VH with a single trigger?

[Dylan Rhodes]

Was it possible to obtain a VH with a single trigger on special order? I saw some threads when searching indicating that only DH and above were eligible for single triggers. The gun in question was made in 1923.

[Dean Romig]

Yes. VH and VHE guns were often ordered with the Parker single trigger. I have a 28 gauge VHE that letters with a SST.





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[Dylan Rhodes]

Yes. VH and VHE guns were often ordered with the Parker single trigger. I have a 28 gauge VHE that letters with a SST.




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Thanks Dean, Forgive my lack of knowledge, but does the Parker SST need the recoil to fire the second shot? I’m a bit skeptical on purchasing a single trigger gun without some verification first that the hammers at least drop. The current owner is willing to allow me to inspect with snap caps, but if I fire it at my FFL dealer i will be unable to send it back in the inspection window. I suppose if it doesn’t fire that’s fine….or if both fire that is also fine….but just one barrel presents a problem.

[Dean Romig]

If a single trigger malfunctions it can be an expensive proposition to have it properly repaired and it MUST be done by an expert in the field of single triggers. I can't emphasize enough that if the wrong guy gets in there it may never be the same again, or it will be very costly after he has done his damage.

The Parker SST does not depend on recoil to operate properly.






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[Dylan Rhodes]

If a single trigger malfunctions it can be an expensive proposition to have it properly repaired and it MUST be done by an expert in the field of single triggers. I can't emphasize enough that if the wrong guy gets in there it may never be the same again, or it will be very costly after he has done his damage.

The Parker SST does not depend on recoil to operate properly.






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Thanks Dean. I think I'll steer clear of this one. Wouldn't want my second Parker to be an off putter if there is a malfunction. Especially considering evidence is present that work has already been done on the gun.

[Dean Romig]

I'm not trying to steer you away from buying a nice gun. You don't need to actually fire it with live ammo to see if the SST functions properly.

Remove the barrels and center the release lever. Put a finger over both of the pin holes in the breech face and pull the trigger then pull it again. Yup it stings but it won't break the skin and it's a quick and easy way to test it.





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[Brian Dudley]

Single triggers on double guns are ridiculous. In my opinion of course.

And the operation of the trigger without live fire and recoil is not an indication that the trigger will not malfunction under normal use.

[Dylan Rhodes]

I'm not trying to steer you away from buying a nice gun. You don't need to actually fire it with live ammo to see if the SST functions properly.

Remove the barrels and center the release lever. Put a finger over both of the pin holes in the breech face and pull the trigger then pull it again. Yup it stings but it won't break the skin and it's a quick and easy way to test it.





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Its not you steering me away. I'm not certain its a nice gun. The barrels have been reblued, the screws aren't timed properly, and the stock may have had some coats of oil applied over time. Also, its choked strange at F/IC. It just doesn't smell right, and its not a steal either.

[Steve Huffman]

Single triggers on double guns are ridiculous. In my opinion of course.

And the operation of the trigger without live fire and recoil is not an indication that the trigger will not malfunction under normal use.

I second this answer

[Mike Koneski]

I have two Parkers with single triggers. Both letter to the gun. A 20g Trojan and a 12g VHE.

[Dave Noreen]

The April 21, 1923, Parker Bros. Catalog only offered the SST on DH and above --

98803

98804

By the next catalog I have, Jan, 1, 1927, the SST was offered on all grades from VH on up. Remington offered the SST on the Trojan Grade for a few years before they dropped the Trojan Grade.

98805

In addition to Parker Bros. own single selective triggers there were numerous after-market triggers offered. We see quite a few early 20th Century Parkers with the the Lancaster and there is a King letter that seems to indicate Parker Bros. offered them in the pre WW-I days. Later the Miller triggers were quite popular. Others were the Lindsey, E.D. Fulford (he won the GAH with one of his triggers on his Remington Hammerless Double), the Philadelphia Single Trigger Co., our man Joe Kautzky, etc.

[Mike Koneski]

My Trojan is a mid-1920s production and the VHE was 1930-32.

[Dean Romig]

Mike, do you know if your Trojan was sent back to Parker Bros. to have the single trigger installed?





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[Mike Koneski]

Not according to the letter. It also has a straight grip and checkered butt, also lettered. Oh, and it’s a two barrel set, all matching numbers. It’s a great gun to shoot and it destroys clays.


