VH 20 Acquisition 1927

[Chris Robenalt]

Recently picked this up. VH 20, 28" barrels IC & F. 1927
Has anyone ever seen a 3" stamp on the flats? Chambers measure a bit over 2 3/4", but not 3":

[Tom Hawkins]

It may be the barrel weight.

[David C Porter]

The 3.IN. on top was probaly added when someone opened the chamber up. This may not be good if barrels are too thin.

The smaller 3 on the bottom is the barrel weight in lb's.

[Dean Romig]

Any chamber length I’ve ever seen on a Parker was stanped on the side of the locking lug.





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[Dave Noreen]

Has anyone ever seen a 3" stamp on the flats?

I believe it is safe to say that 3.IN. stamp was not done in either Meriden or Ilion. Neither was this one --

114407

[Chris Robenalt]

I don't believe the chambers are opened up. It's kind of a mystery stamp.

[Dean Romig]

Chris, have you ordered a research letter?





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[Bruce P Bruner]

The 3” stamp in the photo above looks a lot like my 30” 1901 Monte Carlo VH…
It’s my favorite Parker to shoot among many.

[Chris Robenalt]

No Dean, not yet

[Brian Dudley]

That stamp is not factory. The main clue is of course the deformation around the stamping that was not dressed down before bluing. Also the general appearance of the stamping.

[Bill Murphy]

Not many, if any, chamber length stamped pre Remington era Parkers. I have had 3" 20 gauges, lettered as such but unmarked. I presently have a 3 1/2" 10 gauge, lettered as such but unmarked. The 10 gauge is a Twist gun.

[Chris Robenalt]

I don't know why they would stamp it. It doesn't measure 3". Other than that, it looks to be all original and in good shape.

[Dean Romig]

If the factory cut the chokes at 2 7/8” or thereabouts it was made for 3” shells.






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[Dave Noreen]

My 1930-vintage VH 0-frame 20-gauge has the 2 3/8-inch chambers intended for 2 1/2-inch shells. The progressive burning powder, high velocity, 1 ounce 20-gauge loads, mostly put up in 2 3/4-inch cases, came out in 1922, but Parker Bros. certainly didn't rush to chamber their 20-gauges for such loads. Remington made their Model 17 20-gauge pump for 2 3/4-inch shells from the get go and Winchester began making their Model 12 20-gauges for 2 3/4-inch shells by 1926.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

That is one fine looking VH either way! Congrats, my first impression was that it was not factory also

[Chris Robenalt]

Thanks Harold, other than being straight stocked, my favorite part is the narrow feel of the wrist. I told my friend that every once in a while a gun comes along that just fits. This is one.

[Dan Steingraber]

Great looking little 20. Straight stock too. I'm looking for something like that.

[Alfred Greeson]

I have a 1917 VHE 20 with a 3 stamped where I usually see the barrel weight and the gun has 3 inch chambers which I wonder if they were extended. What I have read on this forum and elsewhere is that some of the CA duck club guns were 3 inch 20 ga. and dated around 1917. My gun has 26 inch barrels choked Imp Mod and cylinder. Any thoughts on this one?

[Alfred Greeson]

That is a great little 20 that you have and like I mentioned, the 3 on your gun is identical to the 3 and its position on my 0 frame 20.

[Bill Murphy]

Alfred, if your gun has a "3" stamped where the barrel weight is usually stamped, the "3" is the barrel weight, 3 pounds, zero ounces.

[Matt Buckley]

I think most of the 3" chamber California Duck Club 20's tended to have longer barrels and tighter chokes for water fowling.

[Michael Moffa]

My 2 frame 20 with lettered 3" chambers and 30" tubes went to Montana. It is 1000 serial numbers before the CA duck guns.