Price check

[Mike Poindexter]

Just saw a 12 ga VH 28" 1 1/2 fr for consignment sale at a LGS that doesnt move many side by sides--mostly black guns. The gun is tight, unaltered except for an old White Line recoil pad that is well fit , appears to have IC and Mod choking and S/n is 181xxx-a 1918 gun. The screws are timed and unbuggered, but appear to have been removed at least once. Maybe 10% CC and 90% original bluing--no dents or pitting in either bore. The wood is straight grained with original thinned finish and the checkering is about half worn. Looks like an honest shooter with good dimensions and weight, but I think he's got it way overpriced. His tag says $2100. I say $1200. I'd make him an offer at the latter number, but I just dont need another shooter. What do you guys think?

[Andrew Sacco]

I have four 12g VH's from 26" to 32" and the price has been from $1800 (gun shop) to $3,000 (private sale) and I think that price is not crazy out of line. If it was 26" I'd surely pay a lot less. I think $1200 is way more likely here in a private sale, but then again I've mostly given up buying from dealers and look here first. Seems most members here are realistic, reasonable and generally decent people. This is my uneducated unadulterated opinion.

[Andrew Sacco]

Also, in my experience, consignment sale means the owner may be unrealistic and/or unwilling to lower the price.

[Garry L Gordon]

If you don’t need another “shooter” why buy one? I’ve had this discussion with myself several times. Regret is a powerful emotion.

[Dylan Rhodes]

Sounds like a pretty common Parker. I agree the price is high. Maybe if someone was looking for that configuration and chokes, I know I overpaid for a 26” 1 frame 12….but that’s because it was exactly what I wanted and there it sat in original condition. I’ve seen some criminal prices on vintage SXS in my LGS, and they all seem to sell. As the shop owner told me “there’s a butt for every chair”

To me that’s an all original price point. My opinion….

[Mike Poindexter]

I have a 16 ga on a 1 frame with 28" bbls that will do everything that 12 would do, so, while its a neat gun, it is overpriced and not needed. Its always nice to see an undamaged, un-messed with Parker in decent (not collectible) condition. I'll check on it in two weeks and see if its still there. Thanks for the input.

[Andrew Sacco]

I’m perplexed. Since when is this about what you “need??” Sheesh.

[Mike Poindexter]

Followup on the gun. I took my Skeets bore gauge down to the LGS and found 2 1/2 " chambers and bores of .737 R and .734 L. Chokes started at 3 1/2 inches from the muzzles and measured .707 R (30 pts)and .696 L (40 pts). I was surprised because based on my quick earlier look, the wall thickness on the right barrel at the muzzle appeared to be only 20 thousandths or so, like an IC barrel would look. Left appeared "normal". I wrongly assumed that the right barrel was more open than it measured. I did not take the time or trouble to use my Manson gauge to check barrel wall thicknesses.

My thought is that there is a high likelihood the barrels have been reamed or honed from .729 to .734 and .737 and given the fact that these are 1 1/2 frame barrels with relatively thin walls to begin with, probably not something I would want to own. I suppose there is an outside chance they left the factory that way, but by 1918 I think the factory bore dimensions were pretty well locked in. An contrary thoughts? I have no interest in the gun anymore.

[CraigThompson]

You do what your heart tells you !

But one of the most expensive Parkers I've ever purchased was a VHE 12 32" vent rib monte carlo stocked gun . It also happens to be the gun I typically shoot the best be it trap , sporting or in the pigeon ring . Just for inspiration that gun was north of 6.5K by the time it was in my hands .

[Mike Koneski]

Without seeing the gun I'd agree that $1200 is more in line for a good price, if not closer to $1100. Problem is many owners think they have the pot-of-gold because it's a vintage SxS. As was said in a previous post consignment may mean there is no wiggle room on the price. Then again, if you would be interested in that particular gun and offer $1050 or $1100, the owner just might bite. Worst that can happen is the owner refuses the price and you're not out any $$.

One thing, as old as these guns are I would say finding one with "unturned" screws would be like finding hens teeth. Sort of like "unfired" condition. They've all been fired, it's just a matter of how much.

[Joseph Sheerin]

I guess a gun is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

This is what makes buying and selling these old guns a gamble, and provides some of the joy of doing it. :D

[Bill Murphy]

"Need another shooter?" I have a shooting collection and I have "needed" another shooter about 200 times over the last 60 some years, and that's just the Parkers.

[Keith Doty]

My advise: Offer what YOU think the gun is worth to YOU. If the seller won't settle pretty close to that, walk! They can't eat you for offering. If they are insulted, well, sorry!