and it's a perfectly natural instinct for me. I just hadn't thought about someone preferring a single trigger.

At this point in my life single triggers make me cringe and I don't intend to own any more with few exceptions. One of those would be a single "non selective" trigger on a gun with similar chokes in both barrels. Never owned one that I can recall, don't recall seeing that many either.

[JAMES HALL]

Since both barrels measure exactly the same, full & full what possible purpose would a selective trigger make? Using the left barrel for a bird flying left? It seems redundant to have a choice when both barrels are choked identically. What am I missing here?
Ask same question many years ago. Answer replied by gentleman twice my age. Suppose you want a slug in the right barrel and buchshot in the left. Depends on situation of targets.

[todd allen]

Double triggers are the best barrel selector option ever!
In the heat of the action you might forget where to put your single trigger selector switch, but with DTs, you always know what the front or back trigger is gonna do

[Bruce P Bruner]

Double triggers are the best barrel selector option ever!

Agreed, and they work reliably.

[Stephen Hodges]

Cabelas has this gun re-listed today with no mention of the issues.

[Rich Anderson]

That's not surprising

[Jeff Stegmeier]

I like double triggers, but a single trigger can be a real advantage while shooting with gloves.