UPDATE:

After not finding a letter and contacting Chuck, I couldn't find one because there is none available. I was confusing my VHE letter for the Trojan. The Trojan does have the same SST in it that the VHE does.

[Mike Koneski]

I’ll have to dig out the letter.

[Brian Dudley]

I want to see this letter for that gun. I keep hearing about it.

[Dean Romig]

I’ll have to dig out the letter.

Somebody ‘in the know’ bought Parker’s least expensive gun but didn’t mind paying for the extra features he wanted.






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[Larry Stauch]

Not according to the letter. It also has a straight grip and checkered butt, also lettered. Oh, and it’s a two barrel set, all matching numbers. It’s a great gun to shoot and it destroys clays.

Where does the line form to be the next owner of this gun?

And the VH thread subject gun doesn't sound too bad to me. Parker SST, IC/Full; yeah. In the hundred or so years since it was made somebody put a little extra finish on the stock and reblued the barrels. So? These are shooters. Buy it, shoot it and if you don't like it pass it on. They made over 117,000 VH guns. My guess is you're not paying $5,000 for this VH.

[Mike Koneski]

Here is the info on the 12g VHE live bird gun. I was mistaken as the original specs didn’t mention a SST, but the info I received from G&H shows there was one on the gun by the late 1940s. However, the ID and Serialization book shows it was made with a SST.

[Bill Murphy]

Question #1 asked about the originality of single triggers on V grade Parkers. Answer: Hundreds of Parker V grade skeet and trap guns were made with single triggers as well as more than a few field guns. Question #2 was about the testing of a single trigger without live firing. Answer: One of the main malfunctions of a Parker single trigger is doubling. Testing for doubling involves live fire with low power and high power ammunition, preferably more than a few shots with each. My experience with doubling in Parker shotguns is that sometimes, a Parker will double no more than every twenty five or a hundred shots, a sign of bad things to come. Test fire before buying if the price is not a solid bargain.

[Larry Stauch]

Not according to the letter. It also has a straight grip and checkered butt, also lettered. Oh, and it’s a two barrel set, all matching numbers. It’s a great gun to shoot and it destroys clays.

So Dean asked if the Trojan had been sent back for the SST and the response was no and that it had a straight grip and a checkered butt. So the VHE has a pistol grip and no mention of "no safety". What gun are we talking about here with what features??? This is confusing.:vconfused:

[Dean Romig]

I thought Mike was talking about his Trojan… Mike?





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[Bill Murphy]

Like the rest of us, I was interested in the letter on the Trojan.

[Brian Dudley]

Here is the Trigger in the Trojan.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23581&highlight=Miller+trigger

[Dylan Rhodes]

Wow, I didn't expect this much discussion in this thread. All great comments and trains of thought to read for a new collector.


Where does the line form to be the next owner of this gun?

And the VH thread subject gun doesn't sound too bad to me. Parker SST, IC/Full; yeah. In the hundred or so years since it was made somebody put a little extra finish on the stock and reblued the barrels. So? These are shooters. Buy it, shoot it and if you don't like it pass it on. They made over 117,000 VH guns. My guess is you're not paying $5,000 for this VH.



Larry, It's not the modifications that bother me. Its the single trigger actually. and at near 2k dollars for a gun with modifications I'm not certain I'm willing to take a gamble on a malfunctioning single trigger, which as previously stated, could be expensive. At the end of the day, I could end 2.5-3k in a VH grade that has been modified. At that point you might as well start looking at VHE with double trigger or save even a little more for a higher grade 12 gauge. I guess the question that's unanswered is, how reliable is the Parker SST?


Question #1 asked about the originality of single triggers on V grade Parkers. Answer: Hundreds of Parker V grade skeet and trap guns were made with single triggers as well as more than a few field guns. Question #2 was about the testing of a single trigger without live firing. Answer: One of the main malfunctions of a Parker single trigger is doubling. Testing for doubling involves live fire with low power and high power ammunition, preferably more than a few shots with each. My experience with doubling in Parker shotguns is that sometimes, a Parker will double no more than every twenty five or a hundred shots, a sign of bad things to come. Test fire before buying if the price is not a solid bargain.


Bill, I appreciate the info, but i'm afraid firing before closing the deal is off the table here. Which adds to my apprehension.