DHE 32" Titanic Barrels Project:

[Bruce P Bruner]

I viewed a new listing early this morning and hit the "Buy It Now" for $2200.00. The bidding started at $1650 with no reserve. A 1928 Parker DHE 12 Gauge on a 1-1/2 Frame with 32" Titanic Steel Barrels. I felt the gun rightfully deserved some careful rehabilitation to restore it's former glory. It has dents in the barrels, good bores, retains the skeleton butt and has some dings in the stock. The limited photos were just good enough to see it. I called the shop and had them dry fire it and open the action to find out if the ejectors worked, they did and the action was tight. The stock does show some nice figure. The grip cap is missing a chunk, but that's a fairly easy find. There is a piece of zip-strap nylon in the frame, it's function is unknown. I'll have a better evaluation when it's in hand.
Please let me know if you believe I should seek counseling for my seemingly uncontrollable urge to go crazy when I find a deserving orphan Parker Brothers. Some may say I did the right thing, others will sort of scratch their heads. Perhaps it was the Brendan's in my coffee.

[charlie cleveland]

that stock looks like it really has some nice figure in it....I think you done ok...charlie

[David Noble]

Barring any unknown serious problems, I'd say you did the right thing!
Definitely a worthy project.

[Steve Huffman]

The stock looks like a replacement. Is it ? The drop point and cheek just look odd on the right side

[Brian Dudley]

Looks like a shim on the roll joint and also that piece of who knows what in the frame well is also possibly a tightening bandaid. The gun may be a rattle trap.

[Bruce P Bruner]

Looks like a shim on the roll joint and also that piece of who knows what in the frame well is also possibly a tightening bandaid. The gun may be a rattle trap.
Got to keep the gunsmith guys well fed.

[Bruce P Bruner]

The stock looks like a replacement. Is it ? The drop point and cheek just look odd on the right side
I see what you see. It may just be horrible photography.

[John Davis]

However it turns out, I’ve done worse.

[Steve Huffman]

However it turns out, I’ve done worse.

OH HOW I KNOW TOOOO !

[Buddy Harrison]

I'm guessing that the piece of zip tie is a leftover from when they had the gun strapped down for a gun show.

[Bruce P Bruner]

I'm guessing that the piece of zip tie is a leftover from when they had the gun strapped down for a gun show.
It could very well be. If you closed the action with a zip tie in that location it would likely scissor the tie, not that I ever tried it. I can't imagine that it would have any effect on tightening lock up in that area of the frame.
Breck Gorman will iron out the barrel dents and if they require a slow rust blue he will perform his magic and also provide a barrel wall assessment.
The delivery is scheduled for Saturday and I am looking foreword to it.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

That gun is really going to look nice. Fix the dents, reblue, refinish the stock. I wouldnt re-case color.

[Bruce P Bruner]

That gun is really going to look nice. Fix the dents, reblue, refinish the stock. I wouldn't re-case color.
I agree Harold, I just emailed my PGCA letter request. The shotgun is being shipped from Pensacola, FL. I was told the owner who consigned it needed the cash. Being it was his Grandfather's gun, it's somewhat disappointing that a family heirloom ends up in a pawnshop. "Churn", it probably happens all the time, though not necessarily with vintage graded Parker shotguns that I can afford. I'm just glad to be able to "reel it in" and give it some well deserved care.

[Stan Hillis]

You did fine. Hard to go wrong with a Parker that has 32" barrels and cost $2200. Plenty of room there for repairs/refurbishing. My, how I love those 32" guns.

[CraigThompson]

It’s kinda funny ! The first shotgun I ever had was a 12 gauge single barrel H&R with of all things a 32” full choke barrel . It was exactly what I asked for . Later in life I gravitated to 26” bird choked barrels (IC/M) . To be fair I started with the H&R at 8 years of age on hand thrown straight away clay targets and it didn’t take long to figure it out . The quail/dove/skeet barrels were easy to switch to . Now over fifty years later most of my so called target/pigeon guns are 30-32” and choked tight . The guns I use for tower shoots , walk ups , quail and dove are all choked a good bit tighter and longer than what was my preference thirty years ago . Everything goes full circle :whistle:

[Keith Sirmans]

I think it is a good buy and a helluva gun. There is a whole lot of smiles left in that thing. If you don't want it later on just send it my way

[Bruce P Bruner]

Looks like a shim on the roll joint and also that piece of who knows what in the frame well is also possibly a tightening bandaid. The gun may be a rattle trap.
There is no shim, lockup is tight. Chokes are full & extra full. Drop at the heel is a respectable 2-1/2”. I’m doing basic cleanup, bores are without flaw, nice and shiny other than the dents. Breck has agreed to master the barrels. No plans to rechase the worn checkering, not that bad. Just basic maintenance to get the old girl up and running. I picked up this old box of vintage Federal paper shells when I filled out the 4473. They worked well when I was a kid, they were old then.

[Stephen Hodges]

You hit the jackpot on that gun!!! Beautiful wood...................you need to run out and buy some lottery tickets, LOL,,,,,:rotf:

[John Davis]

Historically, it usually doesn’t work out that way for me. You are a fortunate gentleman. Sometimes you just have to take a chance.

[Steve Huffman]

What did you clean the wood with? Nice gun !

[allen newell]

Very nice purchase. Enjoy for many years and then pass it on

[bob lyons]

It is only paper money and it will be worth less tomorrow. The journey will be worth it.
Nice find.

[Jay Oliver]

Very nice Bruce! That is a nice Parker for sure!

[Brian Dudley]

If the seller took better photos, he would have gotten more money. It looks like a different gun. You rolled the dice and came out ahead.

[Bruce P Bruner]

The factory letter revealed the characteristics, though no order destination.

[Stephen Hodges]

Nice and lite for a 32" gun.

[Bruce P Bruner]

Amazing work:

[Mills Morrison]

Looking good! Can’t wait to see the rest

[Bruce P Bruner]

Looking good! Can’t wait to see the rest

Kind of long to fit into the photo.

[Bill Murphy]

Just an example of a shotgun that went from junk to collector value because of PGCA and its members